Occupational Therapy Assistant

Occupational Therapy Assistant

Program Level:

Degrees

Program Type:

Face-to-Face

Department:

Health Sciences and Histology

Institute:

Health & Biosciences

College:

SPC

What is the Occupational Therapy Assistant program?

Under the guidance of an Occupational Therapist, the OTA uses their knowledge of human growth and development in physical, social, and emotional functioning to carry out programs with clients of all ages. Clients with varying abilities resulting from physical injury or trauma, disease, aging, mental illness, or substance abuse may require Occupational Therapy intervention. Functional goals established jointly with the client are aimed toward individual self-care, entry/reentry into the community, and/or work.

What will I learn?

Knowledge of human growth and development in the areas of physical, social, and emotional functioning to carry out programs with clients of all ages.

What can I do with this course of study?

Occupational Therapy Assistant

What's special about the program?

The Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) Program prepares the student for entry into a health care/community service profession that uses a variety of activities and modalities to help individuals learn and/or re-learn daily life skills needed in order to function at their most productive and independent level. The Occupational Therapy Assistant program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE).

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 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814. 

ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301)652-AOTA and Web address is WWW.ACOTEONLINE.ORG.

Program Outcomes

Graduation Year
2021

Students Entering/Graduating
22/25

Graduation Rate
86%

Graduation Year
2022

Students Entering/Graduating
20/20

Graduation Rate
100%

Graduation Year
2023

Students Entering/Graduating
26/22

Graduation Rate
85%

Total

Students Entering/Graduating
68/61

Graduation Rate
90%

National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT)

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). 

The national examination is administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) located at One Bank Street, Suite 300, Gaithersburg, MD 20877-4150 and can be reached at phone: 301-990-7979. Additional information on NBCOT may be obtained at https://www.nbcot.org/Educators-Folder/SchoolPerformance 

Note: A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.

Program Information

Cost of Attendance

Occupational Therapy Assistant Program

Cost of Attendance 2023-2024

Number of Credit Hours

60

General Education

12

Program Specific Credits

48

Special Tuition/Credit

$64

In District Tuition Cost/Hour

$109

In-State Tuition

Special Tuition per Award

$3,072

Student Activity

$280

Total In-District Cost Tuition

$6,540

Uniforms

$250

Books

Included

Professional Memberships (AOTA,TOTA)

$256

Miscellaneous (Background checks and drug screen)

$170

Total In-District Tuition and Fees

$10,568

Out-of-District Tuition

Special Tuition per Award

$3,072

Student Activity

$280

Out-of-District Cost Tuition

$13,500

Uniforms

$250

Books

Included

Professional Memberships (AOTA,TOTA)

$256

Miscellaneous (Background checks and drug screen)

$170

Total Out-of-District Tuition and Fees

$14,176

Non-Texas/International Non-Resident Tuition

Special Tuition per Award

$3,072

Student Activity

$280

Non-Texas Tuition

$28,560

Uniforms

$250

Books

Included

Professional Memberships (AOTA,TOTA)

$256

Miscellaneous (Background checks and drug screen)

$170

Total Non-Texas Tuition and Fees

$32,588

Published costs and fees are subject to change. The cost of Textbooks and Supplies is estimated, and a student may find the cost to be more or less.

Faculty and Staff

  • Dr. Jacqueline Stevenson, OTD, OTR, Program Director, and Associate Professor
  • Kathryn Freeman, MOT, OTR, Academic Fieldwork Coordinator, and Associate Professor
  • Edward Gayden, BS, COTA, Student Club Advisor and Associate Professor

Professional Organizations and Sites of Interest  

The Occupational Therapy Assistant Program maintains close ties with the professional organizations that represent occupational therapy:

American Occupational Therapy Association:  This is a national professional organization that represents nearly 230,000 occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, and occupational therapy students in the United States and beyond, to advance occupational therapy practice, education, and research.

Texas Occupational Therapy Association:  The Texas Occupational Therapy Association (TOTA) is a non-profit professional association incorporated in Texas that was established for the benefit of professionals and students of occupational therapy. The mission of TOTA is to be responsive to the professional development, information needs, and educational requirements of its members; to advance and improve the practice of occupational therapy for the benefit of the consumers; and to anticipate and respond to the organizational, political, economic and social features of the health care delivery system at the local, state and national levels.

Executive Council of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Examiners:  This is the legal authority on standards of physical therapy practice in Texas.  It acts as a public guardian.  It is also the licensing authority for the state of Texas.

Learn more THECB Statutory Requirements 

OTA Student Handbook SPC Student Handbook

Admissions and Prerequisite Requirements

Admissions Requirements:

Students electing to major in the Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program must meet all admission requirements for acceptance to St. Philip's College and the Health Sciences Department. Students must also complete and submit the separate Health Sciences Department Application Form and ALL supporting documents. See the Admission GuidelinesOTA Application Checklist, or Employment Verification Form.

Prerequisite Requirements:

Prerequisite courses are:

  • ENGL 1301 Composition
  • BIOL 2401 Human Anatomy & Physiology I
  • MATH Choose one from the math core.

General Education Courses to complete either before starting the program or during the summer break:

  • Select one course from Humanities (40) core OR from Visual and Performing Arts (50) core
  • PSCY 2301 General Psychology

NOTE: All courses must have a grade of C or higher

Courses do not have an expiration date. If Alamo Colleges accepts your course then the program will accept your courses.

Application and Selection Process

Application Process:

Completed application packets, including all supporting documents, are accepted by the deadline of March 31. Applications are reviewed during the Spring semester for consideration to begin the OTA program in the following Fall semester.

Learn more Observation Verification Form Apply Today!

Selection Process:

After the March 31st deadline, the Selection Committee will review all complete application packets. Qualified applicants will be notified to attend a meeting with OTA faculty that furthers the selection process. This session will provide more specific information about the program, expectations if accepted into the program, and completion of an interview and writing sample.   

Learn more

A completed application includes the following:

  • Completed application packet
  • ATI TEAS score page with a minimum score of 65
  • Official Transcripts for colleges pertaining to the prerequisites courses
  • Complete 20 Volunteer/Observation Hours in two separate OT settings
  • Potential students MUST attend at least one either virtual or face-to-face Information Session
  • A one-two page, double-spaced, Calibri 12-point font essay including the following:
    • Describe what becoming an occupational therapy assistant means to you
    • How did the volunteer/observation experience expand your knowledge of Occupational Therapy
    • Describe how you build relationships with classmates and professor 

No person shall, on the basis of race, color, sex, pregnancy, religion, creed, national origin (including ancestry), citizenship status, physical or mental disability, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, transgender status, gender identity, gender expression, veteran or military status (including special disabled veteran, Vietnam-era veteran, or recently separated veteran), predisposing genetic characteristics, domestic violence victim status, any other protected category under applicable local, state or federal law, or persons who have opposed discrimination or participated in any complaint process on campus or before a government agency, be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or subjected to discrimination in employment or under any program or activity sponsored or conducted by the College District. H.1.1

Information Sessions

Virtual

1/15/2025

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Zoom ID: 941 0980 4973

Virtual

2/5/2025

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Zoom ID: 941 0980 4973

Virtual

2/12/2025

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Zoom ID: 941 0980 4973

In Person

2/19/2025

5:30 PM - 6:30 PM

Center for Health Professions (CHP), RM 312

Virtual

3/5/2025

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Zoom ID: 941 0980 4973

In Person

3/19/2025

5:30 PM - 6:30 PM

Center for Health Professions (CHP), RM 312

Virtual

3/19/2025

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Zoom ID: 941 0980 4973

Virtual

4/2/2025

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Zoom ID: 941 0980 4973

In Person

4/16/2025

5:30 PM - 6:30 PM

Center for Health Professions (CHP), RM 312

In Person

5/1/2025

5:30 PM - 6:30 PM

Center for Health Professions (CHP), RM 312

Virtual

5/14/2025

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Zoom ID: 941 0980 4973

Virtual

6/11/2025

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Zoom ID: 941 0980 4973

Virtual

7/9/2025

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Zoom ID: 941 0980 4973

Contact Us

Dr. Jacqueline Stevenson, OTD, OTR

Program Director

210-486-2518

MLK : Center for Health Professions (CHP), 330A

Doug Gable

Certified Advisor

210-486-2799

MLK : Welcome Center (WEC)

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