In the state of Virginia, you must get your education and obtain the correct licensure before you can start working as an occupational therapist (OT) or occupational therapy assistant (OTA). All licensing occurs at the state level, through the Occupational Therapy Advisory Board, which is part of the Virginia Department of Health Professions. Generally, the process for getting your license is fairly straightforward — you must get a bachelor’s or master’s degree from an accredited program, pass the exam offered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, and then apply for your license from the state board. Even after obtaining your license, you have to renew it every two years to keep it active and valid. You must also take continuing education courses, and since you can be randomly audited by the Board at any time, it’s vital to choose the best occupational therapy program for your long-term educational needs.

According to reports from 2019, there are just over 3,000 OTs employed in the state of Virginia, but the Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates that the demand for qualified OTs will grow more quickly than most other professions across the entire country. In addition to being personally fulfilling, this career path can be financially rewarding. In Virginia, OTs earned an average salary of $77,323 throughout 2018, and OTAs earned $66,240 — which was the fifth-highest mean wage for OTAs in the United States. This increased demand, coupled with generous compensation, makes this a smart career choice if you plan to work and live in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Accredited Occupational Therapy Assistant Programs in Cedar Bluff

Cedar Bluff is a small town of about 1,000 people located near the borders of West Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee. In fact, it is so close to the border that it’s considered part of the Bluefield, West Virginia micropolitan area. The average salary of OTAs in the Bluefield area was $45,949 per year or $22.09 per hour, based on 2020 estimates.

Southwest Virginia Community College (SVCC) is located in Cedar Bluff and is the only school in this town that offers an OTA program. SVCC maintains a partnership with Mountain Empire Community College (MECC) in Big Stone Gap, Virginia that allows students to take OTA classes at MECC, but receive a degree from SVCC. This program makes the OTA program at SVCC more accessible to a greater number of students in this relatively rural area of the state.

Southwest Virginia Community College

Occupational Therapy Assistant
635 Community College Road
Cedar Bluff, Virginia 24609
billie.keene@sw.edu

  • Degree Level: Associate of Applied Science (22 months); can take the same courses to earn the same degree at Mountain Empire Community College, but the degree will be conferred by Southwest Virginia Community College.
  • Tuition: $156.75 per credit hour for in-state residents;
  • Application Due Dates: February 15;
  • Prerequisites/Application Requirements:
    • Must graduate from high school or complete the GED;
    • Satisfy biology and chemistry course requirements with a letter grade of “C” or better;
    • Maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA in all high school and college-level courses;
    • Observe an occupational therapist in an occupational therapy setting for at least 12 hours.

Accredited Occupational Therapy Programs in Emory

Emory is a census-designated-place in rural Virginia with a population of about 1,000 people. Emory actually got its name from Emory & Henry College, which is the oldest college in southwestern Virginia.

Emory & Henry college is the only school in this area to offer an OT program. Further, there may be exciting career opportunities in this region; the average estimated base pay for OTs in nearby Bristol, Virginia was $75,111 per year, or $41.08 per hour in 2020, which is noticeably higher than the average wages for the state as a whole.

Emory & Henry College

Occupational Therapy
30461 Garnand Drive
Emory, Virginia 24327
jjackson@ehc.edu

  • Degree Level: Master of Occupational Therapy (seven semesters over 27 months);
  • Tuition: $9,391 per semester (estimated $65,737 for the entire program);
  • Application Due Dates: December 16, 2019, for Fall 2020 program;
  • Prerequisites/Application Requirements:
    • Complete of a bachelor’s degree in any field;
    • Complete of 40 observational hours with a registered occupational therapist;
    • Have a minimum 2.75 overall GPA and minimum 3.0 GPA for prerequisite courses;
    • Submit three letters of recommendation, at least one of which must come from an occupational therapist;
    • Write a 500-word essay.

Accredited Occupational Therapy Assistant Programs in Fredericksburg

Fredericksburg is a historically significant independent city in Virginia. Not only was its port crucial during the colonial era, but it was also the site of two major battles during the Civil War. Now, tourism plays an important role in the city’s economy. Although there are other educational institutions in the area, the Eastern Virginia Career College is the only one that has an OTA program. The average estimated base pay for OTAs in Fredericksburg in 2020 was $53,019 per year, which amounts to $25.49 per hour.

Eastern Virginia Career College

Occupational Therapy Assistant
10304 Spotsylvania Ave. Suite 400
Fredericksburg, Virginia 22408
Contact Form

  • Degree Level: Associate of Applied Science (one year);
  • Tuition: $28,670 for entire program;
  • Application Due Dates: N/A; applications are accepted on a rolling basis;
  • Prerequisites/Application Requirements: View the OTA Online Presentation for more information about program requirements and the admissions process.

Accredited Occupational Therapy Programs in Harrisonburg

Harrisonburg is an independent city near the West Virginia border that is home to nearly 50,000 people. Although relatively small, Harrisonburg has been growing in popularity for its culture, food, arts, and historic sites.

Occupational therapists here earned an estimated average annual salary of $71,101, or an average hourly wage of $34.18, in 2020. There are two universities in Harrisonburg, but only one — James Madison University — has an OT program.

James Madison University

Master of Occupational Therapy
100 E. Grace Street
Harrisonburg, Virginia 22807
grad_programs@jmu.edu

  • Degree Level: Master of Occupational Therapy (three years);
  • Tuition: $499 per credit hour;
  • Application Due Dates: Applications are open from August 1 to December 1;
  • Prerequisites/Application Requirements:
    • Complete a bachelor’s degree with an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher;
    • Complete all required prerequisite courses with a GPA of 3.0 or higher;
    • Complete a minimum of 40 observation hours with an occupational therapist in at least two different practice settings;
    • Provide letters of recommendation;
    • Write a personal statement;
    • Submit a video essay.

Accredited Occupational Therapy Programs in Radford

Radford, Virginia is an independent city of about 16,000 people, nestled along the banks of the New River. It is home to Radford University, which was originally founded as a women’s university over 100 years ago. Radford University specializes in doctoral programs in health professions and offers two different OT degrees, as well as an OTA degree. In Radford, OTs earned an estimated average salary of $68,955 (or $31.15 per year) and OTAs earned $51,459 per year (or $24.74 per hour) in 2020.

Radford University

Department of Occupational Therapy
801 East Main Street
Radford, Virginia 24142
OT@radford.edu

  • Degree Level: Associate of Applied Science in Occupational Therapy Assistance (71 credits over five semesters), Master of Occupational Therapy (83 credits over seven semesters), and Occupational Therapy Doctorate (36 credits over seven semesters);
  • Tuition: $509 per credit hour;
  • Application Due Dates: January 15 of the year students intended to start classes;
  • Prerequisites/Application Requirements:
    • Associate:
      • Maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA in all high school and college classes;
      • Attend an OTA informational session, open house, or complete their short quiz;
      • Meet all application requirements for admissions into Radford University.
    • Master & Doctorate:
      • Maintain a minimum undergraduate grade point average of 3.25 or higher in all courses;
      • Earn a letter grade of “B” or better in all prerequisite courses;
      • Submit two letters of recommendation, a professional resume, and a statement of purpose;
      • Complete 40 hours of observation of an occupational therapy setting;
      • For the Doctorate program, must already hold a Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy.

Accredited Occupational Therapy Programs in Richmond

Richmond is the capital of and fourth-most populous city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Situated along the James River, well over 200,000 people call Richmond their home, as do nearly one dozen colleges and universities. However, Virginia Commonwealth University is the only school that offers any OT or OTA programs. Although there aren’t many educational options for OTs in Richmond, there may be appealing professional opportunities. The estimated 2020 salary for OTs in Richmond was $96,882 per year, or $46.58 per hour, which is significantly higher than the national average.

Virginia Commonwealth University

Department of Occupational Therapy
900 E. Leigh Street
Richmond, Virginia 23298
civey@vcu.edu

  • Degree Level: Occupational Therapy Doctorate (nine semesters over three years);
  • Tuition: Must contact department for detailed tuition information;
  • Application Due Dates: December 1;
  • Prerequisites/Application Requirements:
    • Must hold a minimum 3.0 GPA in all college-level courses;
    • Observe an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant for at least 30 hours;
    • Must submit a personal statement, value-added essay, and three letters of recommendation;
    • Must complete all prerequisite courses.

Accredited Occupational Therapy Assistant Programs in Springfield

Springfield is a census-designated-place in Fairfax County, located just 14 miles from the Potomac River and Washington D.C. Although only 35,000 people live in Springfield proper, as many as 100,000 people are thought to live in the larger, undesignated Springfield area. Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC) has six campuses throughout the northern part of the state, one of which is in Springfield. The NVCC Medical Education Campus has the only OTA program in Springfield. Because of Springfield’s proximity to the nation’s capital, OTAs in 2020 enjoyed a high estimated average annual salary of $56,658, which amounts to $27.24 per hour.

Northern Virginia Community College

Occupational Therapy Assistant
6699 Springfield Center Drive
Springfield, Virginia 22150
kbskibek@nvcc.edu

  • Degree Level: Associate of Applied Science (two years);
  • Tuition: $180.40 per credit hour for in-state residents;
  • Application Due Dates: Applications are due 30 days prior to the first class of the semester;
  • Prerequisites/Application Requirements:

Accredited Occupational Therapy Programs in Staunton

Staunton, Virginia is an independent city situated near Harrisonburg and the border of West Virginia. It is primarily known as the birthplace of the 28th president of the United States, Woodrow Wilson, and the home of Mary Baldwin University. This is the only school in the city of Staunton to offer an OT program. OTs earned, on average, $69,964 per year (or $33.64 per hour) when working in Staunton in 2020.

Mary Baldwin University

Doctor of Occupational Therapy
100 Baldwin Blvd
Fishersville, Virginia 22939
MDCHSadmit@marybaldwin.edu

  • Degree Level: Doctor of Occupational Therapy (three years);
  • Tuition: $14,464 for fall and spring semesters; $7,232 for summer semester;
  • Application Due Dates: January 15;
  • Prerequisites/Application Requirements:
    • Must obtain a bachelor’s degree prior to enrollment;
    • Complete all necessary prerequisite courses with a letter grade of “C” or better;
    • Hold a minimum overall 3.0 GPA;
    • Submit three letters of recommendation, one of which must come from an occupational therapist;
    • Complete 40 hours of observation of an occupational therapist in at least two different settings.

Accredited Occupational Therapy Assistant Programs in Virginia Beach

Virginia Beach is the most populous city in Virginia, and among one of the most populous in the entire nation. It is located on the Atlantic Ocean, at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. Well over 400,000 people live in this metropolis, which is also a significant cultural, political, and educational hub for the region. Of the dozen or so colleges in the area, only two offer OTA programs. In Virginia Beach, OTAs enjoyed a higher-than-average estimated annual salary of $55,224, or an hourly rate of $26.55, in 2020.

South University

Occupational Therapy Assistant
301 Bendix Rd Suite 100
Virginia Beach, Virginia 23452
Contact Form

  • Degree Level: Associate of Applied Science; this program is also offered at South University’s campus in Richmond, Virginia;
  • Tuition: Based on a variable Tiered Tuition system;
  • Application Due Dates: N/A; applications are accepted on a rolling basis;
  • Prerequisites/Application Requirements:
    • Earn a letter grade of “C” or higher in all prerequisite courses;
    • Maintain a minimum 2.85 GPA in all coursework;
    • Complete 12 hours of observation of occupational therapy practitioners in two different settings.

Tidewater Community College

Occupational Therapy Assistant
1700 College Crescent
Virginia Beach, Virginia 23453
info@tcc.edu

  • Degree Level: Associate of Applied Science (six semesters);
  • Tuition: $156 per credit hour for in-state residents;
  • Application Due Dates: March 15;
  • Prerequisites/Application Requirements:
    • Attend Tidewater Community College’s Health Professions Information Sessions;
    • Complete all necessary prerequisite courses;
    • Maintain a 2.75 overall GPA;
    • Complete 30 observation hours in at least two different occupational therapy settings.

Accredited Occupational Therapy Programs in Winchester

Winchester is an independent city in northern Virginia, situated just miles from the borders of West Virginia and Maryland. Winchester has a long and rich history, playing a part in the French and Indian, Revolutionary, and Civil Wars. Shenandoah University is the only college in this city, but it offers many different OT programs at various levels for interested students. As of 2020, OTs in Winchester earned an average salary of $83,200 per year or $40 per hour.

Shenandoah University

Occupational Therapy
1460 University Drive
Winchester, Virginia 22601
admit@su.edu