Occupational Therapist / North Dakota
2026 data North Dakota board official source

North Dakota 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 North Dakota data shows for Occupational Therapists

Becoming a licensed occupational therapist in North Dakota means clearing a defined set of hurdles: 3,108 training hours, a passing score on NBCOT Certification Exam, plus a background history check once the applicant turns 18. North Dakota regulators place this credential inside their licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "Masters or Doctoral Degree".

Budget $99 to get started, plus $94 at each renewal on a 2-year cycle. The license also carries an ongoing 36-hour continuing-education requirement per 2-year cycle that adds to the true cost of staying licensed.

Reciprocity for this profession works like this: OT Licensure Compact: 25+ member states.

Licensing Ease Score

D
Licensing Ease Score
46/100
Occupational Therapist · North Dakota

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
3,108 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee C-
$99
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden C
$47/yr
$94 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 North Dakota

Education / Training Hours
Masters or Doctoral Degree
3,108 hours
Exam Requirement
NBCOT Certification Exam
Required
Initial License Fee
$99
Renewal Fee
$94
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 North Dakota licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with North Dakota licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Occupational Therapist in North Dakota? ▼
North Dakota requires 3108 education/training hours, passing an exam (NBCOT Certification Exam), and an initial fee of $99. A criminal background check is also required.
How do I get certified as an Occupational Therapist in North Dakota? ▼
North Dakota licenses occupational therapists who complete its requirements (3108 education hours) and a passing exam. Verify the latest details with the North Dakota licensing board.
Can I transfer my Occupational Therapist license to North Dakota from another state? ▼
Reciprocity for occupational therapists nationally works like this: OT Licensure Compact: 25+ member states. Beyond that baseline, interstate compacts exist for many professions and may smooth a transfer into North Dakota. Verify the specifics with the North Dakota licensing board.
Does North Dakota require a background check for Occupational Therapist licensing? ▼
A criminal background check is mandatory for occupational therapist licensing in North Dakota. The state licensing board sets the disqualifying-offense criteria and review process.
What are the continuing education requirements for Occupational Therapist in North Dakota? ▼
Licensed occupational therapists in North Dakota must complete 36 hours of continuing education every 2 years. The renewal fee is $94.

Related Guides

What to do with this occupational therapist license

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

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

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