Earn an Associate Occupational Therapy Assistant degree at Penn State Mont Alto!
Applications for the Occupational Therapy Assistant program are accepted on a rolling admissions cycle from August 1 to May 1 each academic year, with applications received by November 30 given priority consideration. Apply here! If you'd like to change your major to the occupational therapy assistant program, please use this form or contact Dr. Angela Hissong, Program Director, for additional information.
Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants (COTA’s) work in numerous practice settings, guided by the supervision of occupational therapists. Across the lifespan, individuals engage in meaningful occupations. Learning, playing, working, resting, and caring for self and others are among the occupations of life. A physical or psychological challenge may hinder an individual, group, and/or community from participating fully in meaningful occupations. Occupational therapy makes it possible for people to maintain or reclaim independence; thereby positively engaging in Living Life to its Fullest™. By choosing a career in occupational therapy, you will make a difference in people’s lives.
Why Penn State Mont Alto?
The associate-degree-level occupational therapy assistant program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) through the 2023-2024 academic year located at 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-6611.
For information related to program and retention requirements, academic advising, and the occupational therapy suggested academic plan, click here.
Penn State Associate in Science in Occupational Therapy graduates are eligible to sit for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT®) Certification exam. Successful completion of this exam certifies the occupational therapy assistant as a COTA®. State licensure is required by most states and is usually based on the results of the NBCOT® certification exam.
See the Professional Organizations page for full contact information for AOTA, ACOTE, and NBCOT.
National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT)
For Penn State Mont Alto OTA Program exam scores, see the National Board of Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) website.
NBCOT Contact Information:
One Bank Street
Suite 300
Gaithersburg, MD 20878
Phone: 301-990-7979
Fax: 301-869-8492
www.nbcot.org
What would prohibit a student from taking the certification exam?
If you have a felony conviction on your record, this may affect your ability to sit for the certification examination administered by NBCOT® after you graduate; this can subsequently affect your ability to attain state licensure. Before applying for the OTA program, you can contact NBCOT® for information on their early determination program to assess examination eligibility. Go to NBCOT and read the "Early Review" section for details.
Professional Licensure and Certification Compliance
Many US states and territories require professional licensure/certification to be employed. If you plan to pursue employment in a licensed profession after completing this program, please visit the Professional Licensure/Certification Disclosures by State interactive map.