The Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program is designed to prepare successful graduates for entry-level employment in the field of Occupational Therapy Assistants. A Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA), under the supervision of an Occupational Therapist, provides rehabilitative services to individuals with mental, physical, emotional or developmental disabilities. The COTA's purpose is to improve a client's quality of life and enhance their ability to perform meaningful occupations. COTAs provide clients with adaptive skills that enable them to reenter the workforce, instruct clients in compensating for a loss of motor skill function and plan activities that increase the independence of the physically and/or developmentally disabled.

Students must complete 28 hours of platform general education courses and 43 hours of OTA technical coursework.

 

OverviewFinancing Your EducationCareer OptionsAcademic Information

Hands-on Learning Opportunities

• Laboratory activities practiced on both real and simulated patients
• Provide interventions for the pediatric population
• Provide occupational therapy services for up to 40 hours per week while under the supervision of a fieldwork instructor
• Community service projects

Skills You Will Learn

• Evidence-based practice
• Professionalism
• Management skills
• Self-care skills
• Group therapy
• Manual therapy techniques
• Orthotic fabrication
• Physical agent modalities
• Assistive technology fabrication
• Home and community modifications
• Pediatric, adult and elder assessments
• Pediatric, adult and elder interventions

Students living in states bordering Arkansas receive in-state tuition.

Financial Aid is available for those who qualify. The Arkansas Tech University school code to use on the FAFSA is 001089.

The AR Futures grant could cover your expenses for this credential. Check credential eligibility. 

Calculate Tuition

You could work as a(n):

• Occupational Therapy Assistant in a pediatric facility
  
• Occupational Therapy Assistant in an rehab facility
  
• Occupational Therapy Assistant in a senior care facility
  

Alumni of our program work at:

• Friendship Pediatrics
• Incite Therapy
• Pediatric Plus
• St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center

View the links below to better understand the courses, the course timeline, and who your faculty will be when you enroll as an ATU student.

• Academic Catalog
• Learning Outcomes

Credentials that stack with this degree:

• Bachelor of Applied Science

Additional Program Information

 

PROGRAM APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED BETWEEN OCTOBER 1 AND MARCH 1

March 1: OTA program application deadline!

ONLINE PROGRAM APPLICATION

IMPORTANT: Additional Documents Required for Online Application

PROGRAM APPLICATION- PAPER

  

TEAS TEST INFORMATION

Upcoming Atu- ozark campus TEAS test dates

*Click the TEAS Test Information button above for more info. TEAS tests will be held in the Health Sciences and Wellness building, room 117.
*Open TEAS tests are available for anyone to take; Closed TEAS tests reserve one spot each for program applicants only.
*Program applicants will receive an email with information regarding the Closed TEAS test after the application deadline.

No Open TEAS Tests are scheduled at this time.
Spring Open TEAS tests will be posted closer to the beginning of the Spring 2025 semester.

How to Create a Student Account for the TEAS Test
How to Register for the TEAS Test

 

 

Accreditation

 

CONTACT

(479) 508-8500 ext. 6503
alliedhealth@atu.edu

 

Graduation Year	Students Entering/Graduating	Graduation Rate
2023	16/15	94%
2022	20/15	75%
2021	20/17	85%
Total	56/47	84%

Program results from the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT):

https://www.nbcot.org/Educators-Folder/SchoolPerformance

 

Program Faculty

Wendi Pool Program Chair Morton Hall 1700 West C Street Russellville, AR 72801 (479) 508-8500 ext. 6100 wpool2@atu.edu

Rebekah Redman Clinical Coordinator Morton Hall 1700 West C Street Russellville, AR  72801 (479) 508-8500 ext. 6101 rredman4@atu.edu