Licensing

Occupational Therapy Credentials Explained

By Deepam Pawar, OT · Updated October 9, 2026 · Sources: NBCOT, ACOTE

OT letters come from three places: your degree (MOT, MSOT, OTD; OTA associate or bachelor’s), your NBCOT certification (OTR or COTA) and your state license (the “/L”).

Letters	Meaning	Comes from
OTR	Occupational Therapist, Registered	Passing the NBCOT exam for OTs
OTR/L	Registered OT who also holds a state license	NBCOT + state board
COTA	Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant	Passing the NBCOT exam for OTAs
COTA/L	Certified OTA who also holds a state license	NBCOT + state board
OTD	Doctor of Occupational Therapy (entry-level or post-professional)	Degree
MOT / MSOT / MS	Master’s degree in occupational therapy (title varies by school)	Degree
OTA associate / bachelor’s	OT assistant degree (AAS, AS, AOS or BS)	Degree

Which ones do you need?

To practice you need a degree from an ACOTE-accredited program, a passing NBCOT exam score, and a license from your state. How licensing works · Master’s vs. OTD.

Frequently asked questions

What does OTR/L mean?

OTR means Occupational Therapist, Registered, the credential earned by passing the NBCOT certification exam. The “/L” indicates the person also holds a state license. Many OTs sign as OTR/L.

What does COTA/L mean?

COTA means Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant, earned by passing the NBCOT exam for assistants; “/L” indicates a state license.

Are occupational therapists doctors?

An OT with an OTD holds a clinical doctorate, so they have a doctoral degree, but they are not physicians. OTs with a master’s or OTD have the same license and scope of practice.

What is the difference between OT, OTR, OTD and MOT?

OT is the profession (occupational therapist). OTR is the NBCOT certification. OTD (Doctor of Occupational Therapy) and MOT/MSOT (master’s) are degrees. A typical signature combines degree and credentials, for example “Jane Doe, OTD, OTR/L”.