In South Dakota, occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants are licensed by the Board of Medical and Osteopathic Examiners (BMOE). The application fee covers your initial license only to the next renewal date. 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.
South Dakota 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 initial license (ARSD 20:64:02:05)
Check with the board
Background check
Fingerprinting required for all new licensees since July 1, 2024 (SB 40); BMOE sends the packet
Same
Limited permit
$25; scheduled for the next NBCOT exam; void on a failing score; renewable once
Same
OT Compact
Member, not accepting applications yet. South Dakota has enacted the OT Compact but has not opened privilege applications, so for now you need a full South Dakota license. (OT Compact, checked October 18, 2026)
South Dakota, step by step
South Dakota Board of Medical and Osteopathic Examiners (Occupational Therapy)
Apply to the BMOE with the initial license fee ($50 for an OT under ARSD 20:64:02:05). The fee only carries the initial license to the next renewal date.
Fingerprints: since July 1, 2024 (Senate Bill 40), every new OT and OTA applicant must be fingerprinted before getting a license; the BMOE office sends the packet and instructions.
NBCOT: the board uses NBCOT's certification exam.
Limited permit (optional): if you meet the education and experience requirements and are scheduled for the next NBCOT exam, file the limited permit application with the $25 fee and a current supervision statement. A failing score voids it the day you are notified; one renewal is allowed if you are scheduled for the next exam (ARSD 20:64:02:03).
Compact: South Dakota enacted the OT Compact (HB 1183, 2023) 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.