Occupational Therapy Assistant OTA.S.AAS
Associate of Applied Science - 65 Credit Hours
Division: Health Sciences
Department: Rehabilitation Services
Effective as of Fall 2025
Why study to become an Occupational Therapy Assistant?
Occupational therapy is a healthcare service which uses a variety of skills and techniques including daily life activities, exercises and/or adaptive equipment to help people gain the physical, cognitive, emotional and/or social skills they need to live as independently as possible. In our program, you will have to opportunity to combine biological and behavioral sciences with technical occupational therapy assistant courses. Additionally, you will participate in extensive clinical training, allowing you to have experiences working with people of all ages and abilities.
OTAs work in settings such as rehabilitation centers, hospitals, schools, nursing facilities, private clinics, community agencies and private homes.
This area of study might be for you if:
- You would like to work in healthcare profession focused on life skills and rehabilitation.
- You are a person who enjoys meeting and helping other people.
- You enjoy working with a diverse population, performing a variety of tasks.
- You enjoy both problem-solving skills and being creative.
- You want to gain new skills that are in demand across the country.
- Still not sure? A successful OTA should not only have a desire to help people but should also the following attributes: flexibility, creativity, patience, empathy, compassion, problem-solving skills and a desire to work as part of a team.
Occupational therapy practitioners ask, what matters to you? -- not, what's the matter with you?" - Former AOTA President Ginny Stoffel
What is the program about?
Occupational therapy assistants (OTAs), under the supervision of occupational therapists, provide services to individuals whose abilities to cope with daily tasks are threatened or impaired by developmental deficits, aging, injury or illness. OTAs help people prevent, lessen, or overcome physical, cognitive and/or psychosocial dysfunction so that they are able to function with maximum independence. The program includes extensive clinical training that must be finished within 12 months of completion of the academic course work. A grade of "C" or higher (77%) is required in all program courses to remain in the program. The Occupational Therapy Assistant program is designed to be completed in five (5) semesters on a full-time basis. This degree program consists of open enrollment courses (prerequisite and general education) and program specific courses with limited enrollment. The open enrollment courses may be taken prior to entry into the limited enrollment courses (OTA specific courses). To qualify for entry to limited enrollment courses, please see the OTA Program Information Packet (PDF) located on the webpage (http://www.sinclair.edu/program/params/programCode/OTA-S-AAS/).
Program Outcomes
- Students will demonstrate attitudes and behaviors congruent with the occupational therapy profession's philosophy, standards and the OT Code of Ethics.
- Students will earn an Associates of Applied Science degree in Occupational Therapy Assistant demonstrating readiness to successfully pass the National Certification Exam in order to obtain employment as an OTA.
- Students will select appropriate and meaningful activities and/or occupations as a means of addressing occupational performance, prevention, health and wellness, quality of life, occupational participation, role competence, well-being and/or occupational justice.
- Students will effectively use Occupational Therapy Practice Framework language, technology, professional literature and evidence-based research to make informed practice decisions and to communicate in a professional manner.
- Students will demonstrate the ability to deliver occupational therapy services at OTA entry-level competency under the supervision of an Occupational Therapist (OT) in a variety of settings.
- Students will participate in a minimum of 4 inter-professional education experiences throughout the program.
- Students will demonstrate knowledge of the role of an individual's sociocultural background on influencing choice of and participation in meaningful activities.
Career Opportunities
Occupational therapy assistants work in hospitals, clinics, schools, nursing facilities, group homes, home health agencies and rehabilitation centers.
Transferability
Formal articulation agreements with other colleges and universities indicate how Sinclair programs and courses will transfer to other institutions.
Prerequisites
- and BIO 1121 and ENG 1101 and OTA 1111 ALH 1101
- and Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5
- and Refer to program website for additional requirements
Credentials
Students who follow Sinclair's OTA curriculum as written will graduate in May of the second year. To be eligible for graduation, students must complete all courses as listed, including 16 weeks of Level II Fieldwork, within 12 months of completing didactic coursework. A computerized national certification examination is given by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). To be eligible to take this examination the student must have successfully completed all coursework, including fieldwork; applied for graduation; paid all fees; and been awarded the Associate of Applied Science degree with the major of OTA. Upon successful completion of this examination the graduate will be a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) and be eligible for licensure in the state of Ohio. A felony conviction may affect a graduate's ability to sit for the NBCOT certification or attain state licensure.
Additional Information
- OTA Program Specific Information
- OTA Program Information Packet
- OTA Student Handbook (PDF)
- OTA Essential Functions
- OTA Cost of Attendance
- Health Sciences Applicant Information Packet (PDF)
- OTA Program Mission, Philosophy, and Outcomes
- OTA Faculty and Staff Listing
- Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE): www.acoteonline.org
Program results from the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) can be found online at School Performance (nbcot.org): https://www.nbcot.org/Educators-Folder/SchoolPerformance
Curriculum
Program Accreditation Information
The Occupational Therapy Assistant Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at ACOTE c/o AOTA, 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814. AOTA's telephone number is (301)652-6611. www.acoteonline.org/ The program received a 10-year reaccreditation term in 2021-2022. It is scheduled to be reaccredited in 2031-2032.
