Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA)

Occupational Therapy Assistants work under the supervision of Occupational Therapists providing treatment for people of all ages who have had trauma or disease that inhibits their ability to function normally. Occupational Therapy helps them adapt and regain functional ability to perform daily tasks.

Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) Overview

Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) is one of the nation’s fastest-growing professions. The US Department of Labor estimates that the demand for OTAs will increase by 40% by 2024, much faster than the average for all occupations. The nationwide median pay is $52,300 per year. OTAs work in a variety of locations, primarily in outpatient clinics, hospitals, schools, home health, and nursing care facilities. For more information on OTA careers, visit A-B Tech's Career Coach.

Interested applicants need to be admitted to A-B Tech, attend student orientation, submit documentation, and meet with an advisor in order to be considered for admittance into the OTA program. Applicants will be required to take the ATI - Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS). For application information, visit Competitive and Limited Programs.

The Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College OTA program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 7501 Wisconsin Ave, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA and its web address is Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education. 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.

Occupational Therapy Assistant A.A.S. Cost Estimate

Programs

Title	Credential	Credit Hours	Link to program details
Occupational Therapy Assistant A.A.S.	Degree	75	‌‌

Occupational Therapy Assistant Technical Standards

Heather Hall, MPPA, MS, OTR/L, Department Chair

Phone: (828) 398-7272
Email: heatherphall@abtech.edu

Christine Lomax, BFA, COTA/L, Academic Fieldwork Coordinator

Phone: (828) 398-7548
Office: 539 AHWD
Email: christinelomax@abtech.edu

American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)
North Carolina Board of Occupational Therapy Licensure (NCBOT)
National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT)
North Carolina Occupational therapy Association ;(NCOTA)

Graduation Year	Students Entering/Graduating	Graduation Rate
2023	20/16	80%
2022	21/19	91%
2021	18/15	83%
Total	59/50	85%

Note: Program graduates may sit for the exam whenever they choose, so the number of first-time test takers does not always match the number of graduates in a given year. The number of first-time test takers may also include graduates from the previous year.

Program results from the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) can be found online at the NBCOT website.