A Georgia OT license lookup is free and takes about a minute. Use the Secretary of State’s GOALS portal at goals.sos.ga.gov to search by a practitioner’s name or license number, and you’ll see whether their authorization to practice is currently active, when it expires, and whether the board has taken any public disciplinary action against them.1Georgia Secretary of State. Professional Licensee Search The Georgia State Board of Occupational Therapy issues and disciplines these licenses under O.C.G.A. § 43-28-6.2Fastcase. Georgia Code 43-28-6 General Powers and Duties of Board
Running the Search
Open the Professional Licensee Search page on the GOALS site.1Georgia Secretary of State. Professional Licensee Search Select “Occupational Therapy” from the profession dropdown, then choose whether you’re looking for a licensed Occupational Therapist or a licensed Occupational Therapy Assistant. Enter the practitioner’s first and last name, or their license number if you have it. The license number gives you an exact match and skips the guesswork.
Common names can produce long result lists. Add a city or double-check the spelling to narrow things down. If you get no results at all, verify the spelling or try the license number instead. Click the practitioner’s name in the results to open the full record.
What the License Record Tells You
Each record shows the practitioner’s full legal name, license type (OT or OTA), license number, original issue date, and expiration date. The field that matters most is the status: active, expired, lapsed, or revoked. Georgia OT licenses run on a two-year cycle, so the expiration date shows whether the person is current or overdue.3Georgia Secretary of State. How to Guide: Occupational Therapist
Any public board discipline against the practitioner appears on or is linked from the record. An “Active” status with a future expiration and a clean history is what you’re looking for. Anything else is worth reading before you hire or accept treatment.
Reading Disciplinary Actions
The board can discipline licensees for practicing while impaired, gross negligence, obtaining a license through fraud, and violating the code of ethics, among other grounds.4Georgia Secretary of State. Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia Chapter 671-3 – License Requirements Sanctions vary widely. A minor issue might draw a private letter of concern; more serious conduct can lead to a public consent order, probation, suspension, or revocation.5Georgia Secretary of State. How To Submit A Licensing Complaint
The Secretary of State publishes public disciplinary actions through a dedicated GOALS portal, which you can reach from the board’s page.6Georgia Secretary of State. Board Public Disciplinary Actions Read the linked order rather than stopping at the label. A completed probation from years back is not the same as an active suspension.
Watch the Expiration Date, Especially in Even Years
Georgia OT and OTA licenses expire on March 31 of every even-numbered year, with a late renewal window running through April 30. After that, the license lapses.3Georgia Secretary of State. How to Guide: Occupational Therapist Practicing on a lapsed license is treated as unlicensed practice. If you’re verifying credentials in March or April of an even year, look closely at the expiration date and confirm the status shows active rather than lapsed.
Check NBCOT Separately
A Georgia license and national certification are not the same thing. The state requires applicants to pass the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) exam for initial licensure, but a practitioner can let their NBCOT certification lapse afterward while keeping a valid Georgia license.4Georgia Secretary of State. Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia Chapter 671-3 – License Requirements Many employers and facilities want both.
NBCOT runs a free credential verification tool on its website that confirms whether a therapist currently holds the OTR® or COTA® designation.7National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy. OTR and COTA Credential Verification Checking both databases gives you the fuller picture.
If the Practitioner Practices Under a Compact Privilege
Georgia joined the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact in 2021.8The Council of State Governments. Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact Some practitioners working in Georgia hold a compact privilege from another member state instead of a Georgia license.9OT Compact. Status of the OT Compact Those privileges are tracked through a national system called CompactConnect, not through GOALS, so a Georgia lookup may return nothing for a compact-authorized practitioner. Ask for documentation of the privilege or check the CompactConnect system directly. The Georgia board still has authority over compact practitioners for violations committed in the state.10FindLaw. Georgia Code 43-28-21 – Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact
Filing a Complaint After a Lookup
If the lookup confirms concerns, the Secretary of State accepts written complaints through the GOALS portal. You’ll need your own contact information, the practitioner’s name and address (and license number if you have it), a description of the alleged violation, and any supporting documents such as records, billing statements, or contracts.5Georgia Secretary of State. How To Submit A Licensing Complaint
The board’s authority runs to the license. It can investigate practice-act and rule violations, but it generally cannot resolve billing disputes or business disagreements; those belong in civil court. Complaints and investigation files are confidential, and the board may decline to process anonymous complaints. If a case reaches a formal hearing, you could be called to testify.
For someone practicing without a license, the board can issue a cease and desist order or refer the matter for criminal prosecution where the conduct occurred. Its power over an unlicensed person is otherwise limited unless that person later applies for a license.