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Virginia Occupational Therapy Continuing Education Requirements

How many continuing education hours are required during a reporting period?

Occupational therapists licensed in Virginia must complete twenty (20) hours every two (2) years.

Occupational therapy assistants licensed in Virginia must complete twenty (20) hours every two (2) years.

New Licensees

A practitioner shall be exempt from the continuing competency requirements for the first biennial renewal following the date of initial licensure in Virginia. 

How is contact hour defined?

"Contact hour" means 60 minutes of time spent in continued learning activity.

How long is the reporting period?

Biennial

Are there any specific requirements for continuing education?

A minimum of ten (10) of the twenty (20) hours shall be in Type 1 activities, which shall consist of an organized program of study, classroom experience, or similar educational experience that is related to a licensee's current or anticipated roles and responsibilities in occupational therapy and approved or provided by one of the following organizations or any of its components:

    • Virginia Occupational Therapy Association;
    • American Occupational Therapy Association;
    • National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy;
    • Local, state, or federal government agency;
    • Regionally accredited college or university;
    • Health care organization accredited by a national accrediting organization granted authority by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to assure compliance with Medicare conditions of participation; or
    • An American Medical Association Category 1 Continuing Medical Education program.

Are there limitations on the types of courses that can be taken?

No more than ten (10) of the twenty (20) hours may be Type 2 activities, which may include consultation with another therapist, independent reading or research, preparation for a presentation, or other such experiences that promote continued learning.

Up to two (2) of the Type 2 continuing education hours may be satisfied through delivery of occupational therapy services, without compensation, to low-income individuals receiving services through a local health department or a free clinic organized in whole or primarily for the delivery of health services.

One (1) hour of continuing education may be credited for three (3) hours of providing such volunteer services as documented by the health department or free clinic.

How long must continuing education records be retained?

The practitioner shall retain in his records all supporting documentation for a period of six (6) years following the renewal of an active license.

Waiver

The board may grant an exemption for all or part of the requirements for circumstances beyond the control of the licensee, such as temporary disability, mandatory military service, or officially declared disasters. 

Audit

The board shall periodically conduct a representative random audit of its active licensees to determine compliance. The practitioners selected for the audit shall provide all supporting documentation within thirty (30) days of receiving notification of the audit.

Reference

18 VAC 85-80-71

About Us

Zachary Edgar JD, LLM is the managing partner for Therapy Comply.  Zachary is a healthcare attorney that specializes in federal and state healthcare regulatory issues particularly for physical, occupational, and speech therapy practices.  

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