Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant Licensure in West Virginia
-
Timeline 6-9 weeks
-
Initial Costs $95
-
Renewal Costs $100
-
CE Requirements 24 Hours
-
Compact Yes
How to apply
To secure your Travel Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant license in West Virginia, you'll be working with the West Virginia Board of Occupational Therapy. You will submit your application through their online system, Certemy. Before you start, I recommend initiating your background check (if prompted) and requesting your official transcripts to get the ball rolling.
Step-by-Step Guide
- Create Your Certemy Account: Head over to the Certemy portal to create your account. The Board highly recommends using a personal email address so you don't lose access if you change jobs. This platform will guide you through the entire process.
- Submit the Application & Fee: Complete the "Initial Application for Full License" within Certemy. You'll need to upload a recent photo of yourself and pay the application fee. Hit submit to officially open your file.
- Background Check: West Virginia law typically requires a criminal background check for licensure. While the Board's public site doesn't host a specific form, you will likely receive instructions for fingerprinting (often via a service like IdentoGO) directly within the Certemy portal after you apply. Follow those prompts immediately.
- Request Official Documents: You must have your official transcripts sent directly from your school to the Board. Additionally, request your NBCOT score transfer to be sent to West Virginia. These must come from the source, not you!
- Supervisory Statement: As a COTA, you are required to have a signed Supervisory Statement on file. If you already have a travel contract lined up in West Virginia, upload this form signed by your supervising OTR. If you don't have a job yet, you can likely skip this for the initial license issuance, but you must submit it before you start practicing.
What You'll Need & Key Details
- Documents to Have Ready: A recent digital photo (headshot), your Driver's License, and Social Security Number.
- Items to Request: Official Transcripts from your OTA program and your NBCOT Verification of Certification.
- Special Note: West Virginia is a member of the OT Compact. If you hold a license in another compact state, you might be eligible to purchase a "privilege to practice" instead of a full license, which is faster and easier!
Initial Costs
Here is the breakdown of what you can expect to spend to get licensed in West Virginia:
- Application Fee: $50
- Background Check / Fingerprinting: $45 (approximate)
- Jurisprudence Exam: $0
- Verifications: $0 (if the board charges to verify other licenses)
- Total Estimated Initial Cost: $95
Note: Fees are subject to change by the Board, but this gives you a solid estimate to plan your budget!
Renewals
When to Renew: West Virginia Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant renewal happens biennially and is due by June 30th.
Cost: The renewal fee is approximately $100.
Note: Watch out—there is no grace period, and you will be charged a $100 late fee if you miss the expiration date!
CE Requirements
24 Contact Hours required every 2 years.
Deadline: December 31st of even-numbered years.
Live vs. Online: Great news for Travel Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant CEUs: you can complete all 24 hours through online or home-study courses!
Provider Restrictions: Courses must be relevant to the practice of occupational therapy. The board accepts courses from AOTA-approved providers, including MedBridge.
Mandatory Topics
- No specific mandatory topics—choose what interests you!
Excluded Topics: CPR, first aid, business or office management, and personal development courses do not count toward your total.
New Licensee Rule: If you were licensed for more than one year but less than two years of the cycle, you only need 12 hours. If licensed for less than one year, you are exempt for that first renewal.
Reporting: West Virginia uses an audit-based system. You do not need to submit certificates unless requested, but you must maintain your records for at least 4 years.
Board Information
Need to reach out with questions or send in documents? Here are the direct details for the West Virginia Board of Occupational Therapy:
- Address: 1063 Maple Dr Ste 4B Morgantown, WV 26505-0387
- Website: Visit Board Website
- Phone: (304) 285-3150
- Fax: (304) 285-3150
- Email: wvbot@wv.gov
Ready to start? Click here to go directly to the Application Portal.
Start your job search
Find vetted recruiters who have the jobs you want!
Get matched with vetted recruiters from multiple agencies who have the most jobs in your preferences!
How to Apply
To secure your Travel Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant license in West Virginia, you'll be working with the West Virginia Board of Occupational Therapy. You will submit your application through their online system, Certemy. Before you start, I recommend initiating your background check (if prompted) and requesting your official transcripts to get the ball rolling.
Step-by-Step Guide
- Create Your Certemy Account: Head over to the Certemy portal to create your account. The Board highly recommends using a personal email address so you don't lose access if you change jobs. This platform will guide you through the entire process.
- Submit the Application & Fee: Complete the "Initial Application for Full License" within Certemy. You'll need to upload a recent photo of yourself and pay the application fee. Hit submit to officially open your file.
- Background Check: West Virginia law typically requires a criminal background check for licensure. While the Board's public site doesn't host a specific form, you will likely receive instructions for fingerprinting (often via a service like IdentoGO) directly within the Certemy portal after you apply. Follow those prompts immediately.
- Request Official Documents: You must have your official transcripts sent directly from your school to the Board. Additionally, request your NBCOT score transfer to be sent to West Virginia. These must come from the source, not you!
- Supervisory Statement: As a COTA, you are required to have a signed Supervisory Statement on file. If you already have a travel contract lined up in West Virginia, upload this form signed by your supervising OTR. If you don't have a job yet, you can likely skip this for the initial license issuance, but you must submit it before you start practicing.
What You'll Need & Key Details
- Documents to Have Ready: A recent digital photo (headshot), your Driver's License, and Social Security Number.
- Items to Request: Official Transcripts from your OTA program and your NBCOT Verification of Certification.
- Special Note: West Virginia is a member of the OT Compact. If you hold a license in another compact state, you might be eligible to purchase a "privilege to practice" instead of a full license, which is faster and easier!
Initial Costs
Here is the breakdown of what you can expect to spend to get licensed in West Virginia:
- Application Fee: $50
- Background Check / Fingerprinting: $45 (approximate)
- Jurisprudence Exam: $0
- Verifications: $0 (if the board charges to verify other licenses)
- Total Estimated Initial Cost: $95
Note: Fees are subject to change by the Board, but this gives you a solid estimate to plan your budget!
Renewals
When to Renew: West Virginia Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant renewal happens biennially and is due by June 30th.
Cost: The renewal fee is approximately $100.
Note: Watch out—there is no grace period, and you will be charged a $100 late fee if you miss the expiration date!
CE Requirements
24 Contact Hours required every 2 years.
Deadline: December 31st of even-numbered years.
Live vs. Online: Great news for Travel Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant CEUs: you can complete all 24 hours through online or home-study courses!
Provider Restrictions: Courses must be relevant to the practice of occupational therapy. The board accepts courses from AOTA-approved providers, including MedBridge.
Mandatory Topics
- No specific mandatory topics—choose what interests you!
Excluded Topics: CPR, first aid, business or office management, and personal development courses do not count toward your total.
New Licensee Rule: If you were licensed for more than one year but less than two years of the cycle, you only need 12 hours. If licensed for less than one year, you are exempt for that first renewal.
Reporting: West Virginia uses an audit-based system. You do not need to submit certificates unless requested, but you must maintain your records for at least 4 years.
Board Information
Need to reach out with questions or send in documents? Here are the direct details for the West Virginia Board of Occupational Therapy:
- Address: 1063 Maple Dr Ste 4B Morgantown, WV 26505-0387
- Website: Visit Board Website
- Phone: (304) 285-3150
- Fax: (304) 285-3150
- Email: wvbot@wv.gov
Ready to start? Click here to go directly to the Application Portal.