As per §369.3(a) of the OT Rules, “Licensed occupational therapists shall use the title occupational therapist or the abbreviation OT. Occupational Therapist, Registered is an alternate title for occupational therapist and OTR® is an alternate abbreviation for OT if individuals who are licensed by this board take the responsibility for ensuring that they are qualified to use such by maintaining certification through NBCOT.”

OTs may use the abbreviation OT. They may, alternately, use OTR if they are both maintaining licensure through the Board (TBOTE) and maintaining certification through NBCOT.

As per §369.3(b) of the OT Rules, “Licensed occupational therapy assistants shall use the title occupational therapy assistant or the abbreviation OTA. Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant is an alternate title for occupational therapy assistant and COTA® is an alternate abbreviation for OTA if individuals who are licensed by this board take the responsibility for ensuring that they are qualified to use such by maintaining certification through NBCOT.”

OTAs may use the abbreviation OTA. They may, alternately, use COTA if they are both maintaining licensure through the Board (TBOTE) and maintaining certification through NBCOT.

While in order to practice in Texas, an individual must maintain licensure through TBOTE, TBOTE does not require that licensees maintain NBCOT certification.

OT, OTR, OTA, or COTA, as described above, should be used. As stated in §369.3(c), “No other titles or abbreviations are conferred for a license from this board.”

Abbreviations such as OT/L, OTR/L, and LOT and OTA/L, COTA/L, and LOTA should not be used.

Further regulations regarding the use of titles may be found in the full §369.3 and the full OT Act and Rules.