How to Become an Occupational Therapist in Maine

With its beautiful rugged coastlines and idyllic beauty, Maine is a great place to live and also a wonderful state to become a licensed Occupational Therapist. The Bureau of Labor and Statistics has shown that according to information in the 2010 census, Maine employed roughly 1,000 Occupational Therapists. The BLS is currently forecasting rapid growth for the Occupational Therapy sector, which is expected to expand 33% faster than the average, during the 2010 to 2020 timeframe. The BLS compiled salary data from the 2010 census showing that an Occupational Therapist in Maine can expect a median salary of $66,370 per year.

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Occupational Therapy Assistant Requirements:

You must earn an Associate’s degree or higher in Occupational Therapy from an American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) or the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) certified school.
Performed at least 2 months of occupational therapy work experience under the direct supervision of a licensed Occupational therapist.
You must have at least two professional references to present to the board.
Pass a criminal background check.
Pass the National Board of Occupational Therapists (NBCOT) COTA examination.
To renew your license, you must complete 15 Continuing Education contact hours per year during the licensure period.
You can find the application form for the Occupational Therapy Assistant here.

Occupational Therapist Requirements:

You must earn a Bachelor or Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from an American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) or the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) certified school.
Performed at least 6 months of occupational therapy work experience as part of an internship under a licensed Occupational Therapist.
You must have at least two professional references to present to the board.
Pass a criminal background check.
Pass the NBCOT OTR examination.
To renew your license, you must complete 15 Continuing Education contact hours per year during the licensure period.
You can find the application form for the Occupational Therapist here.

You will find exact details on how to become an Occupational Therapist or Occupational Therapy Assistant below.

Step 1: Graduate from an ACOTE Accredited School

Occupational Therapy Assistant:

If you wish to practice as an Occupational Therapy Assistant in Maine, you must first graduate from an ACOTE accredited school with at least an Associate’s degree in an OT related field. Maine has one school that offers an Associate’s degree in an accredited program:

Kennebec Valley Community College

Registered Occupational Therapist:

To serve as a Licensed Occupational Therapist in Maine, you must first graduate from an ACOTE certified program with a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in an occupational therapy related discipline. There are currently three schools in Maine with an ACOTE certified curriculum:

University of New England
Husson University
University of Southern Maine at Lewis-Auburn College

Step 2: Fulfill Clinical Work Requirements

Occupational Therapy Assistant:

Prior to licensure as an Occupational Therapy Assistant, you must complete at least two months of occupational therapy work in a clinical environment and under the supervision of a licensed Occupational Therapist.

Registered Occupational Therapist:

In order to be licensed as an Occupational Therapist, you must first complete at least six months of work in a clinical setting and under the direct supervision of a Licensed Occupational Therapist.

Step 3: Obtain National Certification

Occupational Therapy Assistant:

Before you may obtain a license as an Occupational Therapy Assistant in Maine, you must first be nationally certified. In order to become certified, you must take the Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) exam offered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy and score in the 70th percentile.

Registered Occupational Therapist:

You must take the NBCOT’s Occupational Therapist Registered (OTR) exam and score at least in the 70th percentile to obtain national certification as an Occupational Therapist prior to obtaining a Maine license.

Step 4: Complete the Maine State License Application Process

Occupational Therapy Assistant:

Submit a signed and completed application
Provide a check or money order for the $126 license fee
Request all official transcripts be sent to the Maine Board of Occupational Therapy Practice
Request a Verification of Certification from the NBCOT be sent to the board
Submit Verification of Supervision
Request Verification of Licensures from all jurisdictions in which you have practiced

Registered Occupational Therapist:

Submit a signed and completed application
Provide a check or money order for the $121 license fee
Request all official transcripts be sent to the Maine Board of Occupational Therapy Practice
Request a Verification of Certification from the NBCOT be sent to the board
Submit Verification of Supervision
Request Verification of Licensures from all jurisdictions in which you have practiced

Allow several weeks for the required documentation to arrive and for the board to issue a license.

Step 5: Maintain Professional Credentials

Occupational Therapy Assistant:

You must complete 15 continuing education contact hours per year to remain in good standing and qualify for license renewal at the end of the two year licensure cycle Registered Occupational Therapist:

If you wish to renew your license as an Occupational Therapist in Maine, you must complete 15 continuing education contact hours per year.

You may find additional information and resources on the following websites: