Occupational Therapy Assistant

Admission into the Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program is a two-step process:

1. Candidates are eligible to enter the general education phase of the OTA program as “OTA students” by meeting South University’s General Undergraduate Admission Requirements.
2. Candidates must complete prerequisite coursework and meet all requirements outlined below to be eligible for admission to the professional phase of the OTA program.

Students may transfer prerequisite courses into the program before entering the professional phase if approved by the registrar. The coursework that is transferred to South University must permit the student to obtain a 2.85 CGPA by the time the student applies for admission into the OTA professional phase. Students who transfer coursework into South University but cannot mathematically attain a CGPA of 2.85 by the time they would enter the professional phase will not be admitted to the OTA program.

Transfer credit will not be accepted for South University courses with an OTA prefix.

Note: This policy does not apply to South University OTA students (in good standing) transferring between campuses.

Admission Requirements for the Professional Phase of the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program

Applicants must apply for admission into the professional phase of the Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program. South University’s OTA Program utilizes a rolling admissions process. This means applications are reviewed and admission decisions are made on an ongoing basis as completed applications are received. This allows qualified applicants to secure a place in the program earlier. Professional phase start dates are published on the program’s web page. Early application is strongly encouraged.

Applicants must submit a complete application packet through the designated digital application portal and meet all admission requirements as stated below:

1. Applicants must meet the Essential Functions of the OTA program (listed in the application for admission and the program student handbook) in order to enter the ranking process.
2. Applicants must have a minimum grade of 'C' or above in all prerequisites, except for the following course, in which students must achieve a minimum grade of 'B' or above: OTA1003 Introduction to Occupational Therapy Assistant.
3. Applicants must achieve a minimum CGPA of 2.85 or greater in prerequisite coursework. All prerequisite coursework must be successfully completed prior to entry into the Professional Phase of the OTA program.
4. Applicants must have successfully completed the following courses in the past seven years from the intended start date of the Professional Phase of the OTA program: 
   1. AHS1001 Medical Terminology 
   2. BIO1011 Anatomy and Physiology I
   3. BIO1012 Anatomy and Physiology I Lab
   4. BIO1013 Anatomy and Physiology II
   5. BIO1014 Anatomy and Physiology II Lab
5. Applicants must have successfully completed OTA1003 Introduction to Occupational Therapy Assistant in the past two years from the intended start of the Professional Phase of the OTA Program. 
6. Applicants must have official transcripts on file at South University at the time of application to the Professional Phase of the OTA program. Applicants are responsible for requesting official transcripts from all postsecondary institutions attended and having them sent to South University. All associated fees are the responsibility of the applicant.
7. Applicants must complete the OTA Video Observation Form and submit their responses with the OTA Application.
8. Applicants must show evidence of a physical exam by a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant; results must be uploaded through the agency identified in the OTA Application. All associated fees are the responsibility of the applicant.
9. All applicants must complete a comprehensive criminal background check through the specific third-party agency designated by the OTA Program Director. All costs associated with the background check are the sole responsibility of the applicant. Failure to meet the deadlines or requirements outlined in the application packet will result in the immediate forfeiture of the application.
   1. Disqualifying Offenses - An applicant is ineligible for admission to the Professional Phase if their background check reveals:
      1. Criminal offenses that render the applicant ineligible for clinical site participation as determined by clinical affiliate requirements; OR
      2. Criminal offenses that would disqualify the applicant from eligibility for state licensure as an Occupational Therapy Assistant or national certification by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT).

Note: Eligibility determinations are made on an individual, case-by-case basis considering:
•    Clinical site affiliation agreement requirements
•    State licensure board regulations and disqualifying offenses
•    The applicant's ability to meet all requirements for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT).

If the program determines that the applicant would be barred from clinical participation by its affiliates or would be ineligible for licensure/certification, the applicant will be denied admission.

2. Ongoing Reporting Requirements - Students are required to notify the Program Director within 24 hours if they are charged with or convicted of any misdemeanor, felony, or other criminal offense while enrolled in any portion of the program. Criminal activity occurring during enrollment may:
   3. Result in ineligibility for continued clinical placement
   4. Render the student ineligible for state licensure or national certification upon graduation
   5. Lead to disciplinary action, including dismissal, through the university's academic or disciplinary policies

Failure to notify the program within 24 hours of any criminal charge or conviction is grounds for immediate dismissal from the program.

Students are strongly encouraged to review their state's Occupational Therapy Licensure Board requirements regarding criminal history and licensure eligibility prior to enrollment.
 

10. Applicants must complete a drug screen at their own cost using the background screening and compliance tracking agency identified in the OTA Application. Applicants must meet timelines and requirements as detailed in the application packet. The OTA program follows the College of Health Professions Substance Abuse and Screening Policy located in the South University Catalog. Applicants with positive drug screen results will not be admitted into the OTA program. Applicants may be eligible to reapply to a future admissions cycle.
     

Rolling Admissions Procedures

1. Application Review and Ranking
   1. Applications will be reviewed continuously as they are received and up until 30 days before the start of the professional phase
   2. Qualified applicants who meet all requirements will be placed into the ranking process. Applicants must understand that seats are filled on a first come first serve basis, based upon ranking.
   3. Ranking will be based upon:
      •    Cumulative GPA in required prerequisite coursework (2.85 GPA or greater required). 
      •    Science prerequisite course GPA. 
      Note: Repeating a course to achieve a higher grade is associated with penalty point deductions from the ranking score.
2. Applicant Notification and Waitlist
   1. Applicants will be notified of their application status (accepted, waitlisted, or denied) via email within 30 calendar days after receipt of application. 
      • Accepted applicants will be provided a specific timeframe to accept their offer and. must have all required documentation completed before the start date of the professional phase.
      • Qualified applicants who are not immediately offered admission may be placed on a waitlist.
      • Waitlist applicants will be offered admission as seats become available. Waitlist status will be held until the start of the next professional phase start date.
      • While the applicant is on the waitlist, they are eligible to submit additional materials (e.g. updated transcripts, improved test scores) to improve their ranking for the current professional phase start date.
      • The number of students entering the professional phase is established in accordance with regulations set forth by the program’s accrediting body.
         

Post-Acceptance Requirements 
All accepted OTA applicants are responsible for meeting assigned deadlines for completion of post-acceptance requirements as published within the campus-specific OTA Enrollment Guide. Failure to submit the following post-acceptance requirements will deem a student, to begin the professional phase of the program.

Accepted OTA students must: 

1. Complete a Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Provider CPR certification course and provide a copy of a valid certification/card. The certification/card must remain valid throughout all clinical rotations.

2. Submit proof of required immunizations as identified in the OTA Enrollment Guide through the compliance platform.

3. Submit a Level 2 background check (Florida students only). This must be performed at the student’s own cost, using the agency identified by the OTA Program Director.

4. Understand that additional drug screening, background checks, immunizations, tuberculosis screening, and/or medical clearance may be required by some clinical sites. All associated fees are the responsibility of the student.

Students admitted into the Professional Phase of the OTA Program will select their designated laboratory location (Tampa or Orlando) prior to the start of the program. Laboratory sessions are conducted at the selected campus location, while didactic coursework follows the program’s hybrid delivery format. Placement at a preferred lab location is subject to availability.
 

Essential Functions for the OTA Program

The following are considered to be essential functions related to the profession of occupational therapy to be successful in the Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program and in future employment as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA).

It is the responsibility of the OTA Program at South University to inform students considering a career as a COTA about the essential functions required both in the academic program and in the workforce. Factors and requirements will vary, depending on the specific area of practice and work setting.

Students must demonstrate safe and continuous application of these essential functions or of any and all others that are integral to the success of the OTA student and future occupational therapy practitioner. Students will display professional behaviors, assess their own performance with respect to the behaviors, and be ready to make behavioral changes as directed by academic and clinical faculty.  

In addition, the OTA Progressions Committee may become involved in issues related to a student's performance of the essential functions. The OTA Progressions Committee may make recommendations to the OTA Program Director that result in, but are not limited to, a lower course grade, the creation of a remediation plan, exclusion from a course, dismissal from a Level I or Level II Fieldwork experience, professional behavior probation or dismissal from the OTA program and/or South University.

Both Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, 29 U.S.C.A. Section 794, and the Americans with Disabilities Act prohibit discrimination against "otherwise qualified" persons with a disability. South University provides accommodations to qualified students with disabilities.  The Disability Services office assists qualified students with disabilities in acquiring reasonable and appropriate accommodations.

All students must demonstrate competency in the following essential functions related to the profession of occupational therapy:

Behavioral/Emotional Functions 

Adaptation: The ability to respond with flexibility to change or difference.

Emotional Stability: The ability to control one's own emotions, differentiate between different emotions and identify each appropriately; use emotions to guide thinking and direct behavior.

Interpersonal Skills: The ability to interact effectively with others.

Safety: Maintain the well-being of others in compliance with policies and procedures.

Ethics: The ability to distinguish between right and wrong, to comply with authority and with policies and procedures.

Professional Behavior and Appearance: The ability to adjust behavior and appearance in response to given circumstances. 

Cognitive Functions 

Critical Thinking: The ability to define and resolve issues by asking questions, gathering and analyzing information.

Time Management: The ability to identify and prioritize tasks to be accomplished and maintain work pace appropriate to given work load.

Math, Reading Comprehension: The ability to apply basic math functions, calculate time and simple measurements; comprehend written words.

Perception: The ability to be aware of things in relation to others and to discriminate between those relationships.

Communication Functions 

Verbal: The ability to speak using the English language, clearly communicating and clarifying information.

Written: The ability to communicate legibly and concisely in English, using proper grammar, punctuation, spelling, style and formatting.

Listening, Comprehending, Responding: The ability to hear, understand and respond appropriately to what was communicated.

Sensory Functions 

Hearing: The auditory ability to detect sound within 10 feet away, sufficient to monitor clients and interact with others.

Touch:  The ability to come into physical contact with something and perceive that it is there.

Vision: The ability to look at and see something or someone close-up and from a distance greater than 20 feet, noting verbal and nonverbal postures or behaviors.

Physical Functions 

Fine motor dexterity: The ability to coordinate small muscle groups during movement, usually involving coordination between the hands, fingers and eyes to manipulate small objects.

Gross motor skills: The ability to coordinate large muscle groups to move and to stabilize the head, trunk, arms and legs to reach, lift, push, pull, stand, balance, walk, run, bend, kneel and crouch; possess minimum grip strength of 30 pounds in one or both hands, and the ability to stand up to 30 minutes at a time, push up to 250 pounds and lift/transfer up to 250 pounds.

Mobility:  The ability to independently move easily from point A to point B.

Endurance: The ability to exert self and remain active for a long period of time (e.g., 45 minutes); stamina.

Environmental Functions 

Working conditions: The ability to recognize, avoid and prevent safety and health hazards in the work setting.

For additional admissions information please see the admissions section here. 

The Occupational Therapy Assistant program at South University, Tampa is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD  20814. ACOTE's telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-6211, and its web address is 
http://www.acoteonline.org.

Graduates of the program will be 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. More information on ACOTE may be obtained at 
http://www.acoteonline.org.

For information regarding Conditional Acceptance, click here.