Occupational Therapy Assistant
Overview
The Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program is a comprehensive 75 credit-hour program designed to prepare entry-level OTA practitioners and will culminate in an Associate of Science degree. The development of this program in the Sm chool of Integrated Health, Division of Behavioral and Health Sciences follows not only the evolution of the profession to foster greater scholarship, but collaboration alongside the Indiana Wesleyan University Entry-Level Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program. The conscious inclusion of intraprofessional/interprofessional experiences throughout the OTA program is a direct response to both Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) accreditation recommendations and the movement within health professions education to best prepare healthcare practitioners for teamwork and successful collaboration in their eventual employment settings.
The objective of the program is to prepare students to administer occupational therapy interventions under the direction of an occupational therapist with individuals who have lost functional abilities to perform everyday living tasks or “occupations”. This program prepares the graduate for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) Certification Exam for Occupational Therapy Assistants and to practice as a licensed professional. The basic curriculum is experiential and prepares students with a general education while combining classroom, laboratory, and fieldwork/clinical experiences. All courses are taught in traditional face-to-face classroom settings.
IWU faculty’s diverse educational and clinical expertise is a major strength of the program:
- Julie Carson, MA, OTR/L, OTA Program Director
- 30+ years as a practitioner
- 15+ years of academia experience
- Sally Nurse, MS, OTR/L, OTA Fieldwork Coordinator
- 30+ years as a practitioner
- 5+ years of academia experience
- Lisa Willey, DMin, COTA Fulltime OTA Faculty
- 30+ years as a practitioner
- 5+ years of academia experience
What Is Occupational Therapy?
Occupational therapy practitioners ask, "What matters to you?" not, "What's the matter with you?"
In its simplest terms, occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants help people across the lifespan participate in the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of everyday activities (occupations). Common occupational therapy interventions include helping children with disabilities to participate fully in school and social situations, helping people recovering from injury to regain skills, and providing supports for older adults experiencing physical and cognitive changes.
Information Sessions
| When | Second Thursday of each month at 5:00 p.m. |
| Where | Indiana Wesleyan University Greenwood Education Center |
| 1500 Windhorst Way, Greenwood, Indiana (I-65 and Main Street) | |
| RSVP |
The Vision and Mission of the OTA Program
OTA Mission: Provide a Christ-centered experiential occupational therapy assistant curriculum that fosters evidence-based practice and lifelong intraprofessional/interprofessional collaboration, development, and servant leadership in providing ethical client-centered, occupation-based care in everyday living, responsive to changing world needs.
OTA Vision: Prepare entry-level Occupational Therapy Assistant practitioners who embrace the art and science of occupational therapy, committed to life-long Christ-like character in serving as culturally sensitive and innovative agents of change in their communities facilitating health, well-being, and participation in activities/occupations across the lifespan.
OTA Program Learning Outcomes
The learning outcomes of the program mirror outcomes of the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE), and the desired outcomes of the Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) education mission. Upon completion of the IWU Occupational Therapy Assistant Program, students will be able to demonstrate:
- Christ-like Character*: view self as a reflective occupational being with need for balance in personal health/wellness/spiritual character, creativity, and professional knowledge and skills that lead to therapeutic use of self with diverse clients/populations/communities.
- Engagement in Intraprofessional/Interprofessional Collaborative Evidence-Based Practice: through critical thinking and collaboration, demonstrate clinical reasoning and carry out scientific evidence-based client centered interventions that enable performance and engagement in meaningful occupations supporting health, well-being, and participation in life.
- Commitment to Serving as an “Agent of Change” in the community: recognize, meet, and advocate for the diverse occupational needs of clients/populations in their communities there-by demonstrating servant leadership, contributing to meeting changing world needs and promoting health, well-being, inclusion, and quality of life.
- Professional Commitment: communicate effectively and ethically; demonstrate scholarship preparing for life-long learning in current and emerging practice areas; demonstrate support for professional organizations; and actively advocate for individual clients, organizations, and population needs.
*To have a Christ-like character is to possess the “fruit of the Spirit” as enumerated in Galations 5:22-23. “The Fruit of the Spirit is love, which includes the qualities of joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” The faculty strive to embody and demonstrate all of these qualities, thereby treating others as Christ would treat them. Jesus Christ was humble. (John 13:1-5) and compassionate in His service to those He came in contact with (Ephesians 4:32).
The mission of Indiana Wesleyan University, to be a “Christ-centered academic community committed to changing the world by developing students in character, scholarship and leadership,” is specifically emphasized in three of the learning outcomes of the OTA program. This degree will prepare individuals who will provide occupational therapy services to those who, because of disability, life situation, or limitation, experience barriers to engaging in life skills and will do so under the supervision of a registered occupational therapist. Matthew 25:40 states, “…whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” In light of this scripture, this OTA program facilitates IWU’s pursuit of becoming a great university.
Career Data
- 29% Projected employment growth in US, 2016-2026 *Bureau of Labor Statistics
- $61,734 Median Market Salary in the US (2022) *Lightcast and Bureau of Labor Statistics
Off-Campus Library Services (OCLS)
Library instruction is provided to students at the start of their program at IWU. Reference and document delivery services give students access to all collections of the Jackson Library on the IWU residential campus, as well as Instructional Resource Center services, Interlibrary Loan services, and many e-books and online journals. For more information, see indwes.edu/ocls.
Accreditation Process of OTA Program
Indiana Wesleyan University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC), www.hlcommission.org, 312-263-0456. Other accreditations and associations of Indiana Wesleyan University are available at www.indwes.edu/about/iwu-profile/accreditation.
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), located at 6116 Executive Blvd, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-6611 and its web address is www.acoteonline.org. Graduates of the program are eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational 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 in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.
The National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy reports the certification exam outcomes for all occupational therapy assistant programs at the following link: https://www.nbcot.org/Educators-Folder/SchoolPerformance.
Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE)
c/o Accreditation Department
American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)
6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929
Phone number: (301) 652-6611
www.acoteonline.org
Following graduation and successful passing of the NBCOT exam, working OTA graduates of the IWU OTA program have the opportunity to advance their education through the online Bachelor of Health Science in Health Sciences program. After completing a bachelor’s degree, graduates who meet the criteria, may apply to the IWU Occupational Therapy Doctorate degree Program.
Onsite Cost Estimate
(July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024)
| Fall Trimester | Spring Trimester | Summer Trimester | Academic Year | Total Cost of Program | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $5,005.00 | $4,620.00 | $4,620.00 | $14,245.00 | $28,875.00 |
| Educational Resource Fee | $60.00 | $60.00 | $180.00 | $180.00 | $302.28 |
| Books and Supplies | $72.00 | $695.53 | $794.59 | $1,562.32 | $2,500.00 |
| Graduation Fee | $100.00 | ||||
| Program Total | $5,137.00 | $5,375.53 | $5,474.59 | $15,987.32 | $31,777.28 |
*Payment for each term is due by August 15th for Fall and by December 15th for Spring. Not all course textbooks are included in the costs listed above.
*The total credit hours and per-credit-hour costs listed above are effective for the required core program. Costs may change if you bring in transfer credits, withdraw from the program and restart in a future program at a later date.
*Published tuition and fees are subject to change.
Program Graduation Rate
| Graduation Year | Students Entering/Graduation | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| December 2023 | 4/10 | 40% |
| December 2022 | 8/16 | 50% |
| December 2021 | 16/24 | 66% |
| Total | 28/50 | 56% |
NBCOT Exam Pass Rates
| Year | Passing Exams/Taken Exams | Passing Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3/3 | 100% Pass Rate |
| 2022 | 12/13 | 92% Pass Rate |
| 2023 | 8/8 | 100% Pass Rate |
| Overall 3-Year | 23/24 | 95% Pass Rate |
Tuition & Financial Aid
Onsite Cost Estimate
(July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024)
| Fall Trimester | Spring Trimester | Summer Trimester | Academic Year | Total Cost of Program | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $5,005.00 | $4,620.00 | $4,620.00 | $14,245.00 | $28,875.00 |
| Educational Resource Fee | $60.00 | $60.00 | $180.00 | $180.00 | $302.28 |
| Books and Supplies | $72.00 | $695.53 | $794.59 | $1,562.32 | $2,500.00 |
| Graduation Fee | $100.00 | ||||
| Program Total | $5,137.00 | $5,375.53 | $5,474.59 | $15,987.32 | $31,777.28 |
*Payment for each term is due by August 15th for Fall and by December 15th for Spring. Not all course textbooks are included in the costs listed above.
*The total credit hours and per-credit-hour costs listed above are effective for the required core program. Costs may change if you bring in transfer credits, withdraw from the program and restart in a future program at a later date.
*Published tuition and fees are subject to change.
Financial Aid
For information about financial aid, call 866-498-4968, visit our financial aid website, or email IWUfinaid@indwes.edu.
Courses
Year One (Foundational Phase)
Students must also take series BIO-130 and BIO-131 (online) OR BIO-111/111L and BIO-112/111L (seated), or equivalent:
| Online: BIO-130 and BIO-131 |
| -OR- |
| Seated: BIO-111/111L (offered only in Fall Term) and BIO-112/112L (offered only in Winter Term) |
Year 1 Total OTA Credits: 35
Year Two (Professional Phase)
Term 1 (Fall)
Term 2 (Winter)
Term 3 (Spring)
Term 4 (Summer)
Term 5 (Fall)
Year 2 Total OTA Credits: 40
Total Credits to Graduate: 75
Requirements
Below are the lists of requirements for the Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program. Click on each link to expand the requirements. If you have any questions about the admissions process, feel free to contact one of our admissions representatives at 1-866-498-4968.
The Occupational Therapy Assistant program annually admits a class of Thirty (30) students to the associate degree program (OTA), with classes starting studies in September each year.
Interviews for fall admission begin the prior November 15:
Early admission interviews: November 15-January 30
General admission interviews: February 1-March 15
Late admission interviews: March 15-May 30
Admission Requirements
The Occupational Therapy Assistant Program is a Selective Admissions Program, which means not every student in the applicant pool may be accepted. Admission to the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program is competitive and enrollment in the program is limited because of available faculty, financial, and fieldwork resources. Requirements for admission to the program include:
- Attend an information session, which outlines the education, examination, and licensure process for successful completion of the OTA program and career development and attest to an understanding of professional responsibilities and essential functions, NBCOT exam requirements, licensing, and health insurance requirements.
- Proof of high school graduation or GED certification. Official transcripts.
- Official transcripts of all previous college work.
- Submit letter of interest, resume, and two references.
- Preference given for students who demonstrate a “C” or better in high school science courses and/or college-level science courses.
- Preference given to students with other degrees.
- Admission/Retention in the OTA Program is conditional, based on successful completion of all foundational coursework with a “B-“ or better grade in all courses (exception: BIO-111/BIO112 or equivalent, “C”) or transfer equivalent courses prior to entering the OTA professional phase of the program at the designated start date. Upon meeting these requirements, students will be fully admitted to the professional phase of the OTA program. Once in the professional phase of the program, students must complete all professional phase OTA designated courses with a “B-“ or better grade and maintain a 2.7 GPA or better to graduate.
- Interview and writing sample (arranged by invitation following receipt and review of all other application materials.
- Upon establishment of the qualified applicant pool; the top 30 candidates will be determined from the established point system for selection into the OTA Program. Early enrollment is encouraged to secure your position in the program.
Once enrolled in the foundational phase, prior to the professional phase of the program, students must attend an orientation prior to the start of the first term student is enrolled in and thereafter must meet one time per term with the OTA Program Director to review progression, must complete required observation/service learning hours, and must attend at least one Student Occupational Therapy Association meeting per term. Students who have completed the equivalent of all the courses in the foundational phase of the program, must demonstrate equivalent observation/service learning hours prior to admission into the professional phase of the program.
Program Requirements
The OTA program professional phase is lock-step. All courses are carefully planned to provide for foundational learning, then build on previous learning and provide for skill development in preparation for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) exam and to practice as a licensed practitioner. All the professional phase courses must be successfully completed in the sequence prescribed by the program's requirements. Failure to successfully complete a course will result in an administrative withdrawal from the program. Students who are unable to complete a course or who receive an unsatisfactory grade will be allowed to repeat that course with the next cohort provided the student follows through with a petition for re-enrollment process. Tuition and fees will be charged for repeating the course. OTA students will be academically dismissed upon receipt of a second unsatisfactory grade.
- Students must earn a minimum grade of “B-” or “CR” in each course in the OTA program (exception: BIO-111/BIO-112, “C” or or BIO-130/BIO-131 or equivalent, “C”).
- Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.7.
- Students who do not earn the required grade or maintain a 2.7 will be administratively withdrawn from the OTA program at the end of the term and will not be able to continue with the next term.
- Students who have been administratively withdrawn may petition to re-enroll with the next cohort the following year and may be asked to audit courses to prepare for re-entry.
- Students with two unsatisfactory grades in the professional phase of the program (including the same courses, repeated) will be academically dismissed from the program and ineligible to return.
- Students must complete Level II fieldwork within 18 months following completion of the didactic portion of the program.
Continuing Competency/Lifelong Learning
In order to assist the student to acquire the habit of lifelong learning; to understand the continuing competency process as required by most state licensure acts and NBCOT certification, and to provide for integration of learning and best prepare for practice; students are required to participate in a series of observation and service-learning activities in the community throughout their education experience. This is an integral part of the course requirements. The students are required to participate in the following 18 hours (aligns with the required 18 hours of required continuing education for Indiana state OTA licensure) of observation/service-learning:
|
Hours: |
Observation/Service-Learning: |
Course Number: |
Course: |
|---|---|---|---|
|
2 hrs |
Wellness/Disability Ministry OR Home Health OR Hospice |
OTA110 |
Foundations of OT I: Balance of Performance & Well-Being and Professional Responsibilities |
|
4 hrs |
Observation/Interview of OT Practitioner |
OTA110 |
Foundations of OT I: Balance of Performance & Well-Being and Professional Responsibilities |
|
4 hrs |
Observation/Reflection of OT Practitioner |
OTA 120 |
Foundations of OT II: Models, Theories, Evidenced Based Practice, and Intraprofessional/Interprofessional Communication |
|
4 hrs |
Observation/Service-Learning of adult day center/skilled nursing facility/behavioral center group process |
OTA250 |
OT Theory and Concepts |
|
4 hrs |
Observation of OT Practitioner practicing in Pediatric Services/ Schools |
OTA260 |
Clinical Reasoning/Occupational Performance Patterns I: Pediatric/Adolescence Conditions |
|
18 hrs |
|
|
|
Each course has specific course related assignments. For each learning experience the student is required to fill out and have the designated person from the site sign the form. The form is placed in the student’s portfolio.
Minimum Computer Requirements
Students are expected to possess a computer throughout the duration of their program. Student’s computers must be able to run a supported browser and handle additional plug-ins as identified by the Learning Management System (LMS) company. Students should be able to produce, send, and receive documents that are compatible within the two most recent offerings of Microsoft Office to complete most of the assignments. IWU will offer support to students on only these two offerings of office software. Computer and internet connection may need to be fast enough in some courses to watch streaming videos, participate in live meetings, upload large files, install software, and listen to audio lectures. In addition to these minimum expectations, participation in an IWU course or program may entail additional computing and/or technology requirements.
Graduation Requirements
- Completion of 75 semester hours
- Minimum grade of "B-" or higher all courses. Any course with a grade below "B-" must be repeated (exception: BIO-111/BIO-112 or BIO-130/BIO-131, "C" or higher).
- Cumulative GPA of 2.7 or higher
- Successful completion of all Observation/Service Learning and Fieldwork assignments to include site assessment documentation
- Payment of all program tuition and fees is required to receive a diploma
Complete the OTA Online Application
Attend an Information Session held on the second Thursday of the month (or by appointment) 5PM Greenwood Education Center, IWU, 1500 Windhorst Way, Suite 215, Greenwood, IN 46143-6557.
Orientation is held annually on the Wednesday/Thursday prior to start date.
Start Date - 1 cohort/Year, Starts annually each Fall Trimester
Application Procedures
To be considered for admission to the Occupational Therapy Assistant degree program, complete each of the following steps. For more information, call 866-498-4968 to speak with a Program Representative.
- Application: Apply online here. *PLEASE NOTE*: The Occupational Therapy Assistant Program receives applications for program admission.
- Submit letter of interest, resume, and two references to your Program Representative.
- Transcripts
- High School: Applicants are required to submit a copy of a standard high school diploma or transcript or GED scores.
- College: Applicants to the associate program are required to submit an official transcript from each undergraduate regionally accredited institution attended. Indiana Wesleyan University will accept for its permanent file only those transcripts sent directly to IWU by the registrar of the attended institution(s). Official transcripts must exhibit the official seal and signature of the registrar. Transcripts that are stamped “student copy,” “issued to student,” or “unofficial” cannot be accepted as official.
- College Transcripts from Non-U.S. Schools: Secure a course-by-course report from Educational Credential Evaluator (www.ece.org). The evaluation must list course-by-course hours and grades.
Start Dates
Below are the program locations, upcoming dates, and meeting times for the Occupational Therapy Assistant program. This list is updated regularly as new classes are added.
| Program | Location | Start Date (MM/DD/YYYY) |
|---|---|---|
| A.S. Occupational Therapy Assistant | Greenwood, IN | 09/05/2023 |
| A.S. Occupational Therapy Assistant | Greenwood, IN | 04/16/2024 |