Occupational Therapist / Michigan
2026 data Michigan board official source

Michigan Occupational Therapist License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

State-board requirements, fees, and renewal cycle drawn from official regulator records.

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

What the Michigan data shows for Occupational Therapists

Michigan sets the entry bar for occupational therapists at 3,473 training hours and a passing score on NBCOT Certification Exam. A background check is a standard part of the process, and applicants must be 18 or older. The credential is administered under Michigan's licensing regime, which classifies the training track as "Masters or Doctoral Degree".

Upfront cost is $181, with renewal running $158 on a 2-year cycle. Renewal isn't the end of the cost: 36 hours of continuing education are due every 2-year cycle, a recurring time commitment worth planning for.

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

Licensing Ease Score

F
Licensing Ease Score
35/100
Occupational Therapist · Michigan

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
3,473 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee F
$181
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden F
$79/yr
$158 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 Michigan

Education / Training Hours
Masters or Doctoral Degree
3,473 hours
Exam Requirement
NBCOT Certification Exam
Required
Initial License Fee
$181
Renewal Fee
$158
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 Michigan licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Michigan licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Occupational Therapist in Michigan? ▼
Michigan requires 3473 education/training hours, passing an exam (NBCOT Certification Exam), and an initial fee of $181. A criminal background check is also required.
How do I get certified as an Occupational Therapist in Michigan? ▼
Certification as an occupational therapist in Michigan means clearing the state's checklist: 3473 hours of education, and a passing exam score. The Michigan licensing board can confirm the current details.
Can I transfer my Occupational Therapist license to Michigan 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 Michigan licensing board to confirm how it applies to your specific credential.
Does Michigan require a background check for Occupational Therapist licensing? ▼
Background screening is part of the occupational therapist licensing process in Michigan. The state licensing board determines which offenses disqualify an applicant and how appeals are handled.
What are the continuing education requirements for Occupational Therapist in Michigan? ▼
Licensed occupational therapists in Michigan must complete 36 hours of continuing education every 2 years. The renewal fee is $158.

Related Guides

What to do with this occupational therapist license

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

  • See how Michigan'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 Michigan's overall licensing burden compares to other states, not just this one profession. Michigan overview

Requirements shown are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research; verify current rules with the Michigan 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.