Occupational Therapy Assistant

This Selective Program has a competitive entry selection process based on a competitive point system. Application requirements are included in the description below.

Associate of Applied Science

The Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) 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 301-652-2682 or 301-652-6611, its web address is www.acoteonline.org.

Occupational Therapy Assistants help people across the lifespan engage in meaningful everyday activities, known as occupations, to support health, wellbeing, and participation. OTAs typically are employed in clinical or community settings working in outpatient clinics, inpatient rehabilitation centers, public schools and/or patients' homes.

This two-year (21-month) program prepares individuals for careers as Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants (COTA). Occupational Therapy focuses on helping individuals develop or regain the skills needed for everyday living, with the goal of increasing independence and functional participation. Clients may experience challenges at any stage of development, and services address a wide range of physical, cognitive, psychological, and psychosocial conditions.

The OTA program is a full-time program that uses face-to-face instruction as its primary delivery model. Some courses are offered in hybrid or fully online formats, and all OTA program courses are web enhanced. The Fieldwork Level II capstone courses listed in the fifth semester must be completed within eighteen (18) months after the end of the academic/technical courses to be eligible for graduation.

Graduates of the OTA program will be eligible to register 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). All states require occupational therapy assistants to obtain licensure in order to provide occupational therapy services. In Texas, the OTA must obtain state licensure to practice under the supervision of an Occupational Therapist (OT).

Note: A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to register for and sit for the NBCOT Certification Examination, as well as obtain state licensure to practice.

Application Requirements

All applicants must:

1. Participate in the required OTA Program Prospective Student Information Session. For the session schedule, visit https://www.southtexascollege.edu/ota/, or contact our Health Science Professions (HSP) Division, Guided Pathways Specialist at 956-872-3216, to schedule an appointment.
2. Be admitted to the college as a high school graduate or GED equivalent.
3. Meet TSI College Readiness Standards, or meet TSI exemption standards (view testing requirements).
4. Complete all prerequisite courses with a minimum of "B" as listed in the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program Degree plan. OTHA 1305 Principles of Occupational Therapy must be completed within the past two years. OTHA 1305 Principles of Occupational Therapy is offered in both a hybrid and fully online course format.
5. Complete the HESI A2 Exam (Health Education Systems, Inc.) Admission Assessment as follows: Achieve an English Language Composite Score of 75% or higher, a Science (Anatomy & Physiology) Score of 75% or higher, a Math Score of 75% or higher, and a Composite Score of 75% or higher. Scores must be current within the last 2 years. HESI A2 Exemptions are not permitted.
6. Earn a minimum grade of “B” in “Principles of Occupational Therapy” course within the last two years.
7. Earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in all courses, including transfer courses, and those completed at STC.
8. Pass a criminal background check, 10-panel drug screen through approved providers, and complete all required immunizations including Hepatitis B series. Students with criminal histories must provide proof of licensure eligibility from the Executive Council of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Examiners (ECPTOTE). Students must visit https://www.ptot.texas.gov/ and complete a criminal history evaluation letter and form. This process may take up to 6 months to complete. For more information visit Clinical Affairs or contact the HSP Clinical Affairs Specialist at 956-872-3022.
9. Submit the Documentation of Volunteer Experience Forms as evidence of volunteer experience completed under the supervision of a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) or an Occupational Therapist Registered (OTR). A total of 50 volunteer hours is required. While the applicant may complete all hours at the same facility, it is recommended that students seek opportunities across multiple clinical settings, such as inpatient facilities (e.g., hospitals or nursing homes), outpatient, or pediatric clinics to gain a more comprehensive understanding of occupational therapy practice. Please Note: Home Health hours are not accepted. Therapists who supervise volunteer experiences cannot be a relative or personal friend of the student applicant.
10. Meet Technical Standards as stated by the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program.
11. Submit a completed OTA program application by the stated deadline. For more information contact the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program at 956-872-3216, 956-872-3041, or visit https://www.southtexascollege.edu/ota/.

Competitive Entry Selection Process

The OTA Program selection process is based on a point-system evaluation. Points are awarded for the following selection criteria: GPA of OTA Program prerequisite and general education courses, HESI A2 Exam (Health Education Systems, Inc.) Admission Assessment scores, documentation of volunteer experience, cumulative GPA, and optional items listed on the OTA Program Application (i.e., completion of HCSS 0101 Healthcare Career Development or HITT 1305 Medical Terminology I, completed with a grade of B or better).

Qualified applicants are numerically ranked according to the number of points earned and may be accepted, placed on an alternate list, or not accepted into the program. Meeting the minimum application requirements does not guarantee admission. Due to the ACOTE-approved cohort size limitations, some applicants who meet all minimum requirements may still not be admitted. The typical number of new positions available each year is up to 20 and is subject to available resources. If an accepted applicant declines admission, an alternate may be offered a seat in the program. In the case of a tie in total points, applicants will be ranked according to the date and time their application was submitted.

A new application pool is established for each admission cycle. Applicants who are not admitted for the current cycle must reapply to be considered for future admission periods. Student selection occurs once per year during the summer. The OTA Program application and designated deadline are posted each spring semester for admission to the fall cohort on the OTA Program. Please Note: Failure to complete all required onboarding processes will result in not being able to enter the OTA program.

NOTE: Please refer to the Occupational Therapy Assistant program webpage for up-to-date program information regarding admissions requirements, the selection process, curriculum changes, and the application requirements at https://www.southtexascollege.edu/ota/.

Graduation Requirements

To earn an Associate of Applied Science Degree from the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program, students must satisfy all institutional graduation requirements established by South Texas College and complete all courses in the OTA degree plan with a minimum grade of “C.”

Licensure of Persons with Criminal Convictions

According to the Texas Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners OT Rule 374.5 the Board may revoke or suspend an existing valid license or disqualify a person from receiving or renewing a license because of a person's conviction of a felony or misdemeanor if the crime directly relates to the practice of occupational therapy.

Additional information regarding rules governing licensure may be found in the complete Occupational Therapy Rules located on the Executive Council of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Examiners website: https://www.ptot.texas.gov/.

The STC Board of Trustees approved Policy EFA (LOCAL) - Curriculum Design: Instructional Programs and Courses for all students participating in a Health Science Professions clinical program to meet established program standards for professional practice in accordance with applicable law, state education and licensing agencies, college district policies and procedures, and institutional and programmatic accreditor standards. The vice president for academic affairs and the dean supervising healthcare programs shall develop specific guidelines, program standards, and procedures, including guidelines and procedures for the immediate removal of students from a clinical course or program, when in their professional opinion, the student is not in compliance with established program standards or continued participation puts a clinical affiliate and/or its clientele at risk. Students having questions about this policy should see the Clinical Affairs Specialist, the OTA Program Chair or the Dean of the Health Science Professions Division. All consultations are confidential.

Program Learning Outcomes

1. Graduates will be able to describe the various roles of occupational therapy as it relates to clients, families, and service providers.
2. Graduates will be able to explain and differentiate the distinct roles and responsibilities of the occupational therapist and occupational therapy assistant in the supervisory process.
3. Graduates will be able to effectively apply occupational therapy principles and intervention strategies in a clinical setting.
4. Graduates will be able to formulate an effective Professional Development Plan to facilitate ongoing learning.
5. Graduates will successfully pass the program Exit Exam by the end of the semester.
6. Graduates will be able to articulate the particular occupational therapy frame of reference and/or model of practice employed at their assigned fieldwork location.

Advisory Committee Members

Amanda Delgado, COTA, McAllen, TX
Iris Dovalina, COTA, Mission, TX
Clarissa Gonzalez-Trevino, COTA Pharr, TX
Luis Martinez, OTR, Palmhurst, TX
Nereida Montanez, OTR, Pharr, TX
Jesse Rodriguez, OTR, McAllen, TX
Rosie Vallejo, OTR, McAllen, TX 

Occupational Therapy Assistant Associate of Applied Science

Students interested in this program must complete the pre-requisite courses prior to applying for admission. Any of the other general education courses may also be taken before applying for admission into the program. Grades made in these courses will be computed using a “point system” for the student selection process.

TSI Liable

Plan of Study Grid

Pre-requisites		Credit Hours
Humanities Elective 1		3
Select one of the following:
HUMA 1301	Introduction to Humanities I
PHIL 1301	Introduction to Philosophy
PHIL 2303	Introduction to Formal Logic
PHIL 2306	Introduction to Ethics
PSYC 2314	Lifespan Growth and Development 1	3
BIOL 2401	Anatomy and Physiology I 1	4
SPCH 1318	Interpersonal Communications 1	3
ENGL 1301	Composition I 1	3
OTHA 1305	Principles of Occupational Therapy	3
	Credit Hours	19
First Year
Fall
OTHA 1409	Human Structure and Function in Occupational Therapy	4
OTHA 1415	Therapeutic Use of Occupations or Activities I	4
OTHA 1341	Occupational Performance from Birth to Adolescence	3
	Credit Hours	11
Spring
OTHA 1349	Occupational Performance of Adulthood	3
OTHA 1419	Therapeutic Interventions I	4
OTHA 2335	Health Care Management in Occupational Therapy	3
	Credit Hours	10
Summer
OTHA 2201	Pathophysiology in Occupational Therapy	2
	Credit Hours	2
Second Year
Fall
OTHA 1253	Occupational Performance for Elders	2
OTHA 2405	Therapeutic Interventions II	4
OTHA 2160	Clinical -Occupational Therapy Assistant	1
OTHA 2209	Mental Health In Occupational Therapy	2
	Credit Hours	9
Spring
OTHA 2366	CAPSTONE: Practicum-OTA (A)	3
OTHA 2367	CAPSTONE: Practicum-OTA (B)	3
OTHA 2330	Workplace Skills for the OTA	3
	Credit Hours	9
	Total Credit Hours	60

¹

Identifies courses to fulfill minimum 15 credit hour General Education requirement

 Students must complete all CAPSTONE coursework with a passing grade to be eligible for graduation from the OTA program.