Arizona licenses occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants through the Arizona Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners. The requirements below come from the state's statutes (A.R.S. 32-3423, 32-3424) and the board's rules (A.A.C. R4-43). Everything below comes from the board's own pages and rules, checked October 18, 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm on the linked pages before you pay.
Check with your board. OT Ticket is a study aid, not clinical or legal guidance. Not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT), AOTA, ACOTE, the OT Compact Commission or any state board; NBCOT, OTR and COTA are their marks, used here only to name the exam.
Arizona at a glance
Occupational therapist (OT)
OT assistant (OTA)
Exam
NBCOT OTR exam (180 questions, 4 hours), $540 to NBCOT
NBCOT COTA exam (190 questions, 4 hours), $540 to NBCOT
Board fees
$100 application + $135 initial license
$100 application + $70 initial license
Fieldwork
At least 928 hours of supervised fieldwork
At least 608 hours
Limited permit
$35 (credited toward the license fee), with a Direct Supervision Agreement
Same
Background check
Not in the statute or rule sections read; check with the board
Same
OT Compact
Member, not accepting applications yet. Arizona has enacted the OT Compact but has not opened privilege applications, so for now you need a full Arizona license. (OT Compact, checked October 18, 2026)
Arizona, step by step
Arizona Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners
Education: finish the academic and fieldwork requirements of an approved program, including at least 928 hours of supervised fieldwork for an OT or 608 hours for an OTA (A.R.S. 32-3423).
NBCOT: pass the NBCOT exam (A.R.S. 32-3424).
Apply and pay: a $100 application fee plus the initial license fee, $135 for an OT or $70 for an OTA. Fees are non-refundable (A.A.C. R4-43-102).
Limited permit (optional): $35, subtracted from your initial license fee once you are fully licensed. The OT who will directly supervise you must sign a Direct Supervision Agreement for a Limited Permit with the board before it is issued (R4-43-201).
Keep it: renewal is $135 (OT) or $70 (OTA). Arizona has enacted the OT Compact but is not accepting privilege applications yet.
Every state licenses occupational therapists and OT assistants on NBCOT certification: an ACOTE-accredited degree with its Level II fieldwork, then NBCOT's exam (the OTR exam for OTs, 180 questions in 4 hours; the COTA exam for OT assistants, 190 questions in 4 hours; 450 on a 300-600 scale passes; $540 to apply online). NBCOT certification is not a license: you apply to your state board separately, and NBCOT sends the board your score (the Score Transfer is free if you add it when you apply for the exam, $35 later). The full walk-through: How to get your OT license.