How long does it take to become an occupational therapist?
BLS states that master’s degree programs in occupational therapy usually take 2 to 3 years to complete, after a bachelor’s degree. Neither BLS nor ACOTE publishes a single length for OT doctoral programs on the pages checked. After graduation, the NBCOT OTR exam is offered daily, and you then apply for a jurisdiction license.
Quoted from official pages checked November 10, 2026. Confirm current requirements, fees, and dates on those sites. This page is not legal advice and does not guarantee eligibility, certification, or licensure.
Before the program
BLS’s occupational therapists page states: “Admission to graduate programs in occupational therapy requires a bachelor’s degree, although it may not need to be in a particular subject.” It also states: “Some schools offer a dual-degree program in which the student earns a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree upon completion.”
The program
BLS states: “Master’s degree programs usually take 2 to 3 years to complete and typically include courses such as kinesiology, neuroscience, and anatomy. Additionally, these programs require a specified number of hours of supervised fieldwork during which prospective occupational therapists gain clinical experience.”
ACOTE’s U.S. school directory lists both OT Masters and OT Doctorate programs. On its students and public page, ACOTE states: “There is NO mandate regarding OT doctoral-degree-level education.” ACOTE’s public pages checked on November 10, 2026 did not state a program length for either degree level, so this site does not give one for doctoral programs. Ask the program, and confirm its status in the ACOTE directory.
Exam: NBCOT OTR
Unlike the NPTE’s fixed test dates, NBCOT’s Schedule your exam page, checked November 10, 2026, states: “The NBCOT exam is offered daily at hundreds of test centers.” It also states: “Once your application is approved, you can schedule your exam. You will receive an Authorization to Test (ATT) letter by email and in your MyNBCOT account.”
Timing points on NBCOT’s Apply for your exam page:
- The page has a heading that reads “Exam applications are valid for three months”.
- On transcripts: “After you apply for the exam, you must have your school send your official final college/university transcript.” It also states: “Transcripts are reviewed in the order they are received. This process can take up to 10 business days and may take longer during busy times.”
- On the Degree Verification Form (DVF): “If you use this form when applying for the exam it must be within six months of your anticipated graduation date and within the same calendar year of graduation.” It also states: “Your exam results are not released until we receive an official final transcript from your college/university.”
On scores, the schedule page states: “Exam scores are released according to the scoring calendar. If you want your exam result on a specific scoring date, you MUST take your exam a minimum of three days before that score release date.” The calendar itself did not render in a plain read of the page on November 10, 2026, so this site does not list score dates. Check them on NBCOT’s exam page.
Exam fees are on NBCOT’s apply page; this site does not copy them.
License
NBCOT’s Get Certified page states: “Certification is not the same as licensure.” How long a state or territory takes to issue a license is set by that board. This site does not list board processing times. Start from the state and territory directory.
After you certify
NBCOT’s certification renewal page states that if you complete your certification renewal requirements by your scheduled renewal date, you will be granted Active in Good Standing certification status for another three years. See renewal and CE.
Educated outside the United States? NBCOT states: “All OTED approvals are valid for 7 years from the date of approval.” See internationally educated pathways.