Some basic tasks can seem impossible for those with physical or mental disabilities. Occupational therapy assistants work with licensed Occupational Therapists to provide care and treatment to help people participate more fully in everyday life.
Degree Plans
What’s Available?
Click the degree, certificate or award program to learn more:
Program Overview
As an Occupational Therapy Assistant, you can help individuals develop, recover and improve the skills needed for daily living and working. You will work with individuals across the lifespan in a variety of settings: hospitals, clinics, schools and nursing homes, as well as in their homes, places of employment and other community settings
Our OTA program provides you with four semesters of classroom and laboratory learning followed by one semester of full-time fieldwork under the supervision of a registered Occupational Therapist (OTR) or a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA).
OTA Application Cycle Spring 2025
Application cycle opens: January 21, 2025
Application cycle closes: May 16, 2025, at noon.
If you have questions about the OTA program, review the links on this webpage. For any additional questions please contact an OTA faculty member.
All applicants must take the HESI A2 exam. Schedule the HESI A2 exam here.
Applicant interviews will be held June 5, 2025.
Information Sessions will be held:
- Tuesday, February 11 | 12:00 p.m.
Click here to register for the online zoom session: https://tjc.zoom.us/meeting/register/RqkvdGgtRFiuSXZ8xGFi9Q - Thursday, February 27 | 5:00 p.m. In-Person Session: RNHS 132
- Tuesday, March 11 | 12:00 p.m.
Click here to register for the online zoom session: https://tjc.zoom.us/meeting/register/qBH5IyorSi26rwkDEQth_Q - Thursday, March 27 | 5:00 p.m. In-Person Session: RNHS 132
Why Choose to be an Occupational Therapy Assistant
- Median Pay: $60,950 per year
- Job Outlook: 55,100 jobs in the U.S., expected to grow 32% by 2029
- Accreditation: Fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education of the American Occupational Therapy Association
Certification
After successfully completing the program, OTA students will be eligible to sit for the National Exam given by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) to become a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA). Click here to review program data and outcomes: National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT).
In addition, the state of Texas requires licensure to practice. Licensure involves a separate application process and is based on successful completion of the NBCOT Certification Examination.
Program Outcomes and NBCOT Certification Exam Results
Total number of classes eligible for graduation since inception: 10
Program graduation rates and graduate performance on the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) certification examination is as follows:
| Graduation Year | Students Graduated/Entered | Graduation Rate | NBCOT Pass Rate |
| 2022 | 14/14 | 100% | 100% |
| 2023 | 16/16 | 100% | 100% |
| 2024 | 11/14 | 78.5% | 100% |
| 2025 | 17/21 | 81% | |
| 3 Year Totals and Averages: 2022-2024* |
41/44 | 92.8% | 100% |
*Data for previous 3 years will be updated to calculate 2023-2025 once board exam results are available for the class of 2025.
How to Apply
TJC is an open admissions college; however, acceptance into the Occupational Therapy Assistant program is limited. Please submit a Selective Admissions Application.
Accreditation
The Occupational Therapy Assistant 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 510 E, Bethesda, MD 20814. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA and its Web address is www.acoteonline.org.
Tuition & Fees
| Occupational Therapy Assistant Tuition & Fees | In District | Out of District |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition for 60 hours (includes prerequisites) | $6,476.00 | $10,256.00 |
| Program & TJC specific course fees (includes prerequisites) | $2,719.00 | $2,719.00 |
| Supply Items | $330.00 | $330.00 |
| NBCOT Exam | $515.00 | $515.00 |
| Books (with prerequisite course books) | $1,478.30 | $1,478.30 |
| Books (prerequisite books only) | $619.96 | $619.96 |
| Books (without prerequisite course books) | $858.34 | $858.34 |
| Total (w/o NBCOT Exam, including prerequisites) | $11,003.30 | $14,783.30 |
