Occupational Therapy Assistant
Occupational therapy assistants (OTAs) work with individuals who have mental, physical, or developmental disabilities or who have had their life interrupted by an injury or illness. OTAs work under the supervision of an occupational therapist to help clients become independent with their daily activities and routines.
The LBCC Occupational Therapy Assistant Program is a two-year Associate of Applied Science Degree program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education. The program follows a hybrid delivery model and includes classroom, laboratory, and fieldwork components.
Successful graduates will be eligible and prepared to sit for the national certification examination and to be employed as entry-level occupational therapy assistants in a variety of practice settings.
Accreditation
This program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510#, Bethesda, MD 20814, 301-652-AOTA).
National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT)
Graduates of the program will be eligible 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). Most states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Program results from the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT®) can also be found online.
Note: a felony conviction may affect a graduate's ability to sit for the NBCOT certification
examination or attain state licensure. A felony and/or misdemeanor may also affect
a student's ability to be admitted to the program.
New Graduate* Examination Data
| Year | Candidates Tested National |
Pass Rate National |
Candidates Tested LBCC |
Pass Rate LBCC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 3,451 | 87% | 18 | 100% |
| 2022 | 3,955 | 85% | 23 | 91% |
| 2021 | 4,392 | 92% | 16 | 94% |
*New Graduate = Candidates testing within one year of graduation, regardless of the
number of attempts on the examination.
Graduation Rate
The total number of graduates from the LBCC Associate of Occupational Therapy Assistant
program during the three-year period of 2021-2023 was 56, with an overall graduation
rate of 79%.
Graduation
The LBCC Occupational Therapy Assistant Program is a two-year program which students typically complete within the specified time frame. However, special circumstances may allow for an extension to complete program requirements. All extensions must be approved by the program.
All students must complete Level II fieldwork within 18 months of completion of the
didactic portion of the program. Students must fulfill all graduation requirements
within 36 months of admission into the program.
Cost of Attendance
The estimated cost of the program for 2024 is $25,997.50 (subject to increase). This
cost includes both the estimated LBCC Tuition & Fees and the estimated Program Fees.
See a more detailed breakdown of costs.
Admission
For additional details on admission requirements, application procedures, and tuition rates, view the Occupational Therapy Assistant Application bulletin .
Additional Program Information
Get detailed information on program structure, coursework, and more, in addition to eligibility for certification by NBCOT and AOTA.
Department Faculty
