To become an occupational therapist in West Virginia, you need to get an education from a properly-accredited institution and obtain your license before you can begin working. The West Virginia Board of Occupational Therapy handles all licensure for this profession in the state, as well as for occupational therapy assistants. Before you can go through this process, though, you must find the best occupational therapy program for your needs so you can get your degree and meet the minimum qualifications for licensure in West Virginia.

The demand for licensed occupational therapists is increasing throughout the United States; in fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects this profession to grow much faster than other occupations, with as many as 23,700 new jobs added by 2028. Currently, there are 500 occupational therapists in West Virginia. Further, occupational therapists earn an average salary of $86,382 per year in this state — and occupational therapy assistants earn, on average, over $61,000 per year — making this a highly appealing profession for individuals who are interested in healthcare and helping others. However, with this huge amount of anticipated growth and generous compensation, there will likely be greater demand for educated and qualified occupational therapists in West Virginia in the coming years

Accredited Occupational Therapy Programs in Beckley

Beckley is located in the heart of southeast West Virginia, near the borders of both Kentucky and Virginia. In this historic town, occupational therapists earn an average hourly wage of $35.35, amounting to $73,534 annually. There are three colleges in Beckley, but none offer a full occupational therapy program. The University of Charleston-Beckley has an Occupational Therapy Assistant program, which is only offered at their Beckley campus.

University of Charleston-Beckley

Occupational Therapy Assistant Program
School of Health Sciences
Harper Business Park
127B Dye Drive
Beckley, WV 25801
sscb@ucwv.edu

  • Degree Level: Associate’s Degree
  • Credit Hours: 64 total credit hours over two years
  • Tuition: Approximately $27,515 for the entire program
  • Application Due Dates: N/A; applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
  • Prerequisites/Application Requirements: Must first be accepted by the University of Charleston before admission into the Occupational Therapy Assistant program.

Accredited Occupational Therapy Programs in Keyser

Keyser is located on the banks of the North Branch of the Potomac River, which is the border between West Virginia and Maryland. Occupational therapists in Keyser earn an estimated $66,318 per year, which amounts to $31.88 per hour. 

This small town of 5,000 people is home to Potomac State College of West Virginia University, which has the only Pre-Occupational Therapy program in Keyser. This preliminary program is designed to prepare students for entry into the Occupational Therapy Master’s or Doctorate program at West Virginia University in Morganville.

WVU Potomac State College

Pre-Occupational Therapy
STEM Division
101 Fort Avenue
Keyser, West Virginia 26726
GRWilcox@mail.wvu.edu

  • Degree Level: Associate of Arts
  • Credit Hours: 60 credit hours over two years
  • Tuition: $4,776 per year
  • Application Due Dates: N/A; applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
  • Prerequisites/Application Requirements: 
    • At least 63 hours of college credit in prerequisite courses;
    • A minimum 3.0 GPA;
    • 60 hours of volunteer work or work with people who have disabilities, with a minimum of 45 hours done with a licensed occupational therapist;
    • And at least two letters of recommendation, one from the occupational therapist who supervised volunteer work and one from a recent college professor.

Accredited Occupational Therapy Programs in Morgantown

Located near the Pennsylvania border, Morgantown is the largest city in North-Central West Virginia, with a population of nearly 30,000 people. The average salary for occupational therapists in this area is $70,163 per year, or $33.73 per hour. Currently, West Virginia University is the only school in Morgantown that has an occupational therapy program, but they do offer two different degrees — a Master’s and a Doctorate — for interested students.

Division of Occupational Therapy
School of Medicine
64 Medical Center Drive
Morgantown, WV 26506-9600
School of Medicine Contact Form

  • Degree Level: Master’s Degree or Doctorate
  • Tuition: Approximately $32,157 per year
  • Application Due Dates:
    • Master’s Degree: Applications are open from November 15 to February 15
    • Doctorate: Due by August 14
  • Prerequisites/Application Requirements:
    • Master’s Degree:
      • At least 40 hours of observation with at least two different licensed occupational therapists at two different locations
      • At least two letters of recommendation from the occupational therapists from supervision hours
      • Overall minimum 3.0 GPA and completion of necessary prerequisite courses;
      • Recommended that freshmen and sophomore students enroll in the Exercise Physiology program preceding admission to the Master’s program.
    • Doctorate:
      • Completion of a baccalaureate degree;
      • Minimum 3.0 GPA on all college coursework, including prerequisite courses;
      • No more than two prerequisite courses left to complete during the semester preceding admission;
      • Completion of the Graduate Record Examination;
      • At least 40 hours of observation with at least two different licensed occupational therapists at two different locations (more is recommended);
      • At least two letters of recommendation, one from an occupational therapist from supervision hours and one from a recent college professor.