Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact begins issuing compact privileges in three states

The Occupational Therapy Compact Commission (OTCC) announced today that Ohio, Minnesota and West Virginia became the first states to issue compact privileges to practice. Additional states are actively working toward integrating their systems and opening applications. States will complete the integration process at their own pace in coordination with state licensing agency staff.

The Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact (OT Compact) is an interstate compact, or formal agreement among states, that facilitates interstate practice of occupational therapy. Under the OT Compact, Occupational Therapists (OTs) and Occupational Therapy Assistants (OTAs) who are licensed in good standing in a Compact member state will be able to practice in other Compact member states via a “compact privilege,” which is equivalent to a license. The OT Compact developed a licensure data system called CompactConnect that allows for instantaneous verification of licensure information. establishes a licensure data system allowing for instantaneous verification of licensure information.

The OT Compact is a joint initiative of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT®).

What to Know:

• Of the 32 compact member states, only Ohio, Minnesota, and West Virginia have completed the integration process at this time.
• Only OT practitioners who are licensed and reside in one of these states are eligible to apply for and obtain privileges to practice (provided all other eligibility requirements are met) in one of these states
• Each compact member state must integrate its licensing system with CompactConnect before they can begin issuing compact privileges.
• Occupational therapy practitioners cannot obtain a privilege through CompactConnect until their home state completes the integration process.
• For information about the application process, visit the Before You Apply for an OT Compact Privilege page on the OT Compact website
• To obtain a compact privilege, applicants must apply via CompactConnect, the secure data system with which the 32 member states are working to integrate their licensing systems.