Application

Apply by Exam

GETTING A LICENSE BY TAKING THE NATIONAL EXAM

Who is eligible:  A person who has graduated from an accredited occupational therapy program and has never been licensed as a OT or OTA in any US state or territory. 

• Apply online or download a paper application.
• There are other items which must be received by the board:
  •  passport type photo on phographic paper, 2" x 2", with your name and last 4 digits of SSN on back.  Mail to ECPTOTE, 333 Guadalupe St #2-510, Austin, TX  78701.
  • JURISPRUDENCE EXAM:  The Board requires a short, open book online Jurisprudence Exam (JP) based on reading and understanding the OT Practice Act and the OT Board Rules.  You may take the online JP exam at any time during the application process.  There is no fee to take the exam, and you may take it more than once if you do not pass it on the first try.  Your score will be automatically reported to the Board via email. 
  • SSN:  The Board requires your Social Security Number (SSN). If you do not have one yet, download our form which states that you do not currently have a SSN and send us the signed form.
  • PHYSICAL HOME ADDRESS;  A  post office box  may be used for your mailing address, but you must also supply a physical home address and a contact phone number.
  • E-MAIL ADDRESS: Enter your email address so you may later receive an email from us with your applicant password.  The applicant password will let you go online to see when we receive each of the required items and when your license is issued and mailed.
  • Send in a copy of your NBCOT receipt, which shows that you have ordered a score report for Texas.

  Look up your school code.

  Read the OT Rules.

  Applicant Change in Information: You are required to notify us within 30 days of name change, plus home or work address changes.  You may not be employed yet, but when you are, send that information to the board via mail, email through this website Forms or fax, 512/305-6970 or 512/305-6951.

  Eligibility Exceptions

  If you are applying for a Texas license from a non-licensing state or military, refer to §364.4 (a) (4) as we will need the Verification of Employment form, found on the Forms Page of the website.

Apply by Endorsement

Licensure by Endorsement. An Initial Texas license when you hold a current license in another US State or US Territory.  The Board must receive: 
 

1. Complete online or paper application with application fee(s);
2. passport type photo on phographic paper, 2" x 2", with your name and last 4 digits of SSN on back
3. Passing NBCOT score report sent to us directly from NBCOT;
4. Verification of all current or expired OT state licenses ever held;  Some may be expired, but at least one must be current and active; these are sent directly to the board by the state that issued the license.
5. Passing score on the online jurisprudence exam;
6. SSN, or signed form that you do not presently have a  SSN; and
7. Physical home address, plus a mailing address, if different and a contact phone number.

 Name Change

The board requires a copy of the documentation for your name change,, e.g. a photocopy of the marriage certificate, divorce or adoption papers.

Address Changes: You must notify the Board of an address and work change within 30 days. Email, write, or fax the Board with every address change, you can use the form from the homepage.  Click here to go to the online Change of Address form.  We must have your physical address, if you are using a PO Box for address.

Starting Work: You and your employer can verify your license on our Verification page.

In a hurry? Use overnight night mail to our street address. You may include a pre-paid overnight air bill or pre-paid overnight envelope, or prepaid overnight tag you fax us to return the license for faster delivery.

 
Take the Applicant Jurisprudence Exam

Check Status

APPLICATION STATUS LOOKUP

You may check the status of your application online if you have received your Applicant Password from the Board. The Board emails you the Applicant Password once we have received your application, fee, and email address. 

 If you have applied but you have not received an Applicant Password, request one by emailing the Board at info@ecptote.state.tx.us.  Your applicant password will be sent to the email address that you send your request from UNLESS you specify a different email address in the text of your request. The email address you use will be added to the primary contact information we have on file for you.  Work or school email addresses may change; please use a personal email address.

To make sure that you receive emails from the Board:
  - Add info@ecptote.state.tx.us, admin@ecptote.state.tx.us to your “safe” e-mail addresses. 
  - Check your “junk mail” and “bulk mail” folders for emails from the Board.
  - Contact your email provider if you need assistance with the above.

What the Status Page shows:  Your name, the list of required items, a received date by each item received, and NOTES at the bottom regarding those items if necessary.  You will also see the date your temporary and/or permanent (regular) license was issued. 

Please allow 3 business days for us to process items received.  Status information is updated and applicant passwords are emailed at the END of each business day. 

TEMPORARY LICENSE FIELDS FOR EXAM APPLICANTS - If you are applying by exam, you will see items required to get a Temporary License.   

VERIFICATIONS FROM OTHER STATES - If you are applying by endorsement, you may have to send verification of licensure from more than one state.  Each required state verification is listed separately with the two-letter state code (e.g. TX for Texas).

HOW TO CHECK YOUR STATUS

On the search page, enter your Applicant Password in UPPER CASE in the search box and click on the Find button. 

If no results are returned, it may be for one of the following reasons:
- your applicant password is entered incorrectly (Letters must be in UPPER case)
- your application has expired (applications are valid for 1 year)
- your permanent license was mailed more than 7 days ago

If you have your Applicant Password, click on CHECK STATUS. A new window will open so you can return to this instructions page.

FAQs

 How long does it take to get a license?
We issue the license in 1-4 days of receiving all the required items. Usually the score report from NBCOT or license verifications take the longest to arrive.

Does everything have to arrive together?
No.  We start a file with your items, but you are only entered in our database when we receive your application and application fee.  All other items are entered into the database as they arrive.  The last item received is usually the exam score.  Whenever the last required item is received, your license is issued.

What must be received?
Once we have all the required items, we issue the license in 1-4 business days.  You will see your license reflected on the Verification page.

Will my prior conviction affect getting a license?
If you have disciplinary actions in your past, be their felonies or misdemeanors, you should address those issues with the board beforehand.  Waiting until you report it on your application will cause a delay in issuing. Download the Criminal History Evaluation Letter and have the issues resolved as soon as possible.  It is recommended that students use this review before applying or attending an OT or OTA program.