In Mississippi, occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants are licensed by the State Board of Health through the Department of Health's Professional Licensure office, advised by the Mississippi Advisory Council in Occupational Therapy. 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.
Mississippi 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
Up to 90 days, OT contact at least every 2 weeks; renewable once at the department's discretion
Same; supervised by an OT
Background check
Check with the department
Same
OT Compact
Member, accepting applications since October 5, 2026. An OT or OTA who lives in and is licensed in another member state that is open can apply for a Mississippi privilege to practice through the OT Compact (not through this board). (OT Compact, checked October 18, 2026)
Mississippi, step by step
Mississippi State Department of Health, Professional Licensure (Advisory Council in Occupational Therapy)
Apply online through MSDH Professional Licensure's application site, with credential, education and employment verification forms as required.
Fees (Rule 8.13.2): a $100 application fee and an initial license fee of $150 (OT) or $100 (OTA). Exam fees go to NBCOT.
NBCOT: pass the OTR or COTA exam.
Limited permit (optional): if you have not taken the exam or are waiting on results, a permit for up to 90 days, practicing only in Mississippi. A permitted OT works under or in consultation with a Mississippi OT with direct contact at least every two weeks at each facility. It may be renewed once, at the department's discretion.
Keep it: renewal is $150 (OT) or $100 (OTA). Mississippi opened OT Compact privilege applications on October 5, 2026.
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.