Occupational Therapy Assistant (A.A.S.)

A.A.S. Degree: 82 Hours

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.

Students may take the “Program Specific Courses” only if they have been admitted into the program. A separate application process is required for acceptance into this program. A new class begins each fall semester. The application deadline for the program is April 15. Contact the Allied Health office for an application packet.

Students admitted into the OTA program are required to adhere to strict program attendance and professional behavior standards in order to participate, progress and graduate from the OTA program.

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, Ste 200, P.O. Box 31220, Bethesda, MD 20814-3449. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-6611.

Graduates of the program are eligible to apply to sit for the National Certification Examination for the Occupational Therapy Assistant. This test is administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA).

In addition, most states, including Missouri, require licensure in order to practice. State licenses are based on information obtained through an application and results of the NBCOT examination. Felony convictions may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT exam or attain state licensure. For information regarding Missouri licensure, contact the Missouri Board of Occupational Therapy, Division of Professional Registration, P.O. Box 1335, Jefferson City, Missouri, 65102, or phone (573) 751-0877. NBCOT can be found on the web at NBCOT.org.