Occupational Therapy Assistant Program

OTA Program Inquiry

Program Overview

Occupational therapy assistants (OTAs) work under the supervision of a registered occupational therapist to provide hands-on services to help clients of all ages who are learning new ways to succeed in the occupations of life. OTAs work with clients that have physical, emotional, and mental challenges to make it possible for them to regain independence and to enjoy life to its fullest. Whether it’s a child with developmental delays, an adult recovering from an accident, or an older adult dealing with aging issues, an OTA will work with them to achieve wellness and independence.

The Crowder College Occupational Therapy Program Associate’s Degree program that takes two years to complete once you have been accepted into the program. This program is a full-time program which is only available at the Crowder College Webb City campus and meets two full days each week. Courses of study are in a traditional classroom format along with community-based fieldwork components.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Crowder College Occupational Therapy Assistant Program is to educate and train the next generation of Occupational Therapy Assistants with the knowledge and skills needed to become multi-skilled practitioners who are able to utilize evidence-based practice with a passion for life-long learning.

Program Acceptance/Requirements

The following Pre-Admission requirements are required for the Crowder College Occupational Therapy Program:

BIOL 152 Human Anatomy and Physiology I

COLL 101 College Orientation

ENGL 101 English Composition

PSYC 101 General Psychology

Approved Math Course

All of the pre-admission requirements do not have to be completed prior to applying to the program but must be completed before starting our program in January.

General Education classes on the OTA Plan of Study must be passed with at least a letter grade of “C”.

Application Information

OTA Program Application Period has Been Extended

The Priority Application period closed July 29th, 2026 (priority applications will be the first to be considered).

The Extended Application period will close August 17th, 2026. The application includes an essay, references, and resume along with other components.

Application Checklist

1. Apply and be accepted for admission to Crowder College
2. Completed and signed Application Due-Date Disclaimer.
3. Meet with Crowder College Advisor
4. Completed and signed OTA Application for Admission and Application Checklist.
5. All Official Transcripts sent to Crowder College records department if attended any colleges other than Crowder College you must have a transcript sent from each separate college. (must have already completed step 1).
6. Signed Limited Waiver of Confidentiality.
7. Completed Essay.
8. Completed Resume.
9. Two (2) references.
10. Copy of current medical certificate/license, if applicable

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Program Learning Outcomes

1. Graduates shall be able to use evidence-based resources to provided occupation-based, client-center interventions.

2. Graduates shall be able to address ethical challenges.

3. Graduates shall be able to communicate professionally with consumers, caregivers, families and/or professional colleagues to provide comprehensive occupational therapy services.

4. Graduates shall be able to collaborate professionally with consumers, caregivers, families and/or professional colleagues to provide comprehensive occupational therapy services.

OTA Faculty and Staff

Thomas Green, M.Ed., COTA/L
OTA Program Director | 417.673.2345

Cindy Vincent, B.S., COTA/L
Academic Fieldwork Coordinator | 417.673.2345

Laura Nutting
Administrative Assistant | 417.673.2345

Crowder College
Occupational Therapy Assistant Program
600 South Ellis Street
Webb City, MO 65870
(417) 673-2437
ota@crowder.edu

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Accreditation Status

Thank you for your interest in the Crowder College Occupational Therapy Assistant program, 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 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E Bethesda, MD  20814.  ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is: (301) 652-AOTA,  its Web Address is: 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 NBCOT.

American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA): https://aota.org
National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT): https://nbcot.org
Missouri Occupational Therapy Association (MOTA): https://www.motamo.net
Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE: https://www.acoteonline.org

Fieldwork

The fieldwork component of the Crowder College Occupational Therapy Assistant program consists of four fieldwork experiences which are completed outside of regular class time.

First year after accepted into the program

• The Fall semester includes a Level I fieldwork experience in a psycho/social based setting and involves both simulation and community-based components.

Second Year after accepted into the program

• The Spring semester includes a Level I fieldwork experience which is a weeklong in physical dysfunction, pediatric, or older adult community-based setting.
• The Fall semester includes Level II fieldwork experiences which consist of a minimum of 16 weeks working fulltime under the supervision of an OT or OTA.

Immunization and Certification Policy

Fieldwork Partnerships

If interested in supervising Crowder College fieldwork student contact Cindy Vincent:

cindyvincent@crowder.edu

Fieldwork Educator Resources
Sample Fieldwork Objectives
Sample Fieldwork Review