Occupational Therapy License from Minnesota to Virginia: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-09-27 · source: Virginia Board of Medicine (regulates occupational therapy, with its Advisory Board on Occupational Therapy) ↗
Yes, for working in Virginia — both Minnesota and Virginia are active members of the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact (OT Compact). If Minnesota is your primary state of residence and your Minnesota license is active and unencumbered, you can buy a compact privilege to practice in Virginia without a second license. A privilege is not a license transfer: if you are moving your residence to Virginia, you will need a Virginia license once Virginia becomes your home state.
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Verdict
Compact privilege — work there without a second license
Minnesota and Virginia both issue OT Compact privileges, so this move has two versions. Working in Virginia while you keep living in Minnesota: buy a Virginia privilege through the commission ($75 plus Virginia's fee), meet any Virginia jurisprudence requirement, and keep your Minnesota license active, because the privilege ends when it does. Moving to Virginia: Virginia becomes your home state and you need a Virginia license, by converting the privilege where the Virginia Board of Medicine (regulates occupational therapy, with its Advisory Board on Occupational Therapy) offers that route or by endorsement.
What changes, Minnesota → Virginia
| Minnesota (current) | Virginia (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| OT Compact status | OT Compact member — compact privilege to practice | OT Compact member — compact privilege to practice |
| Application fee | $185 (Initial OT licensure fee ($105 for an OTA). Add the $32 criminal background check fee. A temporary license, available while the application is pending to OTs licensed elsewhere or NBCOT-certified, costs $75. Minn. Stat. §148.6445 sets these amounts as maximums, and the Board's published fee page (read via an Internet Archive copy captured 2025-09-17) matched the statutory $185. NOT the compact privilege fee: the Commission lists Minnesota's privilege fee as $50, plus the $75 Commission fee. §148.6445 subd. 5a sets a $150 cap.) | $130 (initial OT license fee under 18VAC85-80-26 (OTA $70); non-refundable. NOT the OT Compact privilege fee (Virginia privilege: $75 OT / $40 OTA state fee under 18VAC85-80-26(A)(10), plus the $75 Commission fee).) |
| Processing time | 4–7 weeks (Board-implied. The Board says the criminal background check takes 3 to 5 weeks after the fingerprint packet reaches the CBC office, and then 'allow five (5) to ten (10) business days' for review once ALL documents are received. You may practice as soon as your name appears on the Board's License Look Up.) | no processing time found; the Board of Medicine's site (dhp.virginia.gov) was unreachable from this environment on 2026-09-27 |
| Licensing authority | Minnesota Board of Occupational Therapy Practice | Virginia Board of Medicine (regulates occupational therapy, with its Advisory Board on Occupational Therapy) |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Virginia sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm your home-state license is active and unencumbered and that your home state is your primary state of residence.
- To work in Virginia: purchase a OT Compact privilege for Virginia through the compact commission and complete any Virginia jurisprudence requirement.
- Keep your home-state license active — every privilege lapses with it.
- If you are moving your primary residence to Virginia: apply for a Virginia license with the Virginia Board of Medicine (regulates occupational therapy, with its Advisory Board on Occupational Therapy); a privilege does not follow you when your home state changes.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Can I use my Minnesota occupational therapy license in Virginia?
Yes, for working in Virginia — both Minnesota and Virginia are active members of the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact (OT Compact). If Minnesota is your primary state of residence and your Minnesota license is active and unencumbered, you can buy a compact privilege to practice in Virginia without a second license. A privilege is not a license transfer: if you are moving your residence to Virginia, you will need a Virginia license once Virginia becomes your home state.
Do I retake the NBCOT exam moving from Minnesota to Virginia?
No. The NBCOT certification exam is not retaken. Endorsement applicants submit 'verification of a professional credential in occupational therapy' (18VAC85-80-36), and the Board's application page tells applicants to have NBCOT send 'certification of credentials' directly to the Board; the underlying exam rule (18VAC85-80-50) requires evidence of passing the NBCOT certification exam. The sources read do not say that CURRENT NBCOT certification is required. No Virginia jurisprudence exam applies (the Commission lists Virginia's compact jurisprudence as 'Not required').
Do I need a Virginia license or just a compact privilege?
A privilege is enough if you keep living in Minnesota and your Minnesota license stays active and unencumbered. If you move your residence to Virginia, you need a Virginia license from the Virginia Board of Medicine (regulates occupational therapy, with its Advisory Board on Occupational Therapy).
What does it cost?
A Virginia compact privilege costs the $75 commission fee plus Virginia's privilege fee. A Virginia license by endorsement, for a relocation: $130 (initial OT license fee under 18VAC85-80-26 (OTA $70); non-refundable. NOT the OT Compact privilege fee (Virginia privilege: $75 OT / $40 OTA state fee under 18VAC85-80-26(A)(10), plus the $75 Commission fee).).
How long does it take?
A privilege depends on your FBI background check through the Minnesota board and any Virginia jurisprudence step. A Virginia license by endorsement: no processing time found; the Board of Medicine's site (dhp.virginia.gov) was unreachable from this environment on 2026-09-27.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-09-27.
- Virginia Board of Medicine — Occupational Therapy application wizard (Internet Archive copy, captured 2025-10-07; dhp.virginia.gov unreachable) ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- 18VAC85-80-36 — Licensure by endorsement requirements (eff. December 3, 2025) (Internet Archive copy of law.lis.virginia.gov, captured 2026-05-17) ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- 18VAC85-80-26 — Fees (Internet Archive copy of law.lis.virginia.gov, captured 2026-04-21) ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- 18VAC85-80-50 — Examination requirements (Internet Archive copy of law.lis.virginia.gov) ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- OT Compact Commission — Before You Apply (Virginia accepting applications since March 20, 2026; $75 OT privilege fee; jurisprudence not required) ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- Minnesota Board of OT Practice — Application: Another State or NBCOT Certified (Equivalency or Reciprocity) (Internet Archive copy of the official page, captured 2026-05-15) ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- Minnesota Board of OT Practice — License Information (Internet Archive copy captured 2026-03-07) ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- Minnesota Board of OT Practice — Fees (Internet Archive copy captured 2025-09-17) ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- Minn. Stat. §148.6412 Licensure by equivalency ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- Minn. Stat. §148.6415 Licensure by reciprocity ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- Minn. Stat. §148.6420 Application requirements ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- Minn. Stat. §148.6445 Fees ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- Minn. Stat. §214.075 Health-related licensing boards; criminal background checks ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-09-27
How we verify · All sources · spot an error? [email protected]