In Louisiana, occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants are licensed by the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners (LSBME). You apply online in the LaMED DashBoard and mail several original documents. 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.
Louisiana 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
$150 licensure fee, card only, non-refundable
$100
Background check
Required; LSBME sends instructions after your application is received
Same
Temporary license
Listed at $50 extra for recent graduates, but LSBME says it no longer routinely grants temporary permits
Same
OT Compact
Member, not accepting applications yet. Louisiana has enacted the OT Compact but has not opened privilege applications, so for now you need a full Louisiana license. (OT Compact, checked October 18, 2026)
Louisiana, step by step
Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners (Occupational Therapy)
Apply in LaMED DashBoard and pay the non-refundable licensure fee by card: $150 for an OT, $100 for an OTA.
Mail the originals: an Oath or Affirmation (with a sworn affidavit for any yes answer), a Third Party Authorization, the Certificate of Dean/Registrar/Program Director (your school mails it), an official transcript sent from the school, a Statement of Legal Name, and a certified birth certificate or proof of citizenship or work authorization.
Background check: LSBME cannot receive it until your application is in; the licensure department sends instructions. Undisclosed criminal history means a new oath, affidavit and another fee.
NBCOT: licensure applicants must be currently NBCOT certified, with the score report sent directly from NBCOT.
Temporary permits: the instructions still list a three-month temporary license for recent graduates registered for NBCOT ($200 OT / $150 OTA including the license fee), but LSBME now says it no longer routinely grants temporary permits except for urgent or emergency needs. Louisiana 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.