Nebraska licenses occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants through the Department of Health and Human Services Licensure Unit, with the Board of Occupational Therapy Practice. Forms are filled in online, then printed, signed and mailed. 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.
Nebraska 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
Set in the 172 NAC 2 fee schedule; check with DHHS. Waived for young workers 19 to 25 and low-income applicants
Same
Temporary license
$25 (also waivable)
Same
Background check
Check with DHHS
Same
OT Compact
Member, not accepting applications yet. Nebraska has enacted the OT Compact but has not opened privilege applications, so for now you need a full Nebraska license. (OT Compact, checked October 18, 2026)
Nebraska, step by step
Nebraska Board of Occupational Therapy Practice (DHHS Licensure Unit)
Apply on the DHHS forms (complete online, then print, sign and mail) with the fee in the 172 NAC 2 fee schedule.
Fee waiver: since 2020 the initial license fee and the temporary license fee may be waived if you are 19 to 25 years old, or enrolled in public assistance or under 130% of the poverty line.
NBCOT: pass the OTR or COTA exam.
Temporary license (optional): the Temporary Occupational Therapist or Assistant application, $25.
Compact: Nebraska 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.