Occupational Therapy Assistant
Important Announcement
New Requirements for 2012:
1) As of 2012, COM 100 Human Communication and PLS 101 American Government and Politics will be required as pre-requisite courses and must be taken prior to admission into the OTA Program.
2) All pre-requisite courses must be in progress or completed by April 15 of each year in order for a student to be considered for the fall OTA class. For example, students completing pre-requisite courses after May 2012 will not be considered for admission in the fall of 2012.
3) As of 2012, students will be required to attend one group advising session during the fall or spring semester prior to admission. Admission points will be given for attendance at a group advising session. In case of program updates, students who are not accepted for the program, but who wish to reapply, should plan to attend one group advising session during the following year even if the student has previously attended a session. Group advising dates will be posted on the Allied Health website by the first day of class in the fall and the spring semesters.
4) Slight changes have been made to the essay questions required for admissions. Please make sure you are using the 2011 admissions checklist when writing your essay. Students who are reapplying should also review the new questions.
Occupational Therapy Assistant Program
Occupational Therapy Assistants help clients of all ages return to their daily activities by using meaningful, occupation-based activities to improve health and wellness. Occupational therapy focuses on improvement in self-care, work, play/leisure, education, and psychosocial skills. An OTA may act as an educator, an advocate, a coach, an inventor, or a motivator. OTAs are employed by hospitals, long-term care facilities, school systems, or community agencies. Employment opportunities are expected to grow 27% through 2014.
The Occupational Therapy Assistant program is designed to prepare students for generalized practice under the supervision of an Occupational Therapist. Through didactic, laboratory, and clinical education components, students will have the opportunity to gain understanding of practice with clients ranging in age from the very young to the very old. Practice within a variety of settings including school, medical, work, community, and mental health will be explored.
The Occupational Therapy Assistant program has been granted Accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). AOTA is located at 4720 Montgomery Lane, P.O. Box 31220, Bethesda, MD 20824-1220. ACOTE's telephone number c/o AOTA is 301-652-AOTA (2682).
OTC's Occupational Therapy Assistant Program is located in the renovated Lincoln Hall building.
The following information will help get you started. Before you begin the application process, please read the Admissions Checklist.
Important Links
Pre-requisite GPA Requirements:
Students must earn a minimum grade of "C" in all pre-requisite courses. However, a GPA of 2.5 in all pre-requisite coursework is required in order to be considered for admission. For example, students with a grade of "C" in all pre-requisite coursework would only have a 2.0 GPA and would not qualify for admission.
Specific Program Documents
The following information is the updated admissions information for April 2012. If you requested an admissions packet prior to June 30, 2011, or if you are reapplying for admission to the OTA Program, please refer to this website for the most up-to-date materials.
- Admissions Checklist Read first - checklist of required items needed to apply to Occupational Therapy Assistant
- Admission Application Application to OTA program
- Reference Form Print three to distribute to individuals
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Preferred Course Sequence
- Program Costs Estimated cost sheet