California licenses occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants through the California Board of Occupational Therapy (CBOT). You pass the NBCOT exam, then apply in BreEZe; new graduates can work on a short limited permit while they wait to test. 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.
California 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
$50 application fee, then a prorated initial license fee (based on the $270 two-year renewal fee)
$50 application fee, then a prorated initial license fee (based on the $210 two-year renewal fee)
Background check
DOJ and FBI fingerprints: Live Scan if you are in California, or the board's cards plus a $49 processing fee
Same
Limited permit
$100; new graduates who apply to NBCOT within 4 months of finishing; valid 3 months
Same
OT Compact
Not a member. You need a full California license. (OT Compact, checked October 18, 2026)
California, step by step
California Board of Occupational Therapy (CBOT)
Pass the NBCOT exam and have NBCOT send CBOT a Score Transfer or a Verification of Certification.
Apply in BreEZe: pay the $50 application fee, then submit the license application questions online. Mail a 2x2 color passport-quality photo taken in the last six months.
Fingerprints: a background check done for CBOT itself is required, even if you were fingerprinted for a job or another license. If you live in or will travel to California, use Live Scan; otherwise request the board's pre-printed fingerprint cards and pay the $49 processing fee.
Transcripts and other licenses: an official transcript with the degree posted, sent by your program, and a license verification from every state where you hold or held a health license.
Initial license fee: once approved, you pay a prorated initial license fee based on the two-year renewal fee (16 CCR 4130: $270 for OTs, $210 for OTAs). The board reviews applications within 30 days and sends one deficiency letter.
Limited permit (optional): new graduates who applied to NBCOT within four months of finishing education and fieldwork can work under supervision while waiting to test. Send the ATT letter, proof the score report was requested, and Live Scan or cards; the fee is $100. The permit lasts three months, and ends at once if you fail the exam.
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.