Occupational Therapy Advisory Council

General Questions

1. Must I be a citizen of the United States to be eligible for licensure?

   No. New Jersey State law allows for all individuals, regardless of citizenship status, to obtain a professional or occupational license in New Jersey if all requirements for licensure are met. Individuals with undocumented status are eligible for licensure and a social security number is not required for licensure.
   

2. Should I submit the copy of the statutes and regulations I received along with the applications?

   No. That copy of the statutes and regulations should be kept in a safe place so that you may review it carefully. It is the responsibility of every applicant to become familiar with all of the laws and regulations governing the practice of occupational therapy in New Jersey.

3. Should I submit my supervision form and the required fee for a temporary license at the same time?

   No. As the instruction letter advises, do NOT submit the verification of supervision form and/or the required fee until you have received official notification from the Occupational Therapy Advisory Council that your application has been received, and that it has been completed correctly.

4. What should I do if when I take my application to be notarized, the notary public explains that he/she no longer has the notary public seal?

   The notary public is permitted to place his/her stamp on the application along with all of the pertinent information relevant to the notary's responsibilities.

5. When I ask the other state / jurisdiction where I hold an occupational therapy license to send the completed license verification form to the Advisory Council, must the form be sent DIRECTLY to the Council?

   Yes. Even though we are sending you the License Verification form that you will send with your request to the other state / jurisdiction, once the form has been completed by the other licensing authority, it must be sent DIRECTLY to the New Jersey Occupational Therapy Advisory Council.

6. When I request that my school/ university forward my transcripts to the Council, must the school/university send the transcripts DIRECTLY to the Council?

   Yes. Transcripts must be official documents and they must be forwarded DIRECTLY to the Advisory Council. Transcripts sent to the Council by applicants will not be accepted.

7. If I have been out of school for many years, do I still have to submit verification of fieldwork experience?

   Yes. This requirement applies to everyone who seeks licensure in New Jersey as an occupational therapist. This documentation may be obtained by contacting your school's Occupational Therapy Coordinator. The school's registrar will not be able to supply the verification of fieldwork experience.