Occupational Therapy Assistant

Occupational therapy assistants (OTAs) work under the supervision of a registered occupational therapist to provide hands-on services to children and adults who are learning new ways to succeed in the occupations of life. Sometimes physical, emotional or other challenges prevent people from participating fully in the job of living. Stroke, injury, depression, and developmental disabilities, for example, can make it difficult for people to do everyday tasks or be as active and as independent as the would like. OTAs make it possible for people to regain independence and to enjoy life to its fullest.

• AOTA: http://aota.org/
• NBCOT: http://nbcot.org/
• MOTA: http://www.motamo.net/
• ACOTE: http://www.acoteonline.org/

Accreditation status:

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 4720 Montgomery Lane, Suite 200, Bethesda, MD 20814-3449. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA and its Web address is www.acoteonline.org. Graduates of the program will be 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, most states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.

Program results from the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy
(NBCOT) can be found online at  https://secure.nbcot.org/data/schoolstats.aspx

The admission process opens April 15th and applications are due August 1^st to be considered for acceptance.

• OTA Application Packet (available next Spring)
• Tuition, Fees & Licensure
• OTA Observation Form Packet (available next Spring)

Program Requirements

OTA Associate of Science Degree Requirements

Occupational Therapy Assistant Suggested Plan of Study

Contact Information:

General questions may be emailed to: OTA@Crowder.edu

Laura Nutting
Secretary
417-673-2437 ext. 209
LauraNutting@Crowder.edu

Thomas Green, BS, COTA/L
Fieldwork Coordinator
417-673-2437 ext. 208
ThomasGreen@crowder.edu