Application deadlines
- Priority Cycle: November 27, 2023 – May 3rd, 2024
- Late cycle: May 4th, 2024 – August 28, 2024
If empathy is one of your strengths and you want to work with people in the health and rehabilitation profession, consider a career as an occupational therapy assistant (OTA).
In the simplest terms, occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants help people of all ages participate in the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of everyday activities (occupations). Common occupational therapy interventions include helping children with disabilities to participate fully in school and social situations, helping people recovering from injury to regain skills, and providing supports for adults experiencing physical and cognitive changes.
Occupational therapy services typically include:
- An individualized evaluation, during which the client/family and occupational therapist determine the person's goals
- Customized intervention to improve the person's ability to perform daily activities and reach the goals. This is where the occupational therapy assistant is most involved.
- An outcomes evaluation to ensure that the goals are being met and/or make changes to the intervention plan
Video made by students in the program, highlighting a day in the life of an OTA student at SFCC
Accreditation
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 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. ACOTE’s telephone number is (301) 652-2682 or (301) 652-AOTA, and its web address is acoteonline.org.
To find if this is the right career for you, please contact:
Māpuana Carey, Allied Health Curriculum Advisor
509-533-3288
mapuana.carey@sfcc.spokane.edu
For questions regarding transferability of previous college credits, please contact:
Laura Woods, Counselor
509-533-3530
laura.woods@sfcc.spokane.edu
Federal/State Curriculum Requirements
ACOTE® accredited occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant educational programs satisfy the states’ educational requirements in all states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Students graduating from an ACOTE® accredited occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant educational program are eligible to take the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) certification exam and apply for licensure in all states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. For more information regarding state qualifications and licensure requirements, please refer to the State Occupational Therapy Licensure | AOTA.
Criminal Record and Certification
All states require licensure to practice; however, state licenses are usually based upon the results of the NBCOT examination. Be advised that a felony conviction record may render an individual ineligible to take the certification exam and consequently will be ineligible to practice as an occupational therapy assistant. If you have concerns pertaining to a past criminal record, you should contact NBCOT at 301-990-7979 to determine your eligibility for the exam.
Student Outcomes
The total number of graduates from the SFCC Occupational Therapy Assistant program during the 3-year period of 2020-2022 was 44, with an overall graduation rate of 86%
Graduation Year |
Students Entering/Graduating |
Graduation Rate |
2020 |
18/17 |
94% |
2021 |
16/13 |
81% |
2022 |
17/14 |
82% |
Total |
51/44 |
86% |
View program results online from the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT)
Program Costs
Current cost of OTA
Program (2022-23) |
OTA Program Year 1 |
OTA Program Year 2 |
Total
Costs (6 quarters) |
Tuition |
$4,576 |
$4,340 |
$8,916 |
Institutional Fees |
$773 |
$738 |
$1,511 |
Lab & Course Fees |
$1,461 |
$2,241 |
$3,703 |
Textbooks |
$1,078 |
$664 |
$1,742 |
Total |
$7,888 |
$7,983 |
$15,871 |