Transfer Your Occupational Therapy License to Virginia: Reciprocity & Endorsement (2026)
Last verified: 2026-09-27 · source: Virginia Board of Medicine (regulates occupational therapy, with its Advisory Board on Occupational Therapy) ↗
Virginia is issuing Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact privileges, so the answer depends on what you're doing. If you live in and are licensed by another issuing state, you can practice in Virginia on a compact privilege (the $75 commission fee plus Virginia's fee) without a Virginia license. If you're moving to Virginia, or your home state isn't issuing, you need a Virginia license from the Virginia Board of Medicine (regulates occupational therapy, with its Advisory Board on Occupational Therapy): endorsement fee $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 no processing time found; the Board of Medicine's site (dhp.virginia.gov) was unreachable from this environment on 2026-09-27, NBCOT exam passage verified rather than retaken.
Moving to Virginia from a specific state?
Pick your current state — the checker returns your exact pathway.
Verdict
OT Compact member — compact privilege to practice
Virginia is one of the few states where the OT Compact is working, but a privilege only helps if your home state is issuing too and you still live there. Travel contracts, a caseload that crosses the state line, or telehealth into Virginia fit the privilege model. A permanent move does not: once Virginia is where you live, you need a Virginia license from the Virginia Board of Medicine (regulates occupational therapy, with its Advisory Board on Occupational Therapy).
Virginia is one of the eight states ISSUING OT Compact privileges (live since March 20, 2026). An OT who lives in and is licensed by another issuing state can practice in Virginia on a privilege ($75 Virginia fee + $75 Commission fee; no jurisprudence exam) instead of getting a license. Anyone else applies to the Board of Medicine, which regulates OT; there is no standalone OT board. Since December 3, 2025, Virginia has a separate licensure-by-endorsement rule (18VAC85-80-36) for applicants with a current, active, good-standing license in a U.S. jurisdiction or Canada. Applicants who hold no license elsewhere use initial licensure (18VAC85-80-35). Former Virginia licensees whose license lapsed two years or more use the reinstatement application. All Virginia sources were read from Internet Archive copies because dhp.virginia.gov, license.dhp.virginia.gov, law.lis.virginia.gov and townhall.virginia.gov were unreachable from this environment on 2026-09-27.
Virginia requirements at a glance
| Exam | 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'). |
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| Additional requirements |
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| Fees | $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 | no processing time found; the Board of Medicine's site (dhp.virginia.gov) was unreachable from this environment on 2026-09-27 |
Step by step
- Confirm Virginia's current requirements on the Virginia Board of Medicine (regulates occupational therapy, with its Advisory Board on Occupational Therapy) website — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Virginia Board of Medicine (regulates occupational therapy, with its Advisory Board on Occupational Therapy) (application linked on this page).
- Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
- Hold a current, active OT license in good standing in a U.S. jurisdiction or Canada.
- Have NBCOT send certification of your credentials directly to the Board.
- Have your school send verification of your ACOTE-accredited professional education (transcript) directly to the Board.
- Submit a current National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) self-query report.
- Have license verification sent from every jurisdiction in which you have been issued an OT license.
- Pay the fees ($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).)) and allow no processing time found; the Board of Medicine's site (dhp.virginia.gov) was unreachable from this environment on 2026-09-27.
Official links
Coming from a specific state?
Direction matters — these guides cover the exact move into Virginia:
Nearby states
Occupational Therapy license transfer into the states bordering Virginia:
Virginia for other professions
- Nursing in Virginia
- Cosmetology / Barber in Virginia
- Real Estate in Virginia
- Contractor in Virginia
- Teaching in Virginia
- CPA / Accounting in Virginia
- Electrician in Virginia
- Plumber in Virginia
- Engineering in Virginia
- Pharmacy in Virginia
- Physical Therapy in Virginia
- Psychology in Virginia
- Counseling in Virginia
- Social Work in Virginia
Frequently asked questions
Does my occupational therapy license transfer to Virginia?
Virginia is issuing Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact privileges, so the answer depends on what you're doing. If you live in and are licensed by another issuing state, you can practice in Virginia on a compact privilege (the $75 commission fee plus Virginia's fee) without a Virginia license. If you're moving to Virginia, or your home state isn't issuing, you need a Virginia license from the Virginia Board of Medicine (regulates occupational therapy, with its Advisory Board on Occupational Therapy): endorsement fee $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 no processing time found; the Board of Medicine's site (dhp.virginia.gov) was unreachable from this environment on 2026-09-27, NBCOT exam passage verified rather than retaken.
Do I have to retake the NBCOT exam to get licensed in 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').
How much does an OT license by endorsement cost in Virginia?
$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 Virginia take to issue an OT 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.
Is Virginia an OT Compact state?
Yes. Virginia is issuing and accepting OT Compact privileges as of 2026-09-27. An OT or OTA who lives in and is licensed by another issuing state can practice in Virginia on a privilege; moving your residence to Virginia requires a Virginia license.
What does a Virginia OT Compact privilege cost?
The uniform $75 commission fee plus Virginia's own privilege fee, paid through the commission. The privilege expires with your home-state license and must be purchased again after each home renewal.
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)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-09-27
How we verify · All sources · spot an error? [email protected]