The Occupational Therapy Compact provides an alternate pathway to practice in multiple states. Under the OT Compact, Occupational Therapists (OTs) and Occupational Therapy Assistants (OTAs) who reside, and hold a license in good standing, in a Compact member state may be eligible to practice in other Compact member states by purchasing a “privilege to practice” through the OT Compact Commission. Practitioners must hold a "home state license" in their state of residence to purchase a privilege to practice in another compact member state.
Three states, Minnesota, Ohio, and West Virginia, are expected to go live on January 12, 2026. OT practitioners who reside in one of these states, and hold a current license in good standing in their home state, may be able to purchase a privilege to practice in the other three states. WV residents must first undergo an FBI Criminal Background Check to become eligible to purchase compact privileges in other states. Please see instructions at the appropriate link below to complete this requirement. WV residents will not be able to create an account in CompactConnect (the OT Compact data system) until the FBI CBC has been completed and results received by the WV Board of Occupational Therapy.
This page is intended to give a general overview of how the OT Compact works and basic information to consider in determining what option is best for you. For the complete rules and regulations governing the Compact, please visit otcompact.gov.
General information:
An OT practitioner must hold a license in their home state (state of primary residence) to purchase privileges to practice in a remote member state through the Compact. Privileges to practice are purchased through the OT Compact, NOT through the home state or remote state licensing board.
The home state license must be active and in good standing.
A practitioner must obtain an FBI fingerprint-based criminal background check through the OT licensing board in their home state to be eligible to purchase a privilege to practice in another member state through the Compact.
Privileges to practice in remote member states expire with the home state license and must be re-purchased through the OT Compact. Privileges to practice DO NOT renew automatically upon renewal of the home state license.
In addition to fees paid for a home state license and the FBI criminal background check, the Compact Commission will assess a $75 fee for each privilege to practice purchased through the OT Compact. Each member state may also assess a privilege to practice fee. For a complete list of member states and their fees, please click here.
**OT PRACTITIONERS MAY CONTINUE TO HOLD A LICENSE TO PRACTICE IN ANY STATE UNDER EXISTING LICENSURE LAWS, WITHOUT JOINING THE COMPACT.**
Please select the link below which applies to your situation for more information and instructions:
Non-WV residents who hold a current WV license.
WV residents seeking a license in WV for the first time.
Non-WV residents wishing to practice in WV for the first time.