Occupational Therapist / Tennessee
2026 data Tennessee board official source

Tennessee Occupational Therapist License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

Requirements, fees, and renewal timing for this license, sourced from state board records.

PlainCredential home → About this data

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

What the Tennessee data shows for Occupational Therapists

Tennessee's path to occupational therapist licensure runs through 3,378 hours of approved instruction and a passing score on NBCOT Certification Exam, plus a criminal history screening before applicants younger than 18 can be licensed. Tennessee folds the credential into its broader occupational licensing statute, which classifies the training track as "Masters or Doctoral Degree".

Upfront cost is $160, with renewal running $141 on a 2-year cycle. Maintaining the license requires 36 hours of continuing education per 2-year cycle, an ongoing cost applicants often underestimate when budgeting the career.

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

Licensing Ease Score

F
Licensing Ease Score
37/100
Occupational Therapist · Tennessee

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
3,378 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee F
$160
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden F
$71/yr
$141 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 Tennessee

Education / Training Hours
Masters or Doctoral Degree
3,378 hours
Exam Requirement
NBCOT Certification Exam
Required
Initial License Fee
$160
Renewal Fee
$141
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 Tennessee licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Tennessee licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Occupational Therapist in Tennessee? ▼
Tennessee requires 3378 education/training hours, passing an exam (NBCOT Certification Exam), and an initial fee of $160. A criminal background check is also required.
How do I get certified as an Occupational Therapist in Tennessee? ▼
Tennessee licenses occupational therapists who complete its requirements (3378 education hours) and a passing exam. Verify the latest details with the Tennessee licensing board.
Can I transfer my Occupational Therapist license to Tennessee from another state? ▼
Here's how reciprocity typically plays out for occupational therapists: OT Licensure Compact: 25+ member states. Many occupations are additionally covered by interstate licensing compacts that ease cross-state moves. Check with the Tennessee licensing board for how this applies to you.
Does Tennessee require a background check for Occupational Therapist licensing? ▼
Background screening is part of the occupational therapist licensing process in Tennessee. 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 Tennessee? ▼
To stay licensed as an occupational therapist in Tennessee, plan on 36 hours of continuing education per 2-year renewal cycle; renewal itself runs $141.

Related Guides

What to do with this occupational therapist license

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

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

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