Understanding the Licensing Requirements
In the State of Minnesota, it is mandatory to have a current Minnesota Occupational Therapy or Minnesota Occupational Therapy Assistant license before you can practice or use protected titles. It's important to note that any licensing or processing fees are non-refundable, and the Board reserves the right to reject or cancel outdated applications. Your application will not be considered complete until all required documents are received by the Board office.What You Need Before You Begin
Before you start the online application process, make sure you have the following detailed information available:- Social Security Number, Alien Card Number, or Tax ID Number
- Other license or registration numbers (if applicable)
- Date issued and expiration dates for any other licenses
Method of Licensing: General
You can apply for a full license under Minnesota Statutes §148.6408 if you have received your professional education from an accredited educational program for occupational therapy and have passed the NBCOT examination within the past two years.Scheduled to Take Your Exam?
You may apply before completing your exam. However, be aware that fees are non-refundable, and one year of inactivity on your account may result in application cancellation.How to Get Started
All applicants are required to complete the following steps:- Online Application: Complete the online application through your online account. License fees are submitted at the end of the online application. First-time users need to "Register to Access Site".
- Criminal Background Check: Minnesota law requires all applicants for initial licensure to complete a fingerprint-based criminal background check. The CBC Office will email you a packet with additional information and directions after you submit the application and fees online. CBC results can take up to three to five weeks following receipt of the fingerprint packet in the CBC office.
- Practice Questions: If you answered yes to any of the practice questions, you may be required to submit further legal or medical documentation. The Board office will contact you concerning the needed documentation.
In addition to the above, you must submit the following documentation directly to the Board office:
- Occupational Therapy Degree Transcript: Your official transcript must include your professional degree and date awarded. The transcript must be sent directly from your school or transcript agency in an unopened, sealed envelope or by official electronic version to the Board's contact information.
- NBCOT Exam Score Transfer: Information on how to request your exam scores can be found on the NBCOT website. Note that the NBCOT Exam Score Transfer is not the same as the Verification of Certification.
- License Verification: Provide documentation for all licenses you hold or have held for the practice of occupational therapy and/or healthcare. Information should be sent directly from the licensing agency to the Board office. The licensing agency may use their own template, as long as all the information on the Minnesota Board form is included.
Online Application Tips
- Contact Information: If you reside in a foreign country, select "FC" in the state box and provide the country name in the country box.
- Occupation and Other Education: If your school is not listed in the drop-down menu, select "Other School" and manually enter the school name and location. The Board requires you to provide ALL higher education, including other degrees earned and other schools attended. Ensure you include the dates attended for each school.
Once the Board receives ALL necessary documents, allow five to ten business days for review of your license application.
What Happens Once My License Has Been Approved?
Once approved for full licensure, you will receive correspondence via mail, and your license information will appear on the License Lookup tool. You may begin to practice as soon as your name appears on the License Lookup tool. The website is updated as licenses are issued. Each licensee is responsible for following the Continuing Education Requirements outlined in Minnesota Statute §148.6443.Maintain Current Contact Information
Per Minnesota Statute §148.6428, each licensee is responsible for maintaining current name, address, and primary employment information with the Board. These changes must be submitted to the Board within thirty days of the change. All notices or correspondence provided to the licensee's contact information on file will be considered delivered.For more information, please follow this link.
