Occupational Therapy Assistant

Program Listing / 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.

What You’ll Learn

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.
 

Accreditation and Certification

The Occupational Therapy Assistant Program at Southwest Virginia Community College is accredited 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 (2682). Additional information can be found at www.acoteonline.org.
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.

Career Opportunities

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 Requirements

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.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

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.

How to Apply

In addition to the college application, you will need to submit a separate Occupational Therapy Assistant program application.

Occupational Therapy Assistant Application Apply to SWCC OTA Resources

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Program Outcomes:

The total number of graduates from the Southwest Virginia Community College Occupational Therapy Assistant program during the 3-year period 2023-2025, with an overall graduation rate of 90%. 

Program Outcome Data (Graduation)

Graduation outcomes by year, including entering students, withdrawals (non-academic), graduates, and graduation rates
Graduation Year Students Entering Students who withdrew, or did not graduate with the entering cohort, for reasons other than academic performance Students Graduating Graduation Rate
2025 15 2 13 87%
2024 15 0 15 100%
2023 12 2 10 83%
TOTAL (2023-2025): 42 4 38 90%

National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT®) program data results

Program Cost

Cost of the OTA Program based on the current published tuition rate of $181.80** per credit hour, with fees for Virginia residents:

Cost of OTA Program (2-yr, 5-semester, 2025-2027)

Estimated program costs by term, including tuition, books, and total costs
Term Credits* Tuition Rate** Tuition Cost Books & Supplies Estimate Estimated Term Cost
Fall 2025 17 $181.80 $3,090.60 $550 $3,640.60
Spring 2026 16 $181.80 $2,908.80 $900 $3,808.80
Summer 2026 6 $181.80 $1,090.80 $600 $1,690.80
Fall 2026 14 $181.80 $2,545.20 $450 $2,995.20
Spring 2027 13 $181.80 $2,363.40 $800 $3,163.40
Total Costs     $11,998.80 $3,300.00 $15,298.80

*Credits will vary during the first two semesters, depending on whether the student has completed any required general education courses.
**Tuition and related costs are set by the State Board for Community Colleges and are subject to change.

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