AS Occupational Therapy Assistant: FAQs

The deadline for application is May 1st. The OTA admissions committee begins reviewing files before the May 1st deadline and continues to review until the OTACAS closes the application on June 7th. We suggest beginning the application process well before April 1st, allowing yourself time to complete the application process including having all necessary materials turned in before the deadline.

he successful applicant will:

• Meet or exceed the GPA and/or ACT test score requirements
• Be able to demonstrate an understanding of the profession of occupational therapy
• Be able to effectively communicate verbally and in writing

We strongly encourage all prospective OTA students to volunteer or job shadow in a variety of occupational therapy settings prior to program application. Job shadowing gives students a better understanding of the profession and whether such a career is right for them. These students typically write more competitive essays.

Students taking general education and OTA courses will have limited free time. Most OTA classes include time-consuming labs and clinical sessions; the number of hours spent in class, in addition to study hours, will make it difficult to work while enrolled in the program.

Becoming an OTA will allow you to enter the profession in 2 years. If you decide that you would like to continue your education later on, you will need to complete a bachelor's degree and be accepted into a master's OT program. The OTA classes you take here, or in any OTA program, will not transfer into a higher level OT program, due to differences between the technical (OTA) and professional (OTR) levels.

Students are eligible to attend two semesters' worth of courses in case a spot opens in the program. For the past 5 years, the program has been able to bring 4 eligible alternates into the OTA program. Please understand that there are no annual guarantees for alternate admissions.

Our OTA program accepts students from numerous age levels and backgrounds. A typical class might include recent high school graduates, single parents, individuals seeking a career change, and adults reentering the workforce. A mature and committed student makes for a successful OTA.

Reliable transportation is a necessity. Some clinical sites in the OTA Program are up to 60 miles from the University campus.