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Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant Licensure in North Carolina

  • Timeline 6-9 weeks
  • Initial Costs $158
  • Renewal Costs $50
  • CE Requirements 15 Points
  • Compact No

How to apply

To secure your Travel Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant license in North Carolina, you'll be working with the North Carolina Board of Occupational Therapy. You will submit your application through the NCBOT Online Portal. Before you start, I recommend initiating your NBCOT verification, but hold off on sending transcripts as the Board has a unique process for those.

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Purchase Your Application: Unlike most states, you must first "buy" access to the application. Head over to the portal to purchase the online application request. Once processed, the Board will email you specific login credentials to access your personal application.
  2. Complete the Online Application: Log in with your new credentials and fill out the application. You will need to pay the licensure fee at the end of this process. Hit submit to get the ball rolling.
  3. Ace the Jurisprudence Exam: You are required to pass an online Jurisprudence Exam covering the North Carolina Practice Act and Rules. It is an open-book style exam taken directly on the Board's website. You must score 100%, but don't worry—you can retake it if necessary, and there is no extra fee.
  4. Request NBCOT Verification: Log into your NBCOT account and request a verification of certification be sent to North Carolina. This serves as your primary proof of education and exam passage. Important: Do NOT send your school transcripts to the Board; they rely on the NBCOT verification instead.
  5. Submit Moral Character Forms: You will need to provide two "Moral Character Forms" signed by individuals who can attest to your character. These forms are typically provided by the Board during the application process. Ensure these are completed and returned according to the instructions provided in your application portal.

What You'll Need & Key Details

  • Documents to Have Ready: Driver's License, Social Security Number, and employment history for the past few years.
  • Items to Request: NBCOT Verification (sent directly to the Board).
  • Moral Character References: Two individuals ready to sign the Board-provided forms.
  • Exams: North Carolina Jurisprudence Exam (completed online).

Here is the breakdown of what you can expect to spend to get licensed in North Carolina:

  • Application Fee: $100
  • Background Check / Fingerprinting: $38 (approximate)
  • Jurisprudence Exam: $0
  • Verifications: $20 (approximate)
  • Total Estimated Initial Cost: $158

Note: Fees are subject to change by the Board, but this gives you a solid estimate to plan your budget!

When to Renew: North Carolina Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant renewal happens annually and is due by June 30th.

Cost: The renewal fee is approximately $50.

Note: The renewal window opens on April 1st, and the process must be completed online.

15 Points required every year.

Deadline: June 30th annually.

Live vs. Online: Great news for Travel Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant CEUs: there is no limit on home-study or online courses. You can complete all 15 points through online platforms.

Provider Restrictions: The North Carolina Board of Occupational Therapy (NCBOT) does not pre-approve specific providers. Instead, the burden is on the practitioner to ensure the content is related to the practice of occupational therapy. High-quality clinical portals like MedBridge are widely accepted for meeting these requirements.

Mandatory Topics

  • Ethics (1 Point)
  • Jurisprudence: While no separate exam is required for renewal, the mandatory Ethics point must cover professional responsibility and the North Carolina Occupational Therapy Practice Act.


Excluded Topics: CPR, First Aid, business or office management, marketing, and personal development/financial courses.

New Licensee Rule: If you are newly licensed and your first renewal cycle is less than 12 months, your requirement is prorated at 1.25 points per month.

Reporting: North Carolina is an audit-based state. You do not need to submit certificates during renewal, but you must maintain documentation of your points for at least 2 years in case of an audit.

Need to reach out with questions or send in documents? Here are the direct details for the North Carolina Board of Occupational Therapy:


Ready to start? Click here to go directly to the Application Portal.

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How to Apply

To secure your Travel Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant license in North Carolina, you'll be working with the North Carolina Board of Occupational Therapy. You will submit your application through the NCBOT Online Portal. Before you start, I recommend initiating your NBCOT verification, but hold off on sending transcripts as the Board has a unique process for those.

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Purchase Your Application: Unlike most states, you must first "buy" access to the application. Head over to the portal to purchase the online application request. Once processed, the Board will email you specific login credentials to access your personal application.
  2. Complete the Online Application: Log in with your new credentials and fill out the application. You will need to pay the licensure fee at the end of this process. Hit submit to get the ball rolling.
  3. Ace the Jurisprudence Exam: You are required to pass an online Jurisprudence Exam covering the North Carolina Practice Act and Rules. It is an open-book style exam taken directly on the Board's website. You must score 100%, but don't worry—you can retake it if necessary, and there is no extra fee.
  4. Request NBCOT Verification: Log into your NBCOT account and request a verification of certification be sent to North Carolina. This serves as your primary proof of education and exam passage. Important: Do NOT send your school transcripts to the Board; they rely on the NBCOT verification instead.
  5. Submit Moral Character Forms: You will need to provide two "Moral Character Forms" signed by individuals who can attest to your character. These forms are typically provided by the Board during the application process. Ensure these are completed and returned according to the instructions provided in your application portal.

What You'll Need & Key Details

  • Documents to Have Ready: Driver's License, Social Security Number, and employment history for the past few years.
  • Items to Request: NBCOT Verification (sent directly to the Board).
  • Moral Character References: Two individuals ready to sign the Board-provided forms.
  • Exams: North Carolina Jurisprudence Exam (completed online).

Here is the breakdown of what you can expect to spend to get licensed in North Carolina:

  • Application Fee: $100
  • Background Check / Fingerprinting: $38 (approximate)
  • Jurisprudence Exam: $0
  • Verifications: $20 (approximate)
  • Total Estimated Initial Cost: $158

Note: Fees are subject to change by the Board, but this gives you a solid estimate to plan your budget!

When to Renew: North Carolina Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant renewal happens annually and is due by June 30th.

Cost: The renewal fee is approximately $50.

Note: The renewal window opens on April 1st, and the process must be completed online.

15 Points required every year.

Deadline: June 30th annually.

Live vs. Online: Great news for Travel Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant CEUs: there is no limit on home-study or online courses. You can complete all 15 points through online platforms.

Provider Restrictions: The North Carolina Board of Occupational Therapy (NCBOT) does not pre-approve specific providers. Instead, the burden is on the practitioner to ensure the content is related to the practice of occupational therapy. High-quality clinical portals like MedBridge are widely accepted for meeting these requirements.

Mandatory Topics

  • Ethics (1 Point)
  • Jurisprudence: While no separate exam is required for renewal, the mandatory Ethics point must cover professional responsibility and the North Carolina Occupational Therapy Practice Act.


Excluded Topics: CPR, First Aid, business or office management, marketing, and personal development/financial courses.

New Licensee Rule: If you are newly licensed and your first renewal cycle is less than 12 months, your requirement is prorated at 1.25 points per month.

Reporting: North Carolina is an audit-based state. You do not need to submit certificates during renewal, but you must maintain documentation of your points for at least 2 years in case of an audit.

Need to reach out with questions or send in documents? Here are the direct details for the North Carolina Board of Occupational Therapy:


Ready to start? Click here to go directly to the Application Portal.

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