AOTA Begins Licensure Compact Initiative

AOTA has signed a multi-year contract with the Council of State Governments (CSG) National Center for Interstate Compacts to create an interstate professional licensure compact for occupational therapy. This initiative is in response to licensure portability questions. The Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact legislation must be passed into law in each state where it will apply. The goal is to begin state participation by 2024.

An interstate licensing compact would:

• Allow licensed occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants to practice across state lines (e.g., telehealth)
• Improve consumer access to occupational therapy
• Enhance mobility of occupational therapy practitioners (e.g., spouses of relocating military families, staff of travel therapy companies)
• Improve continuity of care
• Preserve and strengthen the state licensure system
• Enhance the exchange of licensure, investigatory, and disciplinary information between member states.

An interstate licensing compact would not change state occupational therapy practice acts or the scope of practice.

The CSG will partner with AOTA during each phase of the initiative.

Go to the Interstate Professional Licensing Compact page.