Minnesota licenses occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants through the Minnesota Board of Occupational Therapy Practice, one of the state's health-related licensing boards. Minnesota was one of the first states to open OT Compact privileges, on January 12, 2026. 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.
Minnesota 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
$185 initial licensure (Minn. Stat. 148.6445)
$105
Background check
State (BCA) and national (FBI) criminal history check; results good for one year
Same
Temporary license
$75; graduates who have not passed NBCOT practice under OT supervision
$75
OT Compact
Member, accepting applications since January 12, 2026. An OT or OTA who lives in and is licensed in another member state that is open can apply for a Minnesota privilege to practice through the OT Compact (not through this board). (OT Compact, checked October 18, 2026)
Minnesota, step by step
Minnesota Board of Occupational Therapy Practice
Apply to the Board of Occupational Therapy Practice with the initial licensure fee: $185 for an OT, $105 for an OTA.
Criminal background check: initial applicants submit to a Minnesota BCA check and an FBI check (Minn. Stat. 214.075); results are valid for one year.
NBCOT: pass the OTR or COTA exam.
Temporary license (optional):$75. A graduate of an accredited program who has not yet passed NBCOT must practice under a licensed OT's supervision and show a pass within the temporary period; failing the exam a second time ends it (Minn. Stat. 148.6418).
Keep it: licenses renew every two years ($185 OT, $105 OTA). Minnesota accepts OT Compact privileges ($150 state fee for a privilege).
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.