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  3. Degrees and Academic Programs
Occupational therapy student in classroom

2-year Occupational Therapy Assistant

Get started in health care’s most creative career

Learning, playing, working, resting, and caring for yourself are considered occupations of life, but a physical or psychological challenge may hinder you from participating fully in activities you enjoy.

The goal of occupational therapy is to enable the client to be as independent as possible in the daily performance of self-care, career, and leisure occupations, using interventions or assistive devices. Unlike many inflexible health care careers, occupational therapy pulls from the fields of psychology, biology, and human development to promote health across the lifespan.

In a given day you might assist a stroke survivor to eat independently, create an adaptive billiards cue, or help a young client learn to manage ADHD.

Occupational therapy assistants are reporting impressive median salaries of $60,950 and field growth of 34% - one of the highest across all professions! Now’s the time to prepare for your career in occupational therapy.

Penn State’s Occupational Therapy Assistant program is accredited, allowing graduates to qualify to take the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) exam and earn licensure.

The size of each entering class is limited to 25 students so that optimal clinical experiences and practical application situations can be maintained.

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You’ll love the 2-year Occupational Therapy Assistant major if…

  • You want to work in a variety of practice settings with individuals and groups across the lifespan
  • You are interested in physical, mental, and emotional health
  • You want to help people regain independence and enjoy life
  • You are excited to study in a hands-on major with real clinical fieldwork
  • You want to be part of a rapidly growing and rewarding industry
  • You are planning to pursue a related bachelor’s degree or graduate studies in occupational therapy
Occupational therapy student in graduation dress next to nittany lion shrine

2-year Occupational Therapy Assistant career opportunities

Earning a degree in occupational therapy will provide you with a foundation of knowledge in the physical, psychological, and occupational sciences. Once in the field as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA), you will employ intervention plans that engage clients in maintaining or reclaiming independence.

As an occupational therapy assistant, you’ll learn to treat patients in an ethical, safe, and effective manner under the direction of an occupational therapist. Upon successful graduation from the program, students must sit for and successfully pass the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) national certification examination to practice. Most states also require licensure as a condition for employment.

Career settings for an occupational therapy assistant

  • Public and private schools
  • Rehabilitation hospitals and centers
  • Skilled and intermediate care facilities
  • Early intervention programs
  • General hospitals
  • Home health agencies
  • Senior day programs
  • Community wellness centers
  • Hand therapy clinics

Continuing your education

Occupational therapy assistants also commonly decide to continue their studies and earn a 4-year degree to progress employment opportunities, or peruse graduate study to become an occupational therapist.

Upon completion of the 2-year Occupational Therapy Assistant major, you may also choose to proceed to a 4-year major like Human Development and Family Studies, Multidisciplinary Studies, or Health Policy and Administration at Penn State Shenango, or another degree in biology, psychology, biobehavioral health, or other health-related majors at Penn State.

Two occupational therapy students use adaptive devices to navigate kitchen

What to expect in the 2-year Occupational Therapy Assistant major

Penn State’s Associate of Science in Occupational Therapy program combines a deep knowledge of psychology and biology with the necessary hands-on experience of working with real clients and adaptive devices.

Occupational therapy classes span from young children to older adults, and the appropriate therapies to assist your clients to live their most fulfilling lives.

You will participate in four real-world fieldwork clinical assignments during your final year that will help you develop a strong professional network in the community and gain valuable experience to pull upon once you enter the health care industry.

The size of each entering class is limited so that optimal clinical experiences and practical application situations can be maintained.

After graduating from the program, students must sit for and successfully pass the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) national certification examination to practice. Most states also require licensure as a condition for employment. A felony conviction may affect a graduate's ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination and obtain licensure.

Realistic occupational therapy settings and tools

Practice occupational therapy concepts in our unique simulations labs that feature a real working kitchen, and a demonstrative restroom, bedroom, and living space. Because Occupational therapy assistants work in a variety of settings, it’s critical that you study in a laboratory that replicates these scenarios and challenges.

Study biology in our Syndaver laboratory

Bring your human anatomy and physiology learnings to life in our Syndaver lab that features both a male and a female model. Penn State Shenango was the first to use full-sized synthetic human models in higher education, catapulting the campus to the cutting edge of Allied Health and nursing education.

Newly renovated science building

Penn State Shenango’s landmark Forker Laboratory Building received a $8 million modernization of classrooms, science and technology laboratories, new spaces for undergraduate research, and collaborative student study spaces.

Occupational Therapy Club

Network within the occupational therapy field as you collaborate with peers, faculty, and industry professionals to learn more about the life after college. Occupational therapy students typically form a close-knit cohort, using the club to collectively benefit philanthropic activities and group study sessions.

Two occupational therapy students meet outside

Graduate from Penn State’s accredited Occupational Therapy Assistant program

Remember, all programs are not the same. Check out the Penn State difference! Penn State Associate in Science in occupational therapy graduates are eligible to sit for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT®) Certification exam. Successful completion of this exam certifies the occupational therapy assistant as a COTA®. State licensure is required by most states and is usually based on the results of the NBCOT® certification exam.

You may access the direct link for the NBCOT Accredited Occupational Therapy Education Program Performance Data on the NBCOT National Certification Exam website. 

Program accreditation statement 

The associate-degree-level occupational therapy assistant program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA.

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).

In addition, all states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.

Please visit our Occupational Therapy Assistant Accreditation page for full contact information for all three of these institutions and Penn State Shenango student and program outcomes.

What would prohibit a student from taking the certification exam?

If you have a felony conviction on your record, this may affect your ability to sit for the certification examination administered by NBCOT® after you graduate; this can subsequently affect your ability to attain state licensure. Before applying for the OTA program, you can contact NBCOT® for information on their early determination program to assess examination eligibility. Go to NBCOT and read the Early Review section for details.

Many US states and territories require professional licensure/certification to be employed. If you plan to pursue employment in a licensed profession after completing this program, please visit the Professional Licensure/Certification Disclosures by State interactive map.  

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We're excited you're ready to become a Penn Stater! Now's the perfect time to get started on your application. If you need help getting started, check out our guides to apply for first-year, transfer, or adult students. 

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2-year Occupational Therapy Assistant major courses

Review the full Occupational Therapy Assistant course listing for additional requirements and a sample of the program’s structure.

  • Occupational Performance across the Life Span
  • Assistive Technologies and Methods of Adaptation
  • Management, Leadership, and Ethics in Occupational Therapy
  • Occupational Therapy for Child and Adolescent Health
  • Occupational Therapy for Psychosocial and Behavioral Health
  • Occupational Therapy for Physical Health and Rehabilitation
  • Fieldwork: Experience in Occupational Therapy

 

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Contact an admissions counselor

Evan Gruver

Evan Gruver

Admissions Counselor, Admissions
[email protected]
724-983-2805
225E Lecture Hall

Contact Occupational Therapy Assistant faculty and staff

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Valerie Amrhein

Lecturer, Occupational Therapy Assistant
[email protected]
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Tiffany Bale

Part-Time Faculty, Occupational Therapy Assistant
[email protected]
No photo available

Amy Beveridge

Administrative Support Staff, Occupational Therapy Assistant and Physical Therapist Assistant Programs
[email protected]
724-983-2890
102 Chadderton Lab
Tammy Divens

Tammy Divens

Associate Teaching Professor, Program Coordinator, and Adviser, Occupational Therapy Assistant
[email protected]
724-983-2973
104 Chadderton Lab
Alyssa Francis

Alyssa Francis

Lecturer, Occupational Therapy Assistant
[email protected]
Michael Piccirilli

Michael Piccirilli

Lecturer, Occupational Therapy Assistant
[email protected]
Photo Not Available

Megan Tkacik

Lecturer, Occupational Therapy Assistant
[email protected]
724-983-2890
Geralyn Wallace

Geralyn Wallace

Instructor, Fieldwork Coordinator, and Adviser, Occupational Therapy Assistant
[email protected]
724-983-2966
103 Chadderton Lab

2-year Occupational Therapy Assistant

  • Occupational Therapy Assistant Accreditation
  • Occupational Therapy Assistant Admissions Requirements
  • Occupational Therapy Assistant Tuition and Cost Information
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Health care majors' requirements

Learn about entrance and graduation requirements, suggested academic plans, and more on the Penn State Undergraduate Bulletin site. 

Health Policy and Administration
Human Development and Family Studies
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Nursing, R.N. to B.S.N.
2-year Human Development and Family Studies
2-year Occupational Therapy Assistant
2-year Physical Therapist Assistant

See Also

  • NBCOT program data results
  • ACOTE accreditation
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Penn State Shenango

We are innovators and achievers driven to shape a better future for ourselves and the communities around us. Penn State Shenango students experience unrivaled academics, vibrant campus life, and graduate in confidence with top-ranked career services.
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