Occupational Therapy
Application documents received prior to the date noted below are currently in the initial stage of processing. The timeframe for the review and evaluation of these materials varies. Applications with education from outside the U.S. usually require a lengthier review process. All applicants should allow an additional 6-8 weeks for review after this date before submitting a Contact Us Form to request a status update, as contacting us earlier will delay processing. We cannot provide the status of a licensure application by phone. We thank you for your patience and cooperation.
| Profession | Currently Initiating the Process for Items Received |
|---|---|
| Occupational Therapists | 12/23/2021 |
| Occupational Therapy Assistants | 1/1/2022 |
Advisory Notice: For the latest information on COVID-19 issues impacting the licensed professions, including professional exam updates, please visit OP’s COVID-19 website.
Occupational therapists are licensed rehabilitation care professionals who work to restore or improve physical abilities, promote behavioral changes, adapt surroundings, and teach new skills; the goal is to have the individual achieve her or his best physical and/or mental functioning in daily life tasks. Occupational therapists provide these services on the referral or prescription of a physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner.
Occupational
therapy assistants provide treatment according to a plan developed
by or in collaboration with a licensed occupational therapist. They must
work under the supervision of a licensed occupational therapist or a licensed
physician.
Occupational therapy practitioners help people adapt to a variety
of challenges:
- developmental disabilities
- learning disabilities
- job-related injuries
- neurological problems
- orthopedic injuries
- birth defects
- stroke
- psychosocial disorders
- chemical dependency
- age-related disorders
They help with:
- impaired physical functioning which hampers the ability to perform daily life tasks
- psychosocial problems which hamper the ability to function in daily life
- special needs which require modification of the physical environment and/or use of specialized equipment and technologies (e.g., changes in the home or job site for a person in a wheelchair)
