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Alabama Occupational Therapist School

By Susan Maphis, allied health world contributing writer
Published:  March 21th, 2010

Steps to Become an Occupational Therapist in the State of Alabama

1. Receive a Bachelor's degree from a college or university in a field related to health care. Examples of qualifying majors include Biology, Physiology, Psychology, or Human Development.
2. Earn a Master's degree from one of the accredited online Alabama Occupational Therapy schools. Coursework from the biological, physical, and behavioral sciences should be included.
3. Pass the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy exam (NBCOT). Contact the board directly to arrange to take the examination:
   
   National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy Inc.
   800 S. Frederick Avenue, Suite 200
   Gaithersburg, MD 20877-4150
   (301) 990-7979
   www.nbcot.org
   
   
4. Have the NBCOT send a verification form directly to the Alabama State Board of Occupational Therapy:
   Alabama State Board of Occupational Therapy
   P.O. Box 3926
   Montgomery, AL 36109-0926
   (334) 353-4466
   ot.alabama.gov
5. Completion of license verification forms from any other states in which you have been licensed as an Occupational Therapist
6. A fee of $115, which will pay for an initial OT license for one year. (After renewal, subsequent OT licenses are good for two years).
7. A recent head and shoulders photograph must be attached to the application.
8. Make sure all application forms are completed, signed, and notarized, and mail to the address for the Alabama State Board of Occupational Therapy (given above). Application forms are available at: http://ot.alabama.gov/pdfs/InstrAppForLicense.pdf If you have applied for a license and wish for verification of certification of your license to be sent to a regulatory agency or employer, you can complete a form and enclose $35 for each Verification of Certification Request.

Once you receive your initial license in Occupational Therapy in the state of Alabama, it is valid for a period of one year; however, after the first renewal, your license will be up for renewal every two years. You must submit a Renewal Application with a fee of $115 to the State Board at the time of renewal.

Through campus based and online programs, aspiring Occupational Therapists in Birmingham, Montgomery, Mobile and Huntsville, Alabama may be able to prepare themselves for the possibility of employment in some of the largest hospitals and healthcare facilities in the state including Huntsville Hospital, Mobile Infirmary Medical Center, Saint Vincent's Birmingham, and Dekalb Regional Medical Center.