This full-time accredited Occupational Therapy Assistant educational program prepares individuals to work in a health profession which helps people of all ages prevent, lessen and overcome disabilities.

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 4720 Montgomery Lane, P.O. Box 31220, Bethesda, MD 20814-3425, phone: 1 (301) 652-2682 (www.aota.org). Additionally, the OTA Program is approved by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulations (IDFPR). Upon successful completion of all academic and fieldwork requirements, students receive an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) Degree. Graduates of the program will be able 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). Over the past three years, SSC’s pass rate for first time takers of the certification examination is 90%.

Prior to enrolling in the Occupational Therapy Assistant program, students are advised to review the applicable licensure /certification procedures and requirements and state laws of the profession to ensure that they are eligible to receive a license /certification following completion of the Occupational Therapy Assistant program at South Suburban College. Eligibility for licensure may be limited by the results of a criminal background investigation. Individuals who have been charged with or convicted of a felony and/or have had any other professional license revoked or suspended or has been found by any court to have committed malpractice, negligence or recklessness is advised to seek an EARLY DETERMINATION REVIEW from NBCOT to determine their eligibility to sit for the national certification examination. NOTE: Criminal background checks are required for all admitted students.

Admission Process

Please Note: Students must complete all OTA program and general education requirements with a grade of "C" or better.

1. Submit an SSC Application form and forward all high school, as well as other college, transcripts to the Office of Admissions and Records no later than January 1.
2. After successful completion of OTA 101-Introduction to Occupational Therapy, applicant may submit the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program Application form to the Program by mail or in person (Room 4453) no later than February 1 prior to the Summer semester wishing to be admitted.
3. Specific admission requirements include:
     • high school diploma or GED certificate
     • completion of all prerequisite courses with grades of “C” or better
     • a grade point average of 2.5 (A=4.0) or better in prerequisite courses and maintaining a cumulative grade point average of 2.5
   In the event that we do not fill our program with students who have completed ALL program admission prerequisites prior to February 1 we will offer “provisional admission” to those students who will finish the program prerequisite(s) at the end of the Spring Semester.
   
   Admission to the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program will be determined on a ranking of the grade point average (GPA) determined on the program prerequisites. For students admitted on the “provisional” status, the mid-term course grades will be used in the ranking. If students are planning to transfer credit from another institution for currently enrolled course(s), they are responsible for providing the mid-term grade to the Program Coordinator. All final course grades will be validated prior to the start of the program.
   
   Although priority for admission will be given to applicants who meet the published application deadline, application forms will be accepted throughout the entire academic cycle. Residents of South Suburban College’s District will be given first priority for admission into the program. Admission to the College does not guarantee admission to the program.
4. You will be notified in writing of your admission status no later than April 30.

Note: This is only a full-time program option.

All students must demonstrate a minimum math competency equivalent to Elementary Algebra (MTH 095) to fulfill the AAS degree requirement.

Prerequisites for Admission to the OTA Program

		Credits
ENG 101	Composition & Rhetoric	3
BIO 185	Human Anatomy & Physiology I	4
	(Prerequisite: BIO 102-Intro Biology I or BIO 105-General Biology I or equivalency)
OTA 101	Introduction to Occupational Therapy	3
PSY 101	Introduction to Psychology	3
ART 112	Three-Dimensional Design OR
ART 110	Metals and Jewelry OR
ART 109	Ceramics I	3
General Education Requirements
PSY 206	Abnormal Psychology	3
BIO 186	Human Anatomy and Physiology II	4
SPE 108	Oral Communication	3
MDR 102	Fundamentals of Medical Terminology	1

Note: In order to begin the OTA Professional/Career Education Program Requirements in the summer, all of the above prerequisite AND General education requirements must be completed in the spring semester. BIO 185-Human Anatomy & Physiology I and BIO 186-Human Anatomy & Physiology II must be completed within the last 5 years to satisfy program requirements.

Students must present proof of CPR certification and maintain certification through the entire educational program.