Occupational Therapy Assistant
What do Occupational Therapy Assistants do?
An Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) works under the supervision of a licensed Occupational Therapist (OT) to provide hands-on support to patients who are recovering from injuries, managing disabilities, or dealing with chronic health conditions.
Why Choose OTA as a career?
What courses do I take in order to become an Occupational Therapy Assistant?
Our courses begin with Introduction to Occupational Therapy:Theory and Practice; Introduction to Activity Analysis & Documentation; Biomechanics and Applied Kinesiology in Occupational Therapy...
Empower Your Future in Healthcare -
Become an Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA)
The College of the Canyons proudly introduces the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program, an Associates in Science degree. A thoroughly crafted curriculum to usher students into a rewarding career as an Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA).
Occupational Therapy Assistants (OTAs), under the guidance of Occupational Therapists, collaborate with people of all ages, aiding in their development, rehabilitation, enhancement, and preservation of essential life and work skills. They play a vital role in ensuring individuals can navigate daily tasks and professional demands effectively, particularly those facing physical, mental, or developmental challenges. The OTA program is set to commence in Fall 2026. This innovative program is your opportunity to make a substantial impact in the healthcare field.
♥ Our OTA program offers in-person classes at the Valencia campus from Tuesday to Friday, 2:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
No hybrid or online courses are available.
The associate-degree-level occupational therapy assistant program has applied for accreditation and has been granted Candidacy Status by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA and its web address is www.acoteonline.org. The program must have a preaccreditation review, complete an on-site evaluation, and be granted Accreditation Status before its graduates will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational ACCREDITATION COUNCIL FOR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY EDUCATION ACCREDITATION MANUAL VI.E. Revised May 2024 Section VI - Page 18 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 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.
CLICK HERE to view the list of Courses for: Occupational Therapy Assistant AS.
All required courses, along with the completion of both Level II fieldwork rotations, must be successfully finished within 12 months following the completion of the OTA academic preparation. This qualifies students to receive an Associate in Science Degree in Occupational Therapy Assistant, awarded by College of the Canyons. Please see the Commencement page of Campus Life and Student Engagement's website Campus Life & Student Engagement (canyons.edu) for more details.
The Board of Trustees of the Santa Clarita Community College District, as authorized by the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, shall confer the degree of Associate in Science in Occupational Therapy Assistant upon students who have satisfactorily completed all degree requirements. Please refer to the college catalog Catalog (canyons.edu) for specific degree or certificate program requirements.
Graduation ceremonies Graduation (canyons.edu) are held at the end of the Spring semester each year. Students who have submitted a petition to graduate for the Fall, Spring, or Summer terms are eligible to participate in the ceremony. You must submit a petition for an Associate Degree at the Counseling Office by the end of the fifth week of the term in which you plan to graduate.
You may track your program progress via the MAP tile in My Canyons https://my.canyons.edu/ to ensure you are completing your degree requirements. For further assistance, schedule an appointment with a counselor.
