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NBCOT is your partner in promoting practice excellence throughout your career.

We believe that continually supporting your practice has long-term benefits for all stakeholders. As an OTR or COTA, you have access to a wide range of tools to help you maintain your certification and support your continued competency.

Certification at a National Level

Maintaining your national board certification with NBCOT means you are committed to meeting the highest standards of professional practice. You hold yourself accountable to practice standards and a code of conduct to serve the public interest.

You can use the same professional development for your certification and your licensure. You do not need to duplicate efforts in any state.

Twelve states accept current NBCOT certification as an option for fulfilling state licensure continuing education renewal requirements: Alaska, Colorado, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oregon, South Carolina (NBCOT certification is a requirement for licensure), South Dakota, and Vermont.

NBCOT sets the standard for competence in occupational therapy. Licensure between states is not universal and therefore, is not always a good indicator of a therapist’s continued competence in this growing field. Research and evidence-based practice influences how our profession evolves. The NBCOT credential verifies that a therapist meets the standards for maintaining knowledge of current practice.

Why is it Important to Maintain Your Certification?