Career path

The usual route into practice is an accredited program, a national exam, a jurisdiction license, and then ongoing renewal. Program length, tuition, and pay figures are not listed here.

1. Graduate from an accredited program. Occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant programs are accredited by ACOTE. Physical therapist and physical therapist assistant programs are accredited by CAPTE. Use those official directories to find programs. We do not invent program length or cost.
2. Pass the national exam. OT and OTA graduates exam through NBCOT. PT and PTA graduates exam through FSBPT (the NPTE). Confirm current exam and application rules on those sites.
3. Get a jurisdiction license. Practice is licensed by a state or territory board, even after you pass the national exam. See the licensing directory and confirm applications on the board site.
4. Keep the license, and any national certification, current. CE requirements collects official national certification figures and board links. Confirm hours and fees with the board.
5. If you practice in more than one state, check compact rules. The compacts page describes the PT Compact and the OT Compact only as their official sites state them.

Professional associations such as AOTA and APTA publish practice and education resources. They do not issue state licenses.