Verified October 8, 2026 against the practice act, board rules and sources cited below. The board decides every application. All states
What OTs miss in Iowa
- OTAs need only 15 CE hours per biennium, half the OT requirement.
- A licensed out-of-state OT may practice up to 30 days a calendar year in association with an Iowa-licensed OT.
- The CE and renewal cycle is tied to the licensee's birth month.
Can I practice in Iowa on an OT Compact privilege?
Iowa has enacted the OT Compact but is not issuing privileges yet. Until it does, practicing here takes a Iowa license, and a Iowa license does not yet give you a privilege anywhere else.
- Enacted, not issuing yet
Can an OT licensed in another state get a Iowa license by endorsement?
The board may waive the exam for an OT or OTA with a current license in another state, DC or a US territory whose standards it considers equivalent to Iowa's.
- Endorsement route available
Citation: Iowa Code § 148B.6(2)
Which exams does Iowa require for a license?
Applicants must pass an examination satisfactory to the board. The statute refers to the entry-level certification examination without naming NBCOT.
Does Iowa offer a temporary or limited OT license?
A nonrenewable limited permit lets graduates who have not yet taken or received results of the entry-level certification exam practice under an Iowa-licensed OT. Separately, a licensed out-of-state OT may work up to 30 days a year in association with an Iowa-licensed OT without a license.
- Temporary or limited license available
Citation: Iowa Code §§ 148B.4, 148B.3(5)
What OTAs need to know in Iowa
The OT must supervise the OTA any time OT services are provided, on site or by telecommunication or other technology, and the OTA must always know who the supervisor is and how to reach them. The OT evaluates and writes the treatment plan the OTA follows.
How often does a Iowa OT license renew?
The CE period runs two years from the 16th day of the birth month. OTs need 30 hours and OTAs 15 hours each biennium. First-time licensees need no CE for the first renewal.
- Renews every 2 years
- 30 CE hours per cycle
Licensing in Iowa?
For a license, we send your NBCOT score and verifications, file the application and carry the board correspondence. License by endorsement is $599 for an OT and $499 for an OTA.