Frequently Asked Questions

Applicants must:

• meet the general admission requirements for the college.
• hold a high school diploma or GED.
• have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) ≥ 2.5 based on the GPA calculated at the most recent institution/college at which you completed at least 12 college credit hours.

If you have not taken 12 college credit hours at any one college by the end of Fall 2025, your high school GPA must be ≥ 2.5.

The preferred composite/total score on the TEAS is a minimum of 60%.

The following college level prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of C or higher by the end of the Spring 2026 semester:

• SDV 101 (Orientation to Health Professions – 2 credits)
• BIO 141 (Human Anatomy & Physiology I – 4 credits with lab)
• ENG 111 (English Composition I)
• PSY 230 (Developmental Psychology)

If your college offers a one-credit SDV 100 and a one-credit SDV 101, we can combine those two courses to equate to the two-credit SDV 101 prerequisite, provided the final grades are a C or higher.  Alternately, if you have completed an Associate degree or higher, upon receipt of the official transcript showing degree completion we can use the previous degree to award credit for prior learning for the two credit SDV prerequisite.

If your college only offers the one-credit SDV, we can use the one credit of SDV and a completed HLT or PED course for the second SDV credit. In addition, several community colleges, including Virginia Western, offer their two credit SDV courses online. You can apply to that college and complete the two credit SDV online.

There is not a waiting list. All applicants who meet the deadline who are minimally qualified and complete the application process will be considered for the program each year.

The core Occupational Therapy Assistant (OCT) courses must be taken in sequence as outlined in the college catalog (including a summer semester). The core program coursework is only offered during the day. This program is considered a full-time day-time class and fieldwork (clinical) experiences may also occur during holidays.

We accept permanent residents, asylee, refugees  and most visa types. However, we do not accept students on F1 or M1 visas as those visas are affiliated with a particular school.  Students on F1 or M1 visas are not allowed to pursue a degree or certificate program with Virginia Western. Students on B1 and B2 visas are also not allowed to enroll at Virginia Western.

Yes. Please refer to the Estimated Cost page for more detailed information.

The Introduction to Occupational Therapy Assistant CSC allows applicants who may not be accepted into the AAS program to academically prepare to take the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) certification exam, if the EMS 111/120 course sequence is completed. 

Additionally, if you already have a healthcare licensure/certification (such as CCMA, CNA, Phlebotomist, etc,) if you submit a copy of your current license to the Health Professions Advising and Applications Office, we can complete paperwork on your behalf to determine if  Credit for Prior Learning can be awarded for one of the options under the job skill portion of the CSC: Introduction to Occupational Therapy Assistant.

Note: The Introduction to OTA-Pediatrics CSC does not have a job skill option as CHD 120, 145, and 205 are considered job skills for that option.

The Introduction to Occupational Therapy Assistant CSCs consist of specific coursework that is designed to allow applicants to the OTA program to complete some of the courses required within the AAS and to also offer a job skill option to applicants in case of non-admittance to the program. Not all prerequisite and support classes are included in the CSC. HLT 141, CST 100, HLT 105, & PHI 220 are not included in the CSC and BIO 142 is not included in Introduction to Occupational Therapy Assistant: Pediatrics.

If you are using financial aid to cover the cost of classes, financial aid will not cover the cost of courses not included in Introduction to Occupational Therapy Assistant (either option).

If you wish to complete these courses prior to entry, you need to pay for those courses out of pocket.  If you are accepted into the AAS Occupational Therapy Assistant program, financial aid will then cover those courses. The plan change for accepted students from the CSC to the AAS typically occurs in late May or early June and will not be effective until the fall term.

The associate-degree-level occupational therapy assistant program has applied for accreditation and has been granted Candidacy Status by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA and its web address is www.acoteonline.org.

The program must have a preaccreditation review, complete an on-site evaluation, and be granted Accreditation Status before its graduates will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapy assistant administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA).

In addition, all states require licensure to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.

The program follows the college policy on non-discrimination that states “this College promotes and maintains educational opportunities without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity, marital status, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions including lactation, age (except when age is a bona fide occupation qualification) veteran status or other non-merit factors.”

Applicants can complete the GED and submit official scores of the GED to the HPAAO. Applicants can also submit their transcripts to one of the organizations who are members of NACES (National Association of Credential Evaluation Services) and have the official report that verifies completion of United States High School education equivalency sent to the HPAAO. Either the copy of the GED scores or the official report from a NACES organization member must arrive by the application deadline of February 15 to be considered for the fall program. Here is a link to the current members of the NACES.

If you are interested in taking classes to prepare for future entry into the program but you are unsure when you will be eligible, please submit the 2026 Occupational Therapy Assistant application with the appropriate transcripts. This will allow us to help you plan and suggest proper courses to begin your studies. The advisor will also evaluate your transcripts for transfer credit and can discuss your placement results.

We have a team of advisors for Health Professions.

• New students should begin with a New Student Advisor in the Enrollment Center.
• Rhonda Perdue is the Health Professions program advisor and provides advising about applying and preparing for health professions programs for continuing Virginia Western Students. Rhonda can assist with career planning and course selection and may be able to assist with preliminary information. You can schedule an appointment with Rhonda Perdue via Navigate.
• Pam Woody or Jasmine Terry will process your academic file and evaluate previously completed coursework after a review of your official transcripts. They will also send the process letter verifying your GPA, prerequisites, and the evaluation of your college course work. 

Submission of all academic materials including application and official transcripts from High School and all colleges attempted should be directed to: Attention: Pam Woody; VWCC; School of Health Professions; 3091 Colonial Avenue, SW; Roanoke VA 24015.

You may also contact the team of advisors at healthprofessions@virginiawestern.edu.

TEAS is the Test of Essential Academic Skills for Allied Health. The TEAS measures basic essential skills in the academic content areas of reading, mathematics, science and English and language usage. We are interested in all scores of the TEAS with the minimum preferred total score of 60.

TEAS testing is usually conducted mid-March. All qualified early applicants should receive additional details by early to mid-March regarding TEAS testing dates. Only qualified applicants, who meet the minimum criteria, will be tested during this time period.) All communication regarding the TEAS will occur with your email in Navigate and remember to turn on your notifications in Navigate.

TEAS Prep Guide (PDF)

An Occupational Therapy Assistant Admission Committee, which meets near the end of the spring semester, makes the admission decisions. Decisions are emailed to the applicants as soon as possible, usually during the 3rd full week of May or later.

Decisions are made based on a scoring rubric that takes into account GPA, course achievement, TEAS scores, and performance in an interview and essay. If two students have the same final admission score, the student with the higher score of GPA points from the rubric plus total TEAS points from the rubric will be ranked higher. If two students have the same rubric TEAS plus GPA total rubric points, the student with the higher college GPA will be ranked higher.

Lab courses require a high level of touch. We simulate occupational therapy treatments and procedures while in class. We will practice and model principles of therapeutic touch, informed consent, and respectful behavior. Everyone is responsible for communicating questions or concerns about communication style, amount of touch required, given, or received during class from students and instructors. Students who have questions about their ability to practice and complete treatment simulations with fellow students or instructors have the responsibility to direct their concerns to instructors or Program Director at an appropriate time and location. In addition, touch of others will be required in fieldwork settings as well.

Virginia Western Community College faculty and students must comply with the policies required by clinical facilities with which we have legal agreements. If a student refuses to comply with a clinical facility immunization and vaccination requirement, Virginia Western Community College will attempt, but cannot guarantee, to assign a student to an alternative clinical facility. A student will be placed in an alternative location only if it meets the educational objectives of Virginia Western Community College and program requirements for clinical placement. Faculty also must be available to appropriately supervise students at the clinical facility. Refusal to comply with a clinical facility immunization and vaccination requirement by a student in our health programs may impede your progress in the program or your ability to remain in the program.

It is the student’s responsibility to clear their urine drug screen. Marijuana may be legalized under state law for medical use with an MMJ card, but medical marijuana use is prohibited at all clinical sites. The presence of marijuana metabolites in urine will result in a positive drug screen finding that prevents a student from obtaining clinical placement and results in removal from the program. There are no exceptions to this rule as healthcare facilities have the right to ban the use of these drugs by hospital employees or clinical students.

Yes! Upon successful completion of this program, graduates are required to take the national certification exam administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After notification of passing the national certification examination, the individual is a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA).

All states require licensure in order to practice, and state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Each state has its own criteria for granting licensure. Prospective students should be aware that in Virginia, and in many other states, completing a fingerprint and background check process may be part of the licensing process. If students have any concerns regarding possible findings on these reports, they may contact the  National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Virginia Board of Medicine, or the state regulatory body  in which the prospective student plans to work.”

In order to be licensed in the state of Virginia, applicants for licensure must:

• Be 18 years of age or older
• Be a graduate of a two-year college-level education program for occupational therapy assistants acceptable to the Board
• Satisfactorily pass an examination administered by the National Board for Certification of Occupational Therapy
• Meet the requirements of a background check and fingerprint screening

Anticipated places of employment:

• Hospitals
• Home Health Agencies
• Mental Health Facilities
• Outpatient Clinics
• Pediatric Facilities
• Rehabilitation Centers
• Schools
• Skilled Nursing Facilities
• Community Agencies
• Inpatient Facilities