Arkansas Occupational Therapist License Requirements (2026)

ByAllied License Guide Editorial Team
Editorial Note: This page is editorially reviewed by an ARDMS-credentialed sonographer as part of AlliedLicenseGuide.com’s allied health licensing database. Data on this page is based on Arkansas State Medical Board (ASMB) sources reviewed July 2026, including the Board’s current Occupational Therapy Licensure Information Packet. View the primary source at ASMB.
Who this guide is for:
  • New graduates and NBCOT-certified occupational therapists applying for a first Arkansas license
  • Out-of-state occupational therapists relocating to Arkansas or already licensed elsewhere
  • Travel occupational therapists evaluating an Arkansas assignment and its paper-based application timeline

Arkansas Occupational Therapist Licensing — At a Glance

License Required Yes
Credential Name Occupational Therapist license
Governing Body Arkansas State Medical Board (ASMB), advised by the Arkansas State Occupational Therapy Examining Committee
Licensing Pathways Arkansas uses a single occupational therapy licensure application for both first-time applicants and applicants already licensed in another jurisdiction. The Board does not publish separate examination or endorsement application forms. A temporary permit option exists for applicants who haven’t yet taken or passed the NBCOT exam.
Application Fee The Board’s published fee schedule currently shows $4 for an OT license, plus an additional $1 if requesting a temporary permit. This reflects a temporary Act 114 of 2023 fee reduction whose stated window (“July 1, 2023” through “June 30, 2026”) has already passed — the fee schedule continued displaying the reduced amount after that date. Confirm the current fee directly with ASMB before applying. A fee waiver is also available for applicants receiving certain public assistance or meeting income thresholds.
Application Method Paper only, by mail — the application cannot be submitted electronically or by fax and requires an original notarized signature. An online Applicant Portal exists for tracking status after submission, not for submitting the application itself.
Processing Time The Board describes processing as taking “several weeks” once all documentation and verifications are received, with no specific published range
Background Check Required — a state (Arkansas State Police) and federal (FBI) fingerprint-based criminal background check under Act 1249 of 2005. Arkansas residents submit fingerprints electronically via Arkansas LiveScan; out-of-state applicants complete a mailed CBC packet.
NBCOT Certification Required — NBCOT is the Board-approved licensing examination
Separate State Exam No separate clinical exam — but Arkansas requires completion of the OT Medical Practices Act (MPA) Examination and a signed Medical Practices Act and Rules Affidavit, functioning as the state’s jurisprudence requirement (see below)
Education Requirement Graduation from an ACOTE-accredited occupational therapy program, plus a minimum of 6 months of supervised fieldwork
Jurisprudence Exam Required — an open-book “OT MPA Exam” on the Arkansas Occupational Therapy Act and Regulation No. 6, plus a separately signed Medical Practices Act and Rules Affidavit. Applications submitted without these are returned.
OT Compact Status Member state since 2023, enacted through Act 257
Specialty Permits None beyond the base license; detailed OTA supervision requirements apply instead (see Practical Notes)
Reciprocity Not a separately named pathway — the single application covers applicants already licensed in another state, who must have all prior licenses verified directly by each issuing board
Payment Methods Check or money order payable to ASMB — cash is not accepted
Governing Law Arkansas Code Annotated § 17-88-101 et seq.; Regulation No. 6 (17 CAR § 140-401 et seq.)

Arkansas licenses occupational therapists through the Arkansas State Medical Board (ASMB), advised by its Occupational Therapy Examining Committee. Unlike states that separate “by examination” and “by endorsement” applicants into different tracks, Arkansas uses a single unified application for everyone, currently paired with a notably low published application fee (see below for important context on that fee).

Arkansas has been an Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact member since 2023. See the summary table above for the current requirements, and the section below for what makes Arkansas’s process distinct from other states.

What Makes Arkansas Different

  • The application fee is remarkably low right now — and the Board’s own stated window for that low rate has already closed. Arkansas’s $4 OT application fee comes from a temporary reduction under Act 114 of 2023, which the Board’s fee schedule states runs “beginning July 1, 2023 and end June 30, 2026.” That date has passed, and the fee schedule continued displaying the reduced rate afterward. For context: Arkansas applied a comparable Act 114 reduction to cosmetology licensure fees on a separate, shorter timeline, and restored the prior, higher fee once that window closed. Confirm the current fee directly with ASMB before applying. That fee, whatever it currently is, doesn’t come with a lighter application: Arkansas requires completion of the OT Medical Practices Act Examination and a signed Medical Practices Act and Rules Affidavit — an application missing either document is returned.
  • The application is paper-only, but renewal is online. Arkansas requires an original notarized signature on a mailed application for initial licensure — there’s no electronic submission option. Once licensed, renewal moves to an online system instead. Don’t assume the paper-based initial process carries over to renewal, or vice versa.
  • The Board doesn’t publish a separate “endorsement” pathway. Arkansas evaluates every applicant — new graduate or already licensed elsewhere — through the same application, verifying every license you’ve ever held directly from each issuing board.
  • A fee waiver exists for qualifying applicants. Arkansas law (A.C.A. § 17-5-104) requires the Board to waive the initial application fee for applicants receiving certain public assistance, recently approved for unemployment, or with income at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines — though this doesn’t cover the background check or examination fees.

Occupational Therapy Compact Status

Arkansas is a member of the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact, joining in 2023 through Act 257. Under the compact, occupational therapists holding an active, unencumbered license in another compact member state may become eligible for a compact privilege to practice in Arkansas without applying for a separate Arkansas license, subject to Occupational Therapy Compact Commission (OTCC) rules. Applicants seeking to practice through compact privileges must meet OTCC eligibility requirements in addition to maintaining an active home-state license.

Initial Licensure Requirements

ASMB uses one application process for essentially all applicants, with an optional temporary permit add-on for those still awaiting NBCOT results.

Standard Licensure by Credentials

For both new graduates and applicants already licensed elsewhere. Requires a completed paper application with notarized passport-style photo, a completed Medical Practices Act and Rules Affidavit and OT MPA Exam, an Occupational Therapy Authorization and Release form, a criminal background check, a copy of your driver’s license or passport, proof of citizenship or visa status if not born in the U.S., and verification of your education and every OT/OTA license you have ever held, sent directly from each source to the Board.

Temporary Permit

Available to applicants who have met the educational requirements but have not yet passed the NBCOT exam. Requires the signature of a fully licensed Arkansas occupational therapist willing to practice in association with the applicant, and an additional $1 fee. The permit expires 30 days after the applicant’s NBCOT eligibility date and can be extended once, with a written request and another $1 fee. A temporary permit does not guarantee a permanent license will follow.

How to Apply for an Arkansas Occupational Therapist License

  1. Download the current Occupational Therapy Licensure Information Packet directly from ASMB’s website — the Board explicitly warns that outdated or unofficial versions of the application will not be accepted.
  2. Complete the application, Medical Practices Act and Rules Affidavit, OT MPA Exam, and Authorization and Release form, all in dark blue or black ink, one-sided pages only.
  3. Have your passport-style photo notarized on the affidavit page.
  4. Gather copies of your driver’s license or passport, and citizenship/visa documentation if applicable.
  5. Request education, licensure, and employment verifications from each relevant source — these must be sent directly to the Board, not through you.
  6. Mail the complete application with a check or money order for the applicable fee to ASMB’s Licensing Department.
  7. Complete the criminal background check process once ASMB confirms receipt of your application and fee.
  8. Track your application status through the online Applicant Portal while verifications arrive.

Practical Notes

From the field: These notes reflect practical considerations beyond the official requirements — things that affect how smoothly your Arkansas application goes.
  • Use a trackable delivery service rather than standard U.S. mail — the Board explicitly notes it has experienced lengthy delays with first-class and certified mail and recommends FedEx, UPS, or a similar guaranteed-delivery option for both your application and any verification requests you send to third parties.
  • Explain every time gap of 30 days or more in writing, proactively, with your original submission — the Board treats this as a required step, not an optional one, and missing it will delay your file.
  • If you’re an OTA supervisor, keep your supervision documentation current: Arkansas requires a minimum of one hour of on-site, face-to-face supervision per 40 OTA work hours, monthly patient review meetings, and a signed supervision log retained for three years, per Regulation No. 6, Sections 6.2 and 6.3.
  • Applications go stale if you go quiet — a file with no communication from you for six months is marked abandoned, and abandoned files are destroyed after 30 days with no refund.
  • If you qualify for the fee waiver, gather your supporting documentation (proof of benefit approval or a recent tax return) before submitting — it must accompany the application, not follow later.
  • Call ASMB to confirm the current application fee before mailing your check or money order — the $4 rate reflects a temporary reduction whose stated end date has passed, and paying the wrong amount would delay your application.

Relevant Statutes and Regulations

  • Arkansas Code Annotated § 17-88-101 et seq. — Arkansas Occupational Therapy Practice Act
  • Regulation No. 6 (17 CAR § 140-401 et seq.) — Regulations Governing the Licensing and Practice of Occupational Therapists
  • Arkansas Code Annotated § 17-95-306 — Criminal background check authorization
  • Arkansas Code Annotated § 17-5-104 — Fee waiver for qualifying applicants

Related Pages

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Arkansas require a state license for occupational therapists?

Yes. Arkansas requires a license issued by the Arkansas State Medical Board to practice occupational therapy in the state. Source: 17 CAR § 140-404

What is the application fee for an Arkansas OT license?

The Arkansas State Medical Board currently publishes a $4 OT application fee, with an additional $1 for a temporary permit, reflecting a temporary legislative reduction under Act 114 of 2023. The stated reduction window (“July 1, 2023” through “June 30, 2026”) has already passed, and the Board’s fee schedule continued to display the reduced fee after that date. Confirm the current fee directly with ASMB before submitting payment. Source: ASMB Fee Schedule

Why is Arkansas’s OT application fee so much lower than other states?

The Board’s currently published $4 fee comes from a temporary, legislatively authorized reduction (Act 114 of 2023), not a permanent fee structure. The fee schedule states the reduction covers “July 1, 2023” through “June 30, 2026” and notes “the reduction may or may not apply in future years.” That stated window has passed, and the fee schedule continued displaying the reduced amount afterward. Applicants should confirm the current fee directly with ASMB before submitting payment. Source: ASMB Fee Schedule

Does Arkansas require a background check for occupational therapy licensure?

Yes. Arkansas requires a state and federal fingerprint-based criminal background check under Act 1249 of 2005, processed through Arkansas LiveScan for in-state residents or a mailed packet for out-of-state applicants. Source: ASMB Occupational Therapy Licensure Information Packet

Is a jurisprudence exam required to get licensed in Arkansas?

Yes. Arkansas requires applicants to complete an open-book “OT MPA Exam” covering the Occupational Therapy Act and Regulation No. 6, along with a separately signed affidavit affirming you’ve read both. Applications submitted without these documents are returned. Source: ASMB Occupational Therapy Licensure Information Packet

Is Arkansas a member of the OT Compact?

Yes. Arkansas joined the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact in 2023 through Act 257. Source: ASMB Occupational Therapy Licensure Information Packet

Disclaimer: The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and is based on Arkansas State Medical Board sources reviewed in July 2026. The Board’s published fee schedule currently shows a $4 application fee, reflecting a temporary Act 114 of 2023 reduction whose stated window (through June 30, 2026) has already passed — the fee schedule continued displaying the reduced amount afterward. Confirm the current fee directly with ASMB before applying. Requirements are subject to change more broadly as well. Always verify current requirements directly with ASMB before making licensing decisions. This page does not constitute legal or professional licensing advice. Verify at ASMB →
Change Log: 2026-07-29 — Page created. Application and renewal fees confirmed at $4 and $3 respectively by direct fetch of the Board’s current (October 2024) application packet and fee schedule — both independently corroborated by two of three initial data-collection sources. Jurisprudence exam requirement confirmed as real (an “OT MPA Exam” plus signed affidavit) after direct verification of the full application packet, correcting one of three data-collection sources that reported it as not found. Citizenship/lawful-presence documentation requirement confirmed directly on the application form itself, correcting two of three data-collection sources that reported it as not found. 2026-07-29 — Correction: the $4/$3 fees were initially characterized as having superseded older Regulation No. 6 figures ($25/$50/$65) as if the low fees were the stable, permanent rate. This was backwards. The Board’s fee schedule explicitly states the low fees are a temporary reduction under Act 114 of 2023, covering “July 1, 2023” through “June 30, 2026” — a window that has now closed. A live re-fetch of the fee schedule on this date still showed the reduced rate, but Arkansas has let a comparable Act 114 reduction lapse before for another licensed profession (cosmetology), restoring the prior, higher fee once that profession’s window ended. Risk level and regulatory volatility elevated to high accordingly, and fee language throughout the page revised to flag this directly rather than presenting the low fee as a stable baseline. 2026-07-29 — Editorial review completed. Fee language across the page revised from predictive framing (“could revert”) to purely factual framing (the fee schedule continued displaying the reduced rate after the stated window closed), per reviewer request. Reciprocity/pathway wording softened to avoid implying the Board explicitly states “no endorsement.” Jurisprudence exam terminology aligned to the Board’s exact document names (OT MPA Examination, Medical Practices Act and Rules Affidavit). Two reviewer suggestions were evaluated against the directly-fetched application packet and declined: “several weeks” processing time and the six-month fieldwork requirement are both verbatim, Board-stated facts (the fieldwork figure is Arkansas’s own direct requirement, not derived from NBCOT), not inferences requiring softening.

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