Occupational Therapy (OT) is the use of everyday life activities (occupations) with individuals who have limitations. These limitations may include physical or mental health and developmental or learning abilities. Individuals may also be limited by poverty and cultural differences or the aging process. OT is used to prevent disability and maintain health in the areas of work, play, leisure, education, communication interaction, and activities of daily living.

The Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program includes general and technical courses and supervised fieldwork experiences. The Level II Fieldwork experience must be completed within 18 months of finishing the OTAC academic courses. The Level II Fieldwork courses, OTAC 2225 and OTAC 2235, may be taken in the 2nd summer semester or the 3rd fall semester.

Enrollment in the OTA program may be limited due to the availability of fieldwork sites. Acceptance by the College does not constitute acceptance into the OTA program. Students are considered to be “Pre-OTA” until they have been accepted to enroll in OTA courses. Students interested in enrolling in this major will need to meet the following minimum admission criteria:

1. In order to apply, the student must have completed or be currently enrolled in the following courses: BIOL 2260 Anatomy and Physiology I, OTAC 1001 Introduction to OT, HLTH 1106 Medical Terminology and Psych 2201 Developmental Psychology. These courses must be completed prior to admittance to the OTA program, with a minimum letter grade of C.
2. The student must have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5
3. The student must have completed or be enrolled in the upcoming spring semester for BIOL 2262 Anatomy and Physiology II
4. The student must have completed and submitted an OTA program application.
5. The student must have completed all developmental courses required by the program.
6. The student must have immunization and health screening data must be complete and ready to submit to Castle Branch as per NORTHLAND policy 2182
7. The student must have completed the ATI TEAS for Allied Health (AH).

Admission will be based on the number of points scored by the individual student. Points will be scored based on courses completed, work/volunteer/observation experience, GPA, previous academic degrees, CPR certification, and TEAS score. The applicants who score the highest will be enrolled in OTA courses in the spring semester and the remaining eligible applicants will be placed on a waiting list. A new application needs to be completed if an applicant wishes to be considered for the following year.

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) One Bank Street Suite 300, Gaithersburg, MD 20878 (301) 990-7979. After successful completion of the exam, the graduate will be a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA). In addition, most states require licensure to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT certification examination. A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.

Program Learner Outcomes

1. Student will perform entry-level competencies, based on occupational therapy standards.
2. Student will implement occupations-based interventions in collaboration with consumers, families, and other service providers.
3. Student will perform entry-level practice competencies safely and proficiently in traditional and emerging areas of practice.
4. Student will communicate effectively with consumers, families, and other service providers.
5. Student will demonstrate ethical and professional behavior while displaying respect for diversity of culture, age, and gender.
6. Student will demonstrate the needed skills to be lifelong learners in the profession of Occupational Therapy.

Student Outcomes

Graduates of the Occupational Therapy Assistant program at Northland Community & Technical College have completed the certification exam administered by the National Board for Certification of Occupational Therapy (NBCOT).

National certification examination outcomes for Northland OTA Program Class of 2023 (the most recent class that we have full data for):

• The OTA program had 7 graduates. 
• Six of those graduates took NBCOT Certification exam in 2023 and 2024.
• All 6 passed the NBCOT exam. One student has not taken the exam.
• The pass rate for the 2023 class is 100%

National certification examination outcomes for calendar year 2024 (comprised of 2023 and 2024 graduates):

• Eight new graduates took the national certification exam during this period.
• Eight of those new graduates passed the national certification exam during this period.
• 100% of NCTC OTA new graduates who took the national certification exam during this time passed the exam during that period.

Results of the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) Examination

The OTA program at Northland has a 73% graduation rate for the period of 2021-2024. The percentages of students who enrolled in the program and graduated within two years are:

Program results from the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) can be found online at https://www.nbcot.org/Educators-Folder/SchoolPerformance.

Licensure & Certifications

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) One Bank Street Suite 300, Gaithersburg, MD 20878 (301) 990-7979. After successful completion of the exam, the graduate will be a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA). In addition, most states require licensure to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT certification examination. A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.

Additional Program Resources