OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSISTANT (OTA) PROGRAM SUMMARY
Shawnee Community College is now accepting applications for the 2027–2029 Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) Program. SCC offers an Occupational Therapy Assistant program conveniently located in southern Illinois and accessible to students throughout the region, including western Kentucky and southeast Missouri.
View Program Plan in the College Catalog
The SCC OTA Program admits up to 25 students each fall. OTA classes are primarily held at Shawnee Community College’s Union County Extension Center in Anna, Illinois.
The Occupational Therapy Assistant Program combines classroom instruction, hands-on laboratory learning, and fieldwork education experiences. Portions of selected courses may be delivered online to provide additional flexibility and reduce travel. Throughout the program, students develop the knowledge, clinical reasoning, professional behaviors, and practical skills necessary for entry-level occupational therapy assistant practice.
What Is Occupational Therapy?
Occupational therapy helps people participate in the meaningful activities—or occupations—that they need and want to do in everyday life. These occupations may include self-care, work, education, play, leisure, social participation, health management, and activities within the home and community.
Occupational therapy practitioners work with individuals across the lifespan whose ability to participate in daily activities may be affected by injury, illness, disability, developmental conditions, aging, or other life circumstances.
Intervention may include developing or restoring skills, adapting activities or environments, teaching compensatory strategies, recommending adaptive equipment, supporting health and wellness, and helping individuals participate as independently and successfully as possible in the occupations that are meaningful to them.
What Does an Occupational Therapy Assistant Do?
Occupational therapy assistants work under the supervision of occupational therapists as members of the occupational therapy team. OTAs help implement occupational therapy interventions and work directly with clients to promote participation, independence, health, and quality of life.
Occupational therapy practitioners work in a variety of settings, which may include hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, outpatient clinics, skilled nursing and long-term care facilities, schools, pediatric settings, mental and behavioral health programs, home health, community-based programs, and other emerging practice settings.
Certification and Licensure
Graduates of SCC’s Occupational Therapy Assistant Program are eligible to apply to take the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) examination. After successfully completing the examination, graduates earn the credential Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA).
Occupational therapy practice is also regulated by state law. Illinois requires occupational therapy assistants to obtain state licensure to practice. Licensure requirements vary by state, and students who intend to practice outside Illinois should review the requirements of the state in which they plan to seek licensure.
Criminal history may affect eligibility for professional certification and/or state licensure. Prospective and current students are encouraged to review applicable NBCOT and state regulatory requirements and contact the appropriate organization with questions regarding individual circumstances.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Applicants to the Shawnee Community College Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) Program must meet the following requirements:
- High School Completion: Be a graduate of an approved high school or demonstrate equivalent competency through completion of a recognized high school equivalency credential.
- SCC Admission: Meet all admission requirements established by Shawnee Community College and complete the SCC Admissions Process for Academic Programs.
- TEAS Examination: Complete the Assessment Technologies Institute (ATI) Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) and earn a score of 60% or higher. The TEAS may be completed through the SCC Testing Center and students can schedule the examination
- OTA Program Application: Submit a completed OTA Application Form and all required application materials, including unofficial transcripts, to the OTA Program Director at rachaelt@shawneecc.edu by the established application deadline.
- Minimum College GPA: Applicants with prior college coursework must have a minimum cumulative college GPA of 2.5.
- Anatomy and Physiology I: Anatomy and Physiology I does not have to be completed at the time of application. However, the course must be successfully completed with a grade of C or higher prior to the established start date of the first fall semester of the OTA Program. Anatomy and Physiology I must have been completed within five years of the OTA Program start date.
Additional Admission Information
Meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee admission to the OTA Program. Applicants should review the current OTA Application Form Packet for complete information regarding the application and selection process, conditional acceptance requirements, competitive selection procedures, and requirements following acceptance.
OTA Program Information
Prospective students should consider the following information when determining whether the Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) Program is a good fit for their educational and career goals.
Program Location and Schedule
Students should expect their schedules to vary throughout the program. Classes, laboratory experiences, and fieldwork may require attendance during daytime hours and, depending on the assigned fieldwork site, may include early mornings, evenings, or weekends.
Fieldwork Education
Fieldwork education is an essential component of the OTA Program and provides students with opportunities to apply classroom knowledge and develop skills in practice settings.
Students participate in both Level I and Level II Fieldwork experiences as required by the program. Fieldwork schedules, locations, and practice settings vary based on educational requirements and site availability.
Students should be prepared to travel to fieldwork sites throughout the region. Placement at a specific location, facility, geographic area, or practice setting cannot be guaranteed. Transportation to and from fieldwork experiences and any associated travel expenses are the responsibility of the student.
Fieldwork schedules may differ from the College academic calendar and may require attendance during hours that differ from a student’s regular classroom schedule.
Program and Fieldwork Requirements
Participation in the OTA Program and fieldwork education may require students to meet additional health, safety, and site-specific requirements. Depending on program and fieldwork requirements, these may include items such as:
- Health and immunization documentation
- Criminal background screening
- Drug screening
- CPR certification
- Health insurance
- Other documentation or requirements established by the College, OTA Program, or assigned fieldwork site
Students are responsible for maintaining required documentation and meeting established deadlines throughout the program.
Essential Requirements and Reasonable Accommodations
The OTA Program includes academic, laboratory, and fieldwork activities that require students to demonstrate the knowledge, skills, professional behaviors, communication abilities, and safe performance necessary for occupational therapy practice.
Qualified students with disabilities may request reasonable accommodations through Shawnee Community College’s established accessibility services process. Students are encouraged to initiate accommodation requests as early as possible.
Professional Expectations
OTA students are expected to demonstrate professional, ethical, safe, and respectful behavior throughout classroom, laboratory, online, and fieldwork experiences.
Students must meet the academic, competency, professional behavior, attendance, fieldwork, and progression requirements established by the OTA Program.
Additional Program Information
Students accepted into the OTA Program receive detailed information regarding program requirements, policies, fieldwork education, progression standards, professional expectations, and student responsibilities.
Prospective and current students should refer to the current OTA Program Handbook, Fieldwork Manual, College Catalog, and course syllabi for complete program policies and requirements.
Cost of the Program
The estimated cost for the two-year program, including prerequisite/ general education courses is $19, 616.41. This cost includes physical requirements, background screening, drug screening, tuition, fees, textbooks, uniforms, equipment, the certification examination, and licensure application.
Cost of Attendance
The estimated cost of attendance at Shawnee Community College can be found at: https://shawneecc.edu/financial-aid/tuition-and-fees/.
Graduation Requirements
Complete SCC OTA Program classes with a grade of “C” or higher and meet SCC General Graduation requirements found at: https://www.shawneecc.edu/about/shared-governance/administrative-policy-manual/a2200-00-general-graduation-requirements/
The Occupational Therapy Assistant Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)
7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E Bethesda, MD 20814.
CONTACT US
Application Information
Submit Applications To
Rachael Trotter, Director of OTA Program
rachelt@shawneecc.edu
NBCOT
NBCOT Program Results
Program results from the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) can be found online at this website:
Program Outcomes
The OTA Program transitioned from Southern Illinois Collegiate Common Market (SICCM) to Shawnee Community College (SCC) in June 2024. The program outcomes will contain SICCM outcomes until SCC has had the program for 4 consecutive years beginning from the
1st graduating class (2026).
| Graduation Year | Students Graduating / Students Entering | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | NA (no graduates) | NA (no graduates) |
| 2024 | 6 / 8 | 75% |
| 2023 | 9 / 8 | 113% |