Georgia OT Licensing

To practice occupational therapy in Georgia you currently need a license from the Georgia State Board of Occupational Therapy. Georgia has enacted the OT Compact, but as of October 2026 it is not among the states issuing privileges, according to otcompact.gov. A Georgia application includes proof of US citizenship or lawful presence, three references on the board's forms, and a passing NBCOT score. The board reviews complete files at its next regularly scheduled general meeting.

What does the application require?

The board's rules in Chapter 671-3 of the Georgia rules set out the core requirements:

• Application on the board's forms (Rule 671-3-.01).
• Citizenship or lawful presence: an affidavit that you are a US citizen or lawfully present, plus a secure and verifiable identification document from the list the Georgia Attorney General maintains. Both must be submitted to complete the application (Rule 671-3-.01).
• Three references on board forms from people who know your professional training or experience within the last five years. At least one must be a certified or licensed OT practitioner; the second may be another OT practitioner or any licensed health care professional; the third must be a personal reference (Rule 671-3-.02).
• The NBCOT exam: all OT and OTA applicants must pass it, except as otherwise provided by statute, and NBCOT sets the passing score (Rules 671-3-.03 and .04).

The reference rule is the one people underestimate. You depend on three other people returning forms, and a reference from a supervisor you have not worked with in the last five years does not meet the standard. Line up your references before you open the application.

How fast does the board act?

Rule 671-3-.07 says applications are reviewed "at the next regularly scheduled general meeting of the Board after all requirements for licensure have been met and the examination scores, if applicable, have been received." A file completed the day after a meeting waits for the next one. Check the board's meeting calendar and aim to be complete well before a meeting date. No one can promise a specific meeting. See how long OT license applications take.

Can new graduates work on a limited permit?

Yes, for 90 days. Once the board determines that you meet every requirement except the exam, it issues a 90-day limited permit to practice under the supervision of a Georgia-licensed OT. The permit is not issued or renewed for anyone who has failed an exam the board administers or approves. The rule also provides a 90-day permit for applicants who have passed a board-approved certification exam, and one to complete 320 hours of supervised clinical experience (Rule 671-3-.06). See temporary and limited OT licenses.

Are there options for military families?

Georgia has a specific rule for service members, transitioning service members and military spouses, which provides licensure by reciprocity for an applicant who holds a license in good standing from another state, among other conditions, and addresses physical agent modality certification for the same group (Rule 671-3-.13). See military spouses and OT licensing.

How do Georgia renewals work?

All Georgia OT and OTA licenses expire March 31 of even-numbered years. A license not renewed by then lapses and requires reinstatement, and practicing on an expired license can lead to discipline (Rule 671-3-.08). Each two-year period requires 24 continuing education hours:

• at least 12 hours on direct patient care topics (assessment, treatment planning, implementation and diagnosis-related information), earned in live formats: workshops, seminars, conferences, formal coursework or real-time interactive webinars where you can ask questions and get answers during the session;
• at least 2 hours on ethics, which may be online; and
• no more than 10 "general" hours from sources such as fieldwork supervision, publications, recorded courses and self-study.

CPR courses and employer compliance training do not count. The live-format rule is the trap: a stack of recorded webinars can leave you short on direct patient care hours even if your total is 24. See continuing competence requirements by state.

When will Georgia issue compact privileges?

We will not guess a date. Georgia is an enacted member, and the Commission's fee table already lists Georgia's state fee ($75 for an OT, $65 for an OTA), but Georgia is not on the list of states accepting applications. Until it opens, a privilege from another state does not cover Georgia patients, and a Georgia license cannot serve as a home license for privileges elsewhere. See the OT Compact hub.

How can we help in Georgia?

Our License by Endorsement service ($599 OT, $499 OTA) prepares the application and lawful-presence documents, manages the three reference forms, confirms NBCOT documentation and times the file to the board's meeting calendar. New graduates use our Full State License Application ($749 OT, $649 OTA). Board fees are separate. See our Georgia requirements page.