The Virginia State Simulation Alliance (VASSA), which has six regions, was founded in 2005 and incorporated in 2010. The organization was created to serve nursing educators associated with approximately forty schools of nursing with registered nursing programs located throughout the state of Virginia. VASSA has branched out to incorporate also non-nursing educators and practitioners and it supports both academic and practice arenas utilizing simulation.

The missions of the VASSA organization are to: facilitate networking/collaboration, provide mentorship, promote professional development, improve utilization of simulation as a teaching methodology, and to facilitate simulation research. VASSA conferences, which began in 2006, were initially focused on programming and curriculum development to improve effective use of and implementation of simulation within higher learning institutions. Annual conferences have expanded to serve as a venue to develop and support simulation experts, educators, practitioners, presenters, and researchers.