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Occupational Therapy Assistant

Occupational Therapy Assistants (OTA) are an important part of today's health care rehabilitation team, helping people with physical, mental, and developmental disabilities achieve greater independence and quality of life. In less than three years you could graduate, take the certification exam and obtain a license to work under the supervision of an Occupational Therapist.

Degrees Offered See the program-specific requirements.

Associate of Science in Occupational Therapy Assistant
Newman University student helps wind ribbon
I think the curriculum is rigorous, but that’s a good thing!
~recent NU OTA Student Satisfaction Survey

Prominent Careers

The demand for occupational therapy services is strong, and the employment outlook for OTAs is expected to increase much faster than average for all occupations through 2018. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics projected employment of OTAs to increase by 30 percent from 2008 to 2018. This projection is based on the bureau’s assumptions that demographic trends and advances in medical technology will fuel demand for therapy services.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook, median annual earnings nationally for OTAs were $48,230 in May 2008, and opportunities for individuals interested in becoming occupational therapy assistants are expected to be very good.  Work Environment School systems, hospitals, and long-term care facilities are the primary work settings for occupational therapists and OTAs. However, your professional work environment and patients can vary greatly. You may be helping an individual with depression in a nursing home or a child with mental retardation in the classroom.

Although working as a Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA/COTA) can be both fulfilling and financially rewarding, the opportunity to continue your professional development by becoming an Occupational Therapist (OT/OTR) is something you may wish to consider. This requires a master’s degree in occupational therapy. The American Occupational Therapy Association currently lists over twenty colleges and universities that are specifically marketing to OTA graduates who are seeking OT degrees. Those wishing to teach in an OTA or OT educational program will want to obtain a Master’s or Doctor’s degree in OT or a related field.

Four out of five Newman OTA students say they would recommend this program to others.

More Information

OTA professional coursework starts in January each year, following completion of pre-requisites in Human Anatomy, General Psychology, Medical Terminology, Intermediate Algebra and College Writing. Prospective OTA students who want priority consideration will wish to submit their applications by October 1.

Certification and Licensure:

Graduates of the program are eligible to sit for the National Certification Examination for the Occupational Therapy Assistant 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, Kansas and most other states require licensure to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination.  NOTE:  A felony conviction and/or other records of misconduct may affect a student's ability to participate in required fieldwork, sit for the NBCOT Certification Exam and/or attain state licensure.

Classroom environment

The majority of your OTA classes will include lab experiences for active, hands-on learning. In addition, many courses include field trips and/or fieldwork experiences to reinforce classroom learning. Two fieldwork internships in a hospital, school, nursing home, or other location are required in order to complete your learning experience and prepare you for your first job as an OTA.

Financial Aid

If you are a displaced worker, it may interest you to know that the Workforce Alliance of South Central Kansas has approved Newman's OTA program for scholarship assistance to eligible Workforce Investment Act (WIA) participants. Hospitals, long-term care corporations, and other health care related agencies occasionally offer tuition assistance in exchange for a promise to work at their facilities upon graduation.

For information on other forms of grant, loan and scholarship assistance, please visit Newman’s Financial Aid department.

How to Apply:

**Please note that acceptance by Newman University must precede acceptance into the OTA Program. Early application for Newman University admission is highly recommended as the first step in the OTA application process.**

  1. Review applicant handbook (PDF 230 KB).  
  2. Obtain full admittance into Newman University by applying through the Admissions office. 
  3. Make sure to speak to financial aid early and often.
  4. If you have any questions about prerequisites or course information, please contact a faculty member.  
  5. Submit application materials found in the Applicant Handbook by Oct. 1.

Classes begin in January.

For more information or if you have questions about this program page contact Director of the Occupational Therapy Program and Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy Clint Stucky, MS, MSEd, OTR/L

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