In this career field, you will work with clients of all ages who have developmental, physical, social or emotional challenges that interfere with their daily living. Under the supervision of a registered occupational therapist, you will show people how to care for themselves, work, play, learn and enjoy leisure activities. Your training will include medical terminology, medical and psychosocial conditions, and the skills you’ll need to assess and provide treatment interventions. You will also learn how to apply creativity, teamwork and problem solving skills to treatment plans. Hands-on lab work and clinical experiences give you ample opportunity to develop your skills. Upon completion, you will be ready to take the national certification examination.

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Admissions Requirements

TEAS Score Requirement

A TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills) composite score of 58.7 or above is required for admission to the Pre-Associate Degree Nursing, Dental Hygiene, OTA , Medical Lab and Neurodiagnostic Programs.

High School Transcript

Submit a final, official high school transcript or an official copy of GED/HSED certification scores.

OTA Technical Standards

Read, sign and submit the Technical Standards found at www.fvtc.edu//OTATechStandards; Submit the signed form to Fox Valley Technical College, Enrollment Services, PO Box 2277, Appleton, WI 54912-2277 or email the signed copy to admissions@fvtc.edu.

Credit Transfer Options

They're your credits. Take them with you!

Whether you’re an incoming student, transferring to another two-year college or pursuing your bachelor’s degree, we make it easy for you to seamlessly transfer your credits. With full accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission, we offer credit transfer agreements with more than 65 two-and four-year colleges.

Transfer In

Many students come to Fox Valley Tech with credits they’ve already earned, either while in high school or at other colleges and universities. It’s also possible to be granted credit for career-related knowledge and skills you’ve already mastered.

Transfer Out

Is a four-year degree in your future? Save time and money by starting here. You can earn your associate degree at Fox Valley Tech, then apply your credits toward a bachelor’s degree. Or easily transfer your credits to other two-year colleges.

Program Outcomes

• Practice within the distinct role and responsibility of the occupational therapy assistant
• Serve a diverse population in a variety of systems that are consistent with entry level practice
• Value life-long learning and the need to keep current with best practice
• Apply occupational therapy principles and intervention tools to achieve expected outcomes
• Demonstrate professional behaviors, ethical standards, values, and attitudes of the occupational therapy profession
• Advocate for the profession, services, and consumers

Program Accreditation/Certification

This program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), 4720 Montgomery Lane, Suite 200, Bethesda, MD 20824-3449. ACOTE's telephone number, C/O AOTA, is 301-652-AOTA, and website of [www.acoteonline.org](http://www.acoteonline.org/).

Graduates of the program can sit for the national certification examination administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). Upon successful completion of the exam, you will be a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA), which is required for licensure and employment in the state of Wisconsin. [NBCOT Program Pass Rate](https://secure.nbcot.org/data/schoolstats.aspx). [FVTC OTA Program Graduation Rates (PDF)](http://www.fvtc.edu/Portals/0/PDFs/General%20Site/PoS/OTA%20Cohort%20Group%20Graduation%20Rates.pdf)

Additional Information

Please review [this guide](https://www.fvtc.edu/Portals/0/PDFs/Programs/OTA%20Checklist%201606%20and%20Later.pdf) for complete admissions and program information.

Students must obtain a C grade in each required general education and core course. If a C grade is not obtained, you will be required to repeat the course.

You will be required to complete a criminal background check for this program. Agencies and organizations have the legal right to deny fieldwork experience based on a crime committed that is substantially related to the care of others. Completion of your program cannot be guaranteed if your criminal history prevents you from completing any on-site experience. Anyone convicted of a felony may not be able to sit for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) examination upon graduation.

You will be required to submit a copy of your Certified Background Check report (includes the Caregiver Background Check(CBC) and the Criminal History Record Check) to the OTA department after you are registered in the Introduction to Occupational Therapy (10-514-171) course.

There is an estimated wait time of up to two years AFTER your admit term to enter occupational specific courses; while waiting to start occupational specific courses, you may choose to take general education and elective courses required for your degree or diploma program.

Your program requires that you complete General Anatomy & Physiology (10-806-177) which has the following prerequisite: ACCPL Read >= 80 OR ACT Read >= 20 OR for programs requiring TEAS a Composite >= 50 OR Program Prep; ACCPL Sentence >= 83 OR ACT Engl >=18 OR for programs requiring TEAS a Composite >= 50 OR Program Prep; and 2 semesters of HS Chemistry OR Gen Chemistry (10-806-134) with C or better.

Students must submit a Health History Form, including required immunizations, to the FVTC Health Services office (HS201) by the start of occupational specific coursework; to access the form, please go to www.fvtc.edu/healthservices.

Undecided?

Still undecided about your major or exploring your career options? Check out these resources to identify your personality traits, values, abilities and interests – important considerations when choosing a career. You’ll also find details about scheduling a college visit and contact information for our career counselors if you’d like more personal assistance. We’re here to help you explore your options.

Make the most of your education.

Start anywhere. Many credits can apply toward future programs, so you can get the right training at the right time in your career.