Occupational Therapist / Delaware
2026 data Delaware board official source

Delaware Occupational Therapist License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

Official regulator records behind the requirements, fees, and renewal cycle for this license.

PlainCredential home → About this data

Helps patients develop daily living and work skills. Requires masters or doctoral degree.

What the Delaware data shows for Occupational Therapists

Becoming a licensed occupational therapist in Delaware means clearing a defined set of hurdles: 3,554 training hours, a passing score on NBCOT Certification Exam, plus a background history check once the applicant turns 18. Delaware regulators place this credential inside their licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "Masters or Doctoral Degree".

The initial price tag is $200, and renewal costs $172 every 2 years. Maintaining the license requires 36 hours of continuing education per 2-year cycle, an ongoing cost applicants often underestimate when budgeting the career.

For occupational therapists, the reciprocity picture is: OT Licensure Compact: 25+ member states.

Licensing Ease Score

F
Licensing Ease Score
33/100
Occupational Therapist · Delaware

A higher score means this specific license is LESS burdensome to obtain and maintain here than the national requirement corpus, based on education hours, fees, continuing education, and experience requirements, not an overall judgment of the profession or the state.

Education & Training F
3,554 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee F
$200
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden F
$86/yr
$172 every 2 years
Continuing Education F
18.0 hrs/yr
36 hours every 2 years
Experience Required A+
None required
Supervised work experience required before licensure

Licensing Requirements in Delaware

Education / Training Hours
Masters or Doctoral Degree
3,554 hours
Exam Requirement
NBCOT Certification Exam
Required
Initial License Fee
$200
Renewal Fee
$172
Renewal Cycle
Every 2 years
Continuing Education
36 hrs/cycle
Criminal History Check
Required
Minimum Age
18 years

Compare & Explore

Compare all states for Occupational Therapist All Delaware licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Delaware licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Occupational Therapist in Delaware? ▼
Delaware's requirements cover 3554 hours of education or training, the NBCOT Certification Exam exam, and an initial fee of $200. Applicants also go through a criminal background check.
How do I get certified as an Occupational Therapist in Delaware? ▼
Certification as an occupational therapist in Delaware means clearing the state's checklist: 3554 hours of education, and a passing exam score. The Delaware licensing board can confirm the current details.
Can I transfer my Occupational Therapist license to Delaware from another state? ▼
For occupational therapists, the reciprocity landscape looks like this: OT Licensure Compact: 25+ member states. Many professions are also covered by interstate licensing compacts that facilitate portability between states. Contact the Delaware licensing board to confirm how it applies to your specific credential.
Does Delaware require a background check for Occupational Therapist licensing? ▼
A criminal background check is mandatory for occupational therapist licensing in Delaware. The state licensing board sets the disqualifying-offense criteria and review process.
What are the continuing education requirements for Occupational Therapist in Delaware? ▼
Licensed occupational therapists in Delaware must complete 36 hours of continuing education every 2 years. The renewal fee is $172.

Related Guides

What to do with this occupational therapist license

Occupational Therapist in Delaware, with a documented reciprocity path, is one requirement row in an occupational therapist-wide, 50-state comparison.

  • See how Delaware's occupational therapist requirements compare to every other state before relocating. Occupational Therapist in every state
  • Confirm whether your out-of-state occupational therapist license transfers under an interstate compact before starting a new application. Reciprocity guide
  • See how Delaware's overall licensing burden compares to other states, not just this one profession. Delaware overview

Requirements shown are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research; verify current rules with the Delaware licensing board before making career decisions.

Source: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice License to Work (3rd Ed.), state licensing board websites

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Institute for Justice, the PlainCredential comparison corpus (current as of May 15, 2026) maps 4,947 state licensing requirement records; see the methodology.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.