Occupational Therapist Licensure in Virginia
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Timeline 9 weeks or more
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Initial Costs $165
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Renewal Costs $135
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CE Requirements 20 Hours
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Compact No
How to apply
To secure your Travel Occupational Therapist license in Virginia, you'll be working with the Virginia Board of Medicine. You will submit your application through the DHP Online Licensing portal. Before you start, I recommend initiating your NPDB Self-Query and requesting your verifications to get the ball rolling.
Step-by-Step Guide
- Get Your NPDB Report: Head over to the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) website to request your Self-Query. This is a mandatory background check step. Once you receive the digitally certified electronic copy, email it directly to the Board at
ot-medbd@dhp.virginia.gov. If you receive a mailed copy, do not open the envelope; forward it directly to the Board. - Request Verifications: You'll need to verify your credentials. First, log in to your MyNBCOT account and request a verification letter be sent to the Virginia Board. Second, contact the state board where you hold a current, unrestricted license and request they send an official license verification directly to the Virginia Board (email is usually accepted).
- Complete the Online Application: Create an account on the DHP Online Licensing portal and select the application for "Licensure by Endorsement." You will need to enter your employment chronology for the past 5 years (including gaps), so have your resume handy. Hit submit and pay the application fee to finish this step.
What You'll Need & Key Details
- Documents to Have Ready: A detailed employment history (past 5 years with dates and locations), your Driver's License, and SSN.
- Items to Request: Official NBCOT Verification and State License Verification (from your current/active state).
- Exams: There is no Jurisprudence Exam required for this license.
Initial Costs
Here is the breakdown of what you can expect to spend to get licensed in Virginia:
- Application Fee: $130
- Background Check / Fingerprinting: $35 (approximate)
- Jurisprudence Exam: $0
- Verifications: $0
- Total Estimated Initial Cost: $165
Note: Fees are subject to change by the Board, but this gives you a solid estimate to plan your budget!
Renewals
When to Renew: Virginia Occupational Therapist renewal happens biennially and is due by the last day of your birth month in even-numbered years.
Cost: The renewal fee is approximately $135.
Note: Be careful—there is no grace period, and a $50 late fee applies immediately if you miss the deadline.
CE Requirements
20 Contact Hours required every 2 years.
Deadline: Renewal occurs biennially during your birth month. If you were born in an even-numbered year, you renew in even years; if born in an odd-numbered year, you renew in odd years.
Live vs. Online: Great news for Travel Occupational Therapist CEUs: there is no specific limit on home-study or online courses. You can complete all 20 hours online as long as they meet the Type 1 or Type 2 requirements.
Provider Restrictions: Virginia requires at least 10 hours to be Type 1 (organized activities offered by an approved sponsor like AOTA, NBCOT, VOTA, or regionally accredited colleges). General portals like MedBridge are widely accepted for Type 1 hours because they are an AOTA Approved Provider. The remaining 10 hours may be Type 2 (self-study, research, or non-approved provider sessions).
Mandatory Topics
- No specific mandatory topics—choose what interests you! While there are no mandated subjects like ethics or human trafficking for Virginia OTs, all hours must be related to the clinical practice of occupational therapy.
- Jurisprudence: No exam or quiz is required for renewal.
Excluded Topics: Hours do not count if they are related to business, marketing, office management, or personal growth/development.
New Licensee Rule: You are not required to complete continuing education for your first biennial renewal after initial licensure in Virginia.
Reporting: Virginia uses an audit-based system. You do not need to submit certificates unless specifically requested, but you must maintain documentation of your Contact Hours for 6 years following renewal.
Board Information
Need to reach out with questions or send in documents? Here are the direct details for the Virginia Advisory Board On Occupational Therapy:
- Address: 9960 Mayland Dr Ste 300 Henrico, VA 23233-1485
- Website: Visit Board Website
- Phone: (804) 367-4613
- Fax: (804) 527-4426
- Email: medbd@dhp.virginia.gov
Ready to start? Click here to go directly to the Application Portal.
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How to Apply
To secure your Travel Occupational Therapist license in Virginia, you'll be working with the Virginia Board of Medicine. You will submit your application through the DHP Online Licensing portal. Before you start, I recommend initiating your NPDB Self-Query and requesting your verifications to get the ball rolling.
Step-by-Step Guide
- Get Your NPDB Report: Head over to the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) website to request your Self-Query. This is a mandatory background check step. Once you receive the digitally certified electronic copy, email it directly to the Board at
ot-medbd@dhp.virginia.gov. If you receive a mailed copy, do not open the envelope; forward it directly to the Board. - Request Verifications: You'll need to verify your credentials. First, log in to your MyNBCOT account and request a verification letter be sent to the Virginia Board. Second, contact the state board where you hold a current, unrestricted license and request they send an official license verification directly to the Virginia Board (email is usually accepted).
- Complete the Online Application: Create an account on the DHP Online Licensing portal and select the application for "Licensure by Endorsement." You will need to enter your employment chronology for the past 5 years (including gaps), so have your resume handy. Hit submit and pay the application fee to finish this step.
What You'll Need & Key Details
- Documents to Have Ready: A detailed employment history (past 5 years with dates and locations), your Driver's License, and SSN.
- Items to Request: Official NBCOT Verification and State License Verification (from your current/active state).
- Exams: There is no Jurisprudence Exam required for this license.
Initial Costs
Here is the breakdown of what you can expect to spend to get licensed in Virginia:
- Application Fee: $130
- Background Check / Fingerprinting: $35 (approximate)
- Jurisprudence Exam: $0
- Verifications: $0
- Total Estimated Initial Cost: $165
Note: Fees are subject to change by the Board, but this gives you a solid estimate to plan your budget!
Renewals
When to Renew: Virginia Occupational Therapist renewal happens biennially and is due by the last day of your birth month in even-numbered years.
Cost: The renewal fee is approximately $135.
Note: Be careful—there is no grace period, and a $50 late fee applies immediately if you miss the deadline.
CE Requirements
20 Contact Hours required every 2 years.
Deadline: Renewal occurs biennially during your birth month. If you were born in an even-numbered year, you renew in even years; if born in an odd-numbered year, you renew in odd years.
Live vs. Online: Great news for Travel Occupational Therapist CEUs: there is no specific limit on home-study or online courses. You can complete all 20 hours online as long as they meet the Type 1 or Type 2 requirements.
Provider Restrictions: Virginia requires at least 10 hours to be Type 1 (organized activities offered by an approved sponsor like AOTA, NBCOT, VOTA, or regionally accredited colleges). General portals like MedBridge are widely accepted for Type 1 hours because they are an AOTA Approved Provider. The remaining 10 hours may be Type 2 (self-study, research, or non-approved provider sessions).
Mandatory Topics
- No specific mandatory topics—choose what interests you! While there are no mandated subjects like ethics or human trafficking for Virginia OTs, all hours must be related to the clinical practice of occupational therapy.
- Jurisprudence: No exam or quiz is required for renewal.
Excluded Topics: Hours do not count if they are related to business, marketing, office management, or personal growth/development.
New Licensee Rule: You are not required to complete continuing education for your first biennial renewal after initial licensure in Virginia.
Reporting: Virginia uses an audit-based system. You do not need to submit certificates unless specifically requested, but you must maintain documentation of your Contact Hours for 6 years following renewal.
Board Information
Need to reach out with questions or send in documents? Here are the direct details for the Virginia Advisory Board On Occupational Therapy:
- Address: 9960 Mayland Dr Ste 300 Henrico, VA 23233-1485
- Website: Visit Board Website
- Phone: (804) 367-4613
- Fax: (804) 527-4426
- Email: medbd@dhp.virginia.gov
Ready to start? Click here to go directly to the Application Portal.