Occupational Therapy Assistant
Are you looking for a career that’s challenging and rewarding? Occupational therapy assistants help patients develop, recover, and improve skills for daily living. Work with young children to older adults. We give you the skills you need to improve lives, one patient at a time.
Program at a Glance
Earning Potential
Occupational Therapist Assistant: $71,194
For more salary information, check out Texas Wages.
Career Opportunities
- Hospitals
- Pediatric clinics
- Skilled nursing facilities
- Home health
- School systems
Accreditation
The Occupational Therapy Assistant program at San Jacinto College is accredited by
The Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American
Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA).
ACOTE
7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E
Bethesda, MD 20814.
301-652-6611
accred@aota.org
DEGREES & CERTIFICATES
Occupational Therapy Assistant, AAS
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Success in Numbers
Program Resources
Our graduates are eligible to take 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) and can apply for state licensure in order to practice. 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 Level II fieldwork within 18 months following completion of the didactic portion of the program.
Student Graduation Rates
Student graduation rates are indicated per academic calendar year. Graduation occurs in May of each academic year.
| Graduation Year | Students Entering/Graduating | Graduation Rate |
| 2020* | 12/8 | 67% |
| 2021* | 14/12 | 86% |
| 2022 | 12/12 | 100% |
| 2023* | 12/11 | 91.67% |
| 2024* | 12/11 | 91.67% |
| 2025 | 12/TBD | TBD |
| **Total | 62/54 | 87.10% |
*Students withdrew from program due to personal reasons.
** Total students from graduation year 2020-2024.
National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) Program Data
National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) data results are available on the https://www.nbcot.org/Educators-Folder/SchoolPerformance.
Our graduates are eligible to take 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) and can apply for state licensure in order to practice. 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 Level II fieldwork within 18 months following completion of the didactic portion of the program.
Student Graduation Rates
Student graduation rates are indicated per academic calendar year. Graduation occurs in May of each academic year.
| Graduation Year | Students Entering/Graduating | Graduation Rate |
| 2020* | 12/8 | 67% |
| 2021* | 14/12 | 86% |
| 2022 | 12/12 | 100% |
| 2023* | 12/11 | 91.67% |
| 2024* | 12/11 | 91.67% |
| 2025 | 12/TBD | TBD |
| **Total | 62/54 | 87.10% |
*Students withdrew from program due to personal reasons.
** Total students from graduation year 2020-2024.
National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) Program Data
National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) data results are available on the https://www.nbcot.org/Educators-Folder/SchoolPerformance.
Use these resources to better understand the occupational therapy profession and its requirements.
What is occupational therapy? (PDF)
Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE)
American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)
National Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners (NBCOT)
Get a sense of what will be required of you during fieldwork sessions.
Academic Fieldwork Coordinator: Christine Joseph, OTD, OTR 281-998-6150 ext. 3949
Weekly Summary Form
FW Educator Self Assessment Tool
Information sessions
Information sessions will be held on a regular basis at our South campus location in building S.1. Want to learn more? Attend an information session.
A Closer Look
Get a better understanding of what OTAs do and the history behind the profession.
Frequently Asked Questions
Check out the admission steps and application here.
Yes. The National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy(NBCOT) is the national OTA licensing exam. You will be eligible for the exam when you graduate from our program. Once this exam is complete, you can apply for your licensure to practice through the appropriate state agency. In Texas, the agency is the Texas Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners (TBOTE). However, please note that any felony conviction may affect your ability to sit for the NBCOT examination. It may also impact your ability to attain state licensure. You have the right to request a criminal history evaluation from the applicable licensing agency.
No, the OTA program is only located at South Campus. However, you may take prerequisites on other campuses, at night, or on weekends.
Additionally, the OTA program is a full face-to-face program. We will only implement a hybrid (online and on-campus lab) or a full online schedule if community and government officials place a state of emergency due to local, state, or national emergencies. Students are notified ahead of time if changes to instruction are made.
No, the OTA program does not offer night classes.
No, but observation hours are strongly recommended. The program does awarded points on the admission rubric for applicants who have sought out observation hours and invested time to learn more about the profession. A strong application would include observations hours.
- Inpatient
- Outpatient
- Rehabilitation
- Acute care
- Pediatrics
- Mental health
- Skilled nursing facility
- Home health
Yes, the OTA program admits students from various backgrounds, including those who may have had a previous career.
Due to the progression and sequence of the OTA program, it is not offered at part-time status. There are clinical experiences embedded in the curriculum as well as 16 weeks of full-time clinical experience required at the end of the didactic portion of the program.
Many students reapply and are encouraged to do so. You will need to complete a new application with all new documents and note on your application that you are reapplying. If observation hours were completed within two years of re-applying, you may resubmit those forms. Applicants should have copies of all materials initially submitted to resubmit certain documents of application.
Yes. An applicant who is selected for an on-campus interview will take a health entrance exam at no cost to the applicant on their interview day.
Creating Healthcare Heroes
