Livonia, USA
DURATION
2 up to 3 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2025
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Key Summary
Scholarships
Explore scholarship opportunities to help fund your studies
Introduction
This associate degree program provides occupational therapy theory and clinical practice and prepares graduates for entry-level positions in a variety of healthcare and community settings such as hospitals, rehabilitation centers, schools, and skilled nursing facilities.
This program is built around a rigorous curriculum including lecture, laboratory, clinical, and internship experiences which will provide knowledge of and practice in the skills and information needed to work as an Occupational Therapy Assistant in various practice settings. Upon program completion, students will be prepared to sit for the certifying exam administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) to become a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA). Those who pass the exam will be eligible to apply for state licensure, which is required in most states, including Michigan, to practice as an Occupational Therapy Assistant.
When applying for the certification examination through NBCOT, applicants will be asked to answer questions regarding felony convictions. A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the National Board Certification in Occupational Therapy certification examination or attain state licensure.
Students who successfully complete all program and college requirements will be awarded an Associate of Applied Science degree.
This program is offered at the Schoolcraft College Livonia Main Campus. It uses a cohort model in which a group of students will move through their professional practice courses and experiences together in a sequential manner. Courses are only offered once per year. Students who need to repeat a course will only be allowed to do so when the course is offered.
All Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) courses, except OTA 110 - Introduction to Occupational Therapy Assisting, are open only to students officially admitted to the OTA program. Occupational Therapy Assistant professional track courses must be taken in sequence. A minimum grade of 2.5 must be earned in each OTA course in order to progress to the next course. This program is designed as a full-time cohort program so students will work through their OTA professional courses and clinical experiences in a sequential manner with a set group of students. Students are encouraged to not have an additional job outside of their OTA program studies.
Students must furnish and maintain uniforms and other supplies as required by the department and clinical facilities. Students also must meet all health and background check requirements, have a negative drug screen on the first attempt, and meet any specific clinical requirements, such as a TB test or immunizations.
Curriculum
Sample Schedule of Courses
Admission Prerequisites
All courses below must be completed prior to admission to the Occupational Therapy Assistant AAS program with a minimum grade of 2.0 unless otherwise noted.
*BIOL 237 and BIOL 238 must be completed prior to admission to the Occupational Therapy Assistant AAS program with a minimum grade of 3.0.
First Year
Fall Semester
- BIOL 237 - Principles of Human Anatomy and Physiology 1 Credits: 4 *
- PSYCH 201 - Introductory Psychology Credits: 4
- ENG 101 - English Composition 1 Credits: 3
Mathematics - Credits:4-5
Select one:
- MATH 102 - Technical Mathematics Credits: 4 (recommended)
- MATH 113 - Intermediate Algebra for College Students Credits: 4
Mathematics course higher than MATH 113
Total Credits: 15-16
Winter Semester
- BIOL 238 - Principles of Human Anatomy and Physiology 2 Credits: 4 *
- PSYCH 229 - Lifespan Developmental Psychology Credits: 4
- ENG 106 - Business English Credits: 3
- COMA 200 - Interpersonal Communications Credits: 3
Total Credits: 14
Spring Session
- OTA 110 - Introduction to Occupational Therapy Assisting Credits: 2
- PE 147 - Exercise Techniques Credits: 3
Select one: Credits 2-4
- HIT 100 - Introduction to Medical Terminology Credits: 2
- HIT 104 - Medical Terminology Credits: 4
Total Credits: 7-9
Admission Prerequisites Total Credits: 36-39
Admission to the Program Required for All Courses Below
Second Year
Fall Semester
- OTA 115 - Documenting Occupational Therapy Credits: 2
- OTA 120 - Occupational Therapy in Mental Health Practice Credits: 3
- OTA 130 - Foundations of Occupational Therapy Practice Credits: 4
- OTA 135 - Neurological Foundations of Human Performance Credits: 2
Total Credits: 11
Winter Semester
- OTA 140 - OTA and Physical Dysfunction Credits: 3
- OTA 170 - Pathophysiology and Occupation for OTA Credits: 2
- OTA 180 - Occupational Performance in Geriatrics Credits: 3
- OTA 190 - Occupational Performance in Pediatrics Credits: 3
- OTA 210 - Level 1 Field Placement A Credits: 2
Total Credits: 13
Spring Session
- OTA 220 - Level 1 Field Placement B Credits: 2
- OTA 230 - Current and Emerging OTA Practice Credits: 1
- OTA 240 - OTA Professional Seminar Credits: 1
- OTA 250 - Supplemental Clinical Practice Skills Credits: 1
Total Credits: 5
Third Year
Fall Semester
Note: This is a 16-week semester with an earlier start date than traditional courses.
- OTA 270 - OTA Clinical Internship 1 Credits: 3 (First 8 weeks)
- OTA 280 - OTA Clinical Internship 2 Credits: 3 (Second 8 weeks)
Total Credits: 6
Program Total: 71-74 Credits
Not all courses are offered each semester. Students are encouraged to work with an academic advisor to develop a schedule that will work for them and ensure all admission requirements are met. If a student is unable to meet all requirements, students will need to wait until the next enrollment period to apply. Students planning to transfer should check the transfer institution’s requirements/guides or discuss their options with an academic advisor. Number of credits may vary depending on the course selection.