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Occupational Therapy Assistant

Make a difference, as an occupational therapy assistant

If you have a heart for helping people, consider the Occupational Therapy Assistant Track of the new Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation Sciences (BSRS-OTA) at IU Kokomo. This degree will combine classroom, laboratory, fieldwork, and clinical experiences to prepare students for work in the rehabilitation field. The Bachelor of Science Degree in Occupational Therapy Assistant will prepare you to work as an OTA in many settings and will serve as an excellent base for graduate study in a healthcare field such as Occupational Therapy or Physical Therapy.

Students must complete the first two years in prerequisite coursework prior to application to the program. The clinical major occurs in the junior and senior year. The OTA program application cycle begins January 1st, with an application deadline of March 15th.

To successfully complete the application to the OTA major, you will need to complete the following:

  • Complete an application to IU Kokomo (if you are not a current student),
  • Request any non-IU transcripts be sent to Admissions,
  • Meet with an IU Kokomo School of Nursing and Allied Health Professions (SNAHP) advisor prior to completing the application to assist in identifying any coursework to be completed,
  • List the prerequisite courses you have completed, including course number, title, where taken, credits earned, grade, and semester completed (or to be completed),
  • Upload a PDF document of your responses to the following 2 questions. Note: your response(s) will be scored based on the quality of your answer, writing ability, and our finding that the response is original and not plagiarized (i.e. do not copy anything from another source such as the internet for any response except as noted below).
  1. All students can contribute to the creation and promotion of a diverse and inclusive environment when diversity is defined most broadly. Whether by personal attribute, characteristics, culture, experience, or behavior, please explain to us how you believe you will contribute to the diversity of the profession of occupational therapy as an IU Kokomo graduate. (250 words)
  2. Describe the impact and power of occupation on health and wellness, including the role of occupational therapy in health promotion. You may utilize written resources, such as websites, articles, handouts, etc.; however, references you use must be cited in APA format. (500 words)
  • Certify that all information on the application is true and accurate and verify understanding of the OTA admission requirements.

Take the first steps now! Apply here to begin your journey.

What does an Occupational Therapy Assistant do?

Occupational therapy assistants work alongside occupational therapists to assist individuals to participate in meaningful and purposeful activities, such as self-care, social participation, play and leisure activities, driving, education, work, and more to maximize independent function, enhance development, prevent disability, and maintain health.

What skills does an OTA need?

  • Implement client-focused intervention plans
  • Monitor client-progress to insure they are successfully meeting their goals
  • Use therapeutic relationships to support clients during the rehabilitation process
  • Assist clients in finding solutions that improve their independence, safety, and quality of life

#1Best health care support jobs in 2022.

25.4%The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment growth for occupational therapy assistants between 2021 and 2031.

$61,730Median annual salary for occupational therapy assistant in 2021.

For more information email iukota@iuk.edu or call Christina Douglas, program director, at 765-455-9225.

The baccalaureate-degree-level occupational therapy assistant program has applied for accreditation and has been granted Candidacy Status 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. The program must have a preaccreditation review, complete an on-site evaluation, and be granted Accreditation Status before its graduates 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, all 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. 

  • Students must complete 16 weeks of Level II fieldwork as well as a baccalaureate project within 18 months following the completion of the didactic portion of the program.

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