Occupational Therapy Assistant

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, c/o AOTA, is 301-652-AOTA and its web address is www.acoteonline.org. 

Program Costs

Occupational Therapy Assistant program estimated costs are listed below. Tuition is based on in-state residency. Out-of-state residency tuition can be found on the Tuition and Fees webpage.

Expense	Cost
Tuition (69 credits)	$5,244 ($76 per credit)
Textbooks	$600 per program
OTA Student Fees (OTA uniforms, lab fees for OTA courses, liability insurance, background check, drug screen, and Castlebranch health tracker)	$338 per program
Student Administrative Fess (Computer Use and Technology, Student Activity Fee, College Access, Parking and security Fee)	$418 per program
Distance Education	0
Total	$6,600

Fees are subject to change  

 

Program Outcomes

The total number of graduates from the Occupational Therapy Assistant program during the 3-year period of 2020–2022 was 67 with an overall graduation rate of 83.6 percent.

Results for First-time Test Takers

Year	Number of Students Accepted into Program	Number of Program Graduates	Program Graduation Rates	Number of Test Takers	Number who Passed the Exam	Percentage who Passed the Exam
2020	22	23	104.5%	15	14	93%
2021	22	15	68%	23	22	96%
2022	23	18	78.3%	19	19	100%
Three-Year Total	67	56	83.6%	57	55	96.3%

Note: Program graduates may sit for the exam whenever they choose, so the number of first-time test takers does not always match the number of graduates in a given year. The number of first- time test takers may also include graduates from the previous year.

Program results from the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) can be found on the NBCOT website.

Graduation Requirements

For additional information about requirements and graduation, please refer to the Curriculum Program Completion and Graduation policy. Students enrolled in the OTA program must be able to demonstrate competency in theory, laboratory, and clinical work by meeting Durham Tech’s academic standards and by maintaining a grade of ‘C’ or better in ALL curriculum courses (OTA, BIO, PSY, and ENG prefix codes, as well as the humanities elective). Please refer to the plan of study for the required courses. Due to the dynamic nature of the OT profession, students are required to complete the program within four years of their enrollment in OTA 110. This time frame is the equivalent of 12 semesters. Additionally, OTA students must maintain the required records and insurance coverage necessary for clinical placement. For questions about this program, consult the Program Director or an advisor for assistance.

Certification

The national certification examination for the occupational therapy assistant is administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) at www.nbcot.org. After successful completion of this exam, the graduate will be a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA). In addition, most states, including North Carolina, require licensure to practice as a COTA; licensure in North Carolina is based on results of the NBCOT certification examination. A felony conviction may affect a graduate's ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure. These processes are separate from the college’s program and graduation requirements. Students are encouraged to contact NBCOT for additional information.

Student Occupational Therapy Association (SOTA)

SOTA is a non-profit, student-run organization that promotes occupational therapy through community service, public relations, fundraising, and campus activities. SOTA provides fellowship among students and faculty, educational opportunities through community service activities, and leadership opportunities within the organization.

Membership is a great opportunity to meet current OTA students in the program, learn more about OT and get involved in community. The SOTA membership fee is $5 for current OTA students and $2 for prospective OTA students per semester.

How to Apply

Program applications are due by April 2 for a program start the following summer.

Before you Apply

View the Admissions Checklist. Students are required to attend an information session (recommended). The are listed in the Upcoming Events section below.

Apply to the College

New students who are not currently enrolled at Durham Tech should apply to the College using the Health Tech Students then Steps to Apply.

Apply to the Program

Once prerequisites are completed, Apply to the OTA program using the Program Admissions Application.

Submit program applications electronically to Admissions, Registration, and Records (not Health and Wellness). Drop off locations are also listed on the Electronic Document Submission webpage.