Occupational Therapy Assistant

If you want a hands-on career helping people regain independence in their daily lives, the Occupational Therapy Assistant (AAS) program can help you get there. This program prepares you to work as a vital member of the health care team, supporting patients under the supervision of a registered occupational therapist.

Graduates are trained to help individuals develop, restore, or maintain the skills they need for everyday activities when those abilities are affected by injury, illness, disability, or other challenges.

You’ll build a strong foundation through a combination of classroom instruction, hands-on labs, and real-world clinical experiences. Coursework focuses on therapeutic skills, adaptive techniques, assistive technology, and working with patients across the lifespan.

The program includes supervised clinical education, including intensive Level II fieldwork in the final semester, where you’ll spend approximately 40 hours per week in clinical settings.

 

This program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE®) of the American Occupational Therapy Association.

Upon graduation, you are eligible to sit for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) exam. After passing the exam, you may become a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA). Most states also require licensure to practice.

Occupational therapy assistants work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, rehabilitation centers, clinics, schools, long-term care facilities, and community agencies. Your role focuses on helping patients improve daily functioning and quality of life.

Admission to the program is selective. In addition to meeting general college admission requirements, applicants must complete specific prerequisite courses, submit documented job shadowing hours in an occupational therapy setting, and achieve a qualifying score on the TEAS test. Priority consideration is given to qualified applicants from the college’s service region.

Students accepted into the program must also meet health, immunization, background check, and clinical eligibility requirements prior to beginning coursework.

If you’re interested in a rewarding health care career that combines compassion, problem-solving, and hands-on work, the Occupational Therapy Assistant program could be the right fit for you.

Connect with an Advisor to learn more about program requirements, application deadlines, and whether this path aligns with your goals.