Admission to the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program is selective. Applicants are required to meet specific admission criteria because of the academic rigor of the OTA program. This ACOTE-accredited program prepares students to test for national certification. Students completing all admission criteria may then apply for the OTA program.

Students should make an appointment with an Allied Health Advisor to plan their appropriate coursework and apply for the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program. To make an appointment, email alliedhealth@stchas.edu. 

Apply to the Occupational Therapy Assistant program once you have completed the following steps:

1. SCC Student: Apply to SCC.
2. Official College Transcripts: Submit official college transcripts from previously attended colleges. Submit the "Request for Transcript Evaluation" form in your mySCC Portal PRIOR to applying to the OTA program.
   • Sign into your SCC Portal>Quick Links>eForms>Request for Evaluation of Transfer Credit - complete the required information and click submit.
3. Complete any required developmental coursework: Complete any developmental coursework you assess into (includes RDG 085, RDG 092, RDG 093, ENG 095, ENG 096, MAT 096, and ESL equivalents).
4. GPA: Earn a minimum of 2.75 on at least 15 hours of college-level coursework
5. Coursework: Complete English Composition I (ENG 101) with a B or better and pass Pre-Algebra (MAT 096) or assessment into Beginning Algebra (MAT 098) or higher.

Accredited Occupational Therapy Assistant Program

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) 652-6611 and its web address is www.acoteonline.org.

Graduates can 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). Many states, including Missouri, require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT certification examination.

Note: Clinical facilities require criminal background checks, drug screenings, child abuse clearance checks, etc. in order for students to participate in fieldwork activities and rotations. A felony conviction may affect a graduate's ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination and/or may prevent an individual from obtaining a license to practice. Students may wish to contact the program coordinator for additional information prior to enrolling in a program of study.

Information obtained through various screening procedures may prevent entry into the OTA program.

Note: All OTA students must complete Level II fieldwork within 18 months following completion of academic preparation.

Program requirements and policies are subject to change. The student is responsible for maintaining current information.

Occupational Therapy Assistant Selection Process & Confirming Admission

Student applications will be processed after the following are completed and verified:

1. Assessment test completed
2. Any required developmental courses are taken and passed (ENG 095, 096; MAT 095, 096; RDG 085, 092, 093 courses) or transcripts on file for college-level courses

Student selection process

Program criteria differ from general SCC admission. The Occupational Therapy Assistant program requires a 2.75 GPA and completion of specific coursework. The specific application standards set for the OTA program are based on literature describing the ultimate goal of an increased probability of student success.

All prospective students seeking admission to the OTA program must follow the same college application procedure as outlined in the OTA program curriculum guide. Students are not discriminated against on the basis of race, age, gender, religion, or national origin by either SCC or the OTA program. Students begin their application process with an allied health/career-technical advisor who advises and guides them through the process. Faculty will not meet individual students until OTA orientation, held in the semester preceding the start of class.

Criteria for admission to the OTA program were established by the OTA program coordinator in collaboration with the director of admissions and reviewed by the OTA Program Advisory Committee, the Dean of Nursing & Allied Health, and the Vice President of Academic Affairs. Criteria are subject to change.

Students will be considered as active applicants only if they maintain contact with the advisor at least annually. Students who do not maintain contact or who cannot be reached by the address or telephone number on record at the college will be dropped from the applicant file.

*Please note, the OTA program admits students twice a year in the fall and spring semesters.

Occupational Therapy Assistant Skills

What abilities and skills do you need?

OTAs have a very physically demanding job that requires stooping, bending, lifting, coordination and flexibility. Successful OTAs also must have good interpersonal skills, be able to work with a wide variety of people, be organized and self-directed, and be team players.

Would you like this work?

Ask yourself the following questions as you consider this field.

• Do you like to be around and work with people?
• Do you like science?
• Do you like the field of medicine?
• Can you work independently with little direct supervision?
• Do you have patience?
• Can you wait for extended periods of time before you see results of your work?
• Do you like to work with your hands?
• Are you creative and a good problem solver?

If this sounds like you, you may have just found your career!

Occupational Therapy Graduate Data 

The total number of graduates from St. Charles Community College Associate of Applied Science degree during the last 3 calendar years of 2021-2023 was 69 graduates with a graduation rate of 80%.

Tuition and Fees

Effective August 2023

In-District Base Tuition Rate- General Education Courses

$111 per credit hour + $10 per credit hour Technology Fee + $4 Student Success fee   = $125/credit hour

In-District Rates- Tier II OTA Courses

$211 per credit hour + $10 per credit hour Technology Fee + $4 Student Success fee   = $225/credit hour

Program Costs*

*Estimates based on in-district rates

*Incidental Fees are Approximate

Tuition costs are based on residency status at the time of registration. For out-of-district tuition rates, please visit SCC's Tuition and Payment page.