Associate in Applied Science inOccupational Therapy Assistant

Requirements

This program is effective Fall 2025. New students applying to Black Hawk College should select the AAS/General Occupational and Technical Studies (GOTS) until such time as they have been officially accepted by the department into this program.

Meet with a BHC advisor to complete placement testing and course review.

Admission Requirements

Application

Applications for the OTA program are received through the Occupational Therapy Assistants Centralized Application Service (OTACAS). Create an account and complete an application following the steps provided on that site.

As part of the application, you will be asked to submit the following:

• Student ID number
• Personal statement
• Transcripts
• Resume
• OTA Observation Form (PDF)
• Two (2) letters of recommendation

Apply for OTA Admission

Health Science Reasoning Test (HSRT)

Schedule an HSRT test in the Testing Center. There is a time limit of 50 minutes. Bring the following items:

• Student ID or photo ID
• Form of payment ($25 cash, check or money order ONLY)

Scores are sent directly to the program director. Following the test, students will complete a writing prompt in the testing center.

Application Timeline

Applications will be accepted Jan. 6 – May 12, 2025

Graduation Requirements

Students must successfully complete all required general education and OTA-specific courses, including successful completion of all fieldwork experiences, as outlined in the OTA Handbook to be eligible to graduate from the program.

Licensure Requirements

Students who graduate will be eligible to sit for the NBCOT Certification Exam. A passing score is required to apply for state licensure in order to practice in all fifty states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico and Guam.

Cost of Attendance

In-district Cost

Accreditation

The Black Hawk College Associate in Applied Science Occupational Therapy Assistant program has applied for accreditation by the

Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)
7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E
Bethesda, MD 20814
Phone: 301-652-AOTA
www.acoteonline.org

The program must be granted Candidacy Status, have a pre-accreditation review, complete an on-site evaluation, and be granted Accreditation Status before its graduates 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 to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.