# Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-13-202: Applicants for licensure - Qualifications - Examinations > Tennessee · Statutes · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T63_C13_S63-13-202 ## Section - **Citation:** Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-13-202 - **Heading:** Applicants for licensure - Qualifications - Examinations - **Jurisdiction:** Tennessee - **Kind:** Statutes - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** TN Code / Title 63 / Chapter 13 / Section 63-13-202 ## Text (a) An applicant for licensure as an occupational therapist or as an occupational therapy assistant shall file an application showing, to the satisfaction of the board of occupational therapy, that the applicant: (1) Is of good moral character; (2) Has successfully completed the academic requirements of an educational program accredited by ACOTE or its predecessor organization. The accredited program shall be a program for occupational therapists or a program for occupational therapy assistants, depending upon the category of licensure for which the applicant is applying; (3) Has successfully completed the period of supervised fieldwork experience required by ACOTE; and (4) Has made an acceptable score on a written or computerized examination designed to test the applicant's knowledge of the basic and clinical services related to occupational therapy, occupational therapy techniques and methods and other subjects that may help to determine an applicant's fitness to practice. The board of occupational therapy shall approve an examination for occupational therapists and an examination for occupational therapy assistants and shall establish standards for acceptable performance on each examination. The board is authorized to use the entry level national examinations prepared and administered by NBCOT as the examinations used to test applicants for licensure as occupational therapists or occupational therapy assistants and is authorized to use the standards of NBCOT in determining an acceptable score on each examination. (b) (1) When the board receives a completed application for initial licensure from an applicant, then the board shall, within sixty (60) days from the date the board receives the completed application: (A) Render a decision on the application; or (B) Inform the applicant of the need to appear before the board. (2) As used in this subsection (b), "completed application" means an application that satisfies all statutory and board rule requirements. Amended by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 426, s 11, eff. 5/11/2023. Acts 1984, ch. 921, § 3; T.C.A., § 63-13-302 ; Acts 1999, ch. 415, § 2; 2006, ch. 765, § 4; 2007 , ch. 115, § 7. (a) An applicant for licensure as an occupational therapist or as an occupational therapy assistant shall file an application showing, to the satisfaction of the board of occupational therapy, that the applicant: (1) Is of good moral character; (2) Has successfully completed the academic requirements of an educational program accredited by ACOTE or its predecessor organization. The accredited program shall be a program for occupational therapists or a program for occupational therapy assistants, depending upon the category of licensure for which the applicant is applying; (3) Has successfully completed the period of supervised fieldwork experience required by ACOTE; and (4) Has made an acceptable score on a written or computerized examination designed to test the applicant's knowledge of the basic and clinical services related to occupational therapy, occupational therapy techniques and methods and other subjects that may help to determine an applicant's fitness to practice. The board of occupational therapy shall approve an examination for occupational therapists and an examination for occupational therapy assistants and shall establish standards for acceptable performance on each examination. The board is authorized to use the entry level national examinations prepared and administered by NBCOT as the examinations used to test applicants for licensure as occupational therapists or occupational therapy assistants and is authorized to use the standards of NBCOT in determining an acceptable score on each examination. (1) Is of good moral character; eptable performance on each examination. The board is authorized to use the entry level national examinations prepared and administered by NBCOT as the examinations used to test applicants for licensure as occupational therapists or occupational therapy assistants and is authorized to use the standards of NBCOT in determining an acceptable score on each examination. (1) Is of good moral character; (2) Has successfully completed the academic requirements of an educational program accredited by ACOTE or its predecessor organization. The accredited program shall be a program for occupational therapists or a program for occupational therapy assistants, depending upon the category of licensure for which the applicant is applying; (3) Has successfully completed the period of supervised fieldwork experience required by ACOTE; and (4) Has made an acceptable score on a written or computerized examination designed to test the applicant's knowledge of the basic and clinical services related to occupational therapy, occupational therapy techniques and methods and other subjects that may help to determine an applicant's fitness to practice. The board of occupational therapy shall approve an examination for occupational therapists and an examination for occupational therapy assistants and shall establish standards for acceptable performance on each examination. The board is authorized to use the entry level national examinations prepared and administered by NBCOT as the examinations used to test applicants for licensure as occupational therapists or occupational therapy assistants and is authorized to use the standards of NBCOT in determining an acceptable score on each examination. (b) (1) When the board receives a completed application for initial licensure from an applicant, then the board shall, within sixty (60) days from the date the board receives the completed application: (A) Render a decision on the application; or (B) Inform the applicant of the need to appear before the board. (2) As used in this subsection (b), "completed application" means an application that satisfies all statutory and board rule requirements. (1) When the board receives a completed application for initial licensure from an applicant, then the board shall, within sixty (60) days from the date the board receives the completed application: (A) Render a decision on the application; or (B) Inform the applicant of the need to appear before the board. (A) Render a decision on the application; or (B) Inform the applicant of the need to appear before the board. (2) As used in this subsection (b), "completed application" means an application that satisfies all statutory and board rule requirements. Amended by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 426, s 11, eff. 5/11/2023. Acts 1984, ch. 921, § 3; T.C.A., § 63-13-302 ; Acts 1999, ch. 415, § 2; 2006, ch. 765, § 4; 2007 , ch. 115, § 7. ## Nearby sections - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-13-101 Short title](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T63_C13_S63-13-101.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-13-102 Legislative intent](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T63_C13_S63-13-102.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-13-103 Chapter definitions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T63_C13_S63-13-103.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-13-104 Unauthorized practice of medicine - Scope of practice](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T63_C13_S63-13-104.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-13-201 Legislative purpose](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T63_C13_S63-13-201.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-13-202 Applicants for licensure - Qualifications - Examinations](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T63_C13_S63-13-202.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-13-203 Determining qualifications of applicants - Granting licenses and permits](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T63_C13_S63-13-203.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-13-204 Licenses - Issuance - Fees - Revocation - Reinstatement - Renewal](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T63_C13_S63-13-204.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-13-205 Limited permits - Failure of initial examination](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T63_C13_S63-13-205.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-13-206 Supervision of an occupational therapy assistant by an occupational therapist](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T63_C13_S63-13-206.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-13-207 Delegation of tasks to unlicensed personnel](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T63_C13_S63-13-207.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-13-208 Construction of part - Activities not prohibited](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T63_C13_S63-13-208.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-13-209 Denial, suspension or revocation of license](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T63_C13_S63-13-209.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-13-210 Administrative procedure](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T63_C13_S63-13-210.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T63_C13_S63-13-202. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.