Occupational Therapist Licensure in Rhode Island
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Timeline 6-9 weeks
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Initial Costs $205
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Renewal Costs $140
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CE Requirements 20 Hours
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Compact No
How to apply
To secure your Travel Occupational Therapist license in Rhode Island, you'll be working with the Rhode Island Board of Occupational Therapy Practice. You will submit your application through the MyLicense portal. Before you start, I recommend initiating your background check and requesting your transcripts, as these steps often take the longest.
Step-by-Step Guide
- Submit Your Application: Head over to the MyLicense portal to create an account and submit your initial application. If you prefer paper, you can download the form from the Board's site, but online is faster.
- Request Your Background Check: Rhode Island requires a specific criminal background check (BCI) from the Rhode Island Attorney General's Office. You cannot use a third-party vendor like IdentoGO for this. You will need to request this by mail (or in person if you are local) and have the original BCI report mailed directly to the Board.
- Request Official Transcripts: Contact your university to have your official transcripts sent directly to the Rhode Island Board. These must come straight from the source; they won't accept copies you send yourself.
- Verify Your NBCOT Scores: Log in to your NBCOT account and request a score transfer to be sent to the Rhode Island Board.
- License Verification: If you hold or have held licenses in other states, you must request official verification from each of those boards to be sent to Rhode Island.
What You'll Need & Key Details
- Documents to Have Ready: Driver's License or Government ID, Social Security Number, and a recent passport-style photograph (often required for the application).
- Items to Request: Official Transcripts, NBCOT Score Transfer, State License Verifications, and the BCI Report from the RI Attorney General.
- Exams: There is currently no Jurisprudence Exam required for Occupational Therapists in Rhode Island.
Initial Costs
Here is the breakdown of what you can expect to spend to get licensed in Rhode Island:
- Application Fee: $140
- Background Check / Fingerprinting: $35 (approximate)
- Jurisprudence Exam: $0
- Verifications: $30 (approximate)
- Total Estimated Initial Cost: $205
Note: Fees are subject to change by the Board, but this gives you a solid estimate to plan your budget!
Renewals
When to Renew: Rhode Island Occupational Therapist renewal happens every two years and is due by June 15th of even-numbered years.
Cost: The renewal fee is approximately $140.
Note: Make sure to complete your 20 hours of continuing education within the two-year cycle preceding the deadline to ensure a smooth renewal process.
CE Requirements
20 Hours required every 2 years.
Deadline: March 31st of even-numbered years.
Live vs. Online: Great news for Travel Occupational Therapist CEUs: Rhode Island currently has no limit on home-study or online courses, allowing you to complete all requirements through distance learning.
Provider Restrictions: Courses must be approved by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), the Rhode Island Occupational Therapy Association (RIOTA), or other state OT associations. General portals like MedBridge are accepted as they are an AOTA Approved Provider.
Mandatory Topics
- No specific mandatory topics—choose what interests you!
Excluded Topics: CPR, basic first aid, business management, marketing, and personal self-help or financial courses.
New Licensee Rule: If your initial license was issued within the 12 months immediately preceding the March 31st deadline, you are exempt from continuing education requirements for that first renewal cycle.
Reporting: Rhode Island utilizes an audit-based system. You are not required to report hours at the time of renewal but must maintain your certificates of completion for at least 4 years in case of an audit.
Board Information
Need to reach out with questions or send in documents? Here are the direct details for the Rhode Island Board of Occupational Therapy Practice:
- Address: 3 Capitol Hl Ste 104 Providence, RI 02908-5034
- Website: Visit Board Website
- Phone: (401) 222-2828
- Fax: (401) 222-1272
- Email: doh.elicense@health.ri.gov
Ready to start? Click here to go directly to the Application Portal.
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How to Apply
To secure your Travel Occupational Therapist license in Rhode Island, you'll be working with the Rhode Island Board of Occupational Therapy Practice. You will submit your application through the MyLicense portal. Before you start, I recommend initiating your background check and requesting your transcripts, as these steps often take the longest.
Step-by-Step Guide
- Submit Your Application: Head over to the MyLicense portal to create an account and submit your initial application. If you prefer paper, you can download the form from the Board's site, but online is faster.
- Request Your Background Check: Rhode Island requires a specific criminal background check (BCI) from the Rhode Island Attorney General's Office. You cannot use a third-party vendor like IdentoGO for this. You will need to request this by mail (or in person if you are local) and have the original BCI report mailed directly to the Board.
- Request Official Transcripts: Contact your university to have your official transcripts sent directly to the Rhode Island Board. These must come straight from the source; they won't accept copies you send yourself.
- Verify Your NBCOT Scores: Log in to your NBCOT account and request a score transfer to be sent to the Rhode Island Board.
- License Verification: If you hold or have held licenses in other states, you must request official verification from each of those boards to be sent to Rhode Island.
What You'll Need & Key Details
- Documents to Have Ready: Driver's License or Government ID, Social Security Number, and a recent passport-style photograph (often required for the application).
- Items to Request: Official Transcripts, NBCOT Score Transfer, State License Verifications, and the BCI Report from the RI Attorney General.
- Exams: There is currently no Jurisprudence Exam required for Occupational Therapists in Rhode Island.
Initial Costs
Here is the breakdown of what you can expect to spend to get licensed in Rhode Island:
- Application Fee: $140
- Background Check / Fingerprinting: $35 (approximate)
- Jurisprudence Exam: $0
- Verifications: $30 (approximate)
- Total Estimated Initial Cost: $205
Note: Fees are subject to change by the Board, but this gives you a solid estimate to plan your budget!
Renewals
When to Renew: Rhode Island Occupational Therapist renewal happens every two years and is due by June 15th of even-numbered years.
Cost: The renewal fee is approximately $140.
Note: Make sure to complete your 20 hours of continuing education within the two-year cycle preceding the deadline to ensure a smooth renewal process.
CE Requirements
20 Hours required every 2 years.
Deadline: March 31st of even-numbered years.
Live vs. Online: Great news for Travel Occupational Therapist CEUs: Rhode Island currently has no limit on home-study or online courses, allowing you to complete all requirements through distance learning.
Provider Restrictions: Courses must be approved by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), the Rhode Island Occupational Therapy Association (RIOTA), or other state OT associations. General portals like MedBridge are accepted as they are an AOTA Approved Provider.
Mandatory Topics
- No specific mandatory topics—choose what interests you!
Excluded Topics: CPR, basic first aid, business management, marketing, and personal self-help or financial courses.
New Licensee Rule: If your initial license was issued within the 12 months immediately preceding the March 31st deadline, you are exempt from continuing education requirements for that first renewal cycle.
Reporting: Rhode Island utilizes an audit-based system. You are not required to report hours at the time of renewal but must maintain your certificates of completion for at least 4 years in case of an audit.
Board Information
Need to reach out with questions or send in documents? Here are the direct details for the Rhode Island Board of Occupational Therapy Practice:
- Address: 3 Capitol Hl Ste 104 Providence, RI 02908-5034
- Website: Visit Board Website
- Phone: (401) 222-2828
- Fax: (401) 222-1272
- Email: doh.elicense@health.ri.gov
Ready to start? Click here to go directly to the Application Portal.