About the Occupational Therapy Assistant AAS
Put your compassionate nature and great interpersonal skills to work in a career that is dynamic and creative as an Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA). As an OTA you may help patients develop or recover the skills they need to perform everyday tasks as you:
- Administer treatment after injuries
- Provide ongoing rehabilitation
- Work in geriatrics
- Work in pediatrics
- Encourage independence
The Occupational Therapy Assistant AAS program is designed to prepare you to function as a professional OTA in a variety of health care settings including hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, private homes and school settings under the supervision of a Registered Occupational Therapist (OTR).
Program Accreditation Status - The Occupational Therapy Assistant program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. ACOTE's telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA and its web address is www.acoteonline.org.
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). Successful certification permits the graduate to apply for licensure as required by the State of Illinois. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.
| Graduation Year | Number of Graduates | Graduation Rate | Number of first time test takers | Percentage of first time test takers who passed the exam | Percentage of test takers who passed within the first year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 15/18 | 83% | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 2018 | 12/16 | 75% | 12 | 100% | 100% |
| 2017 | 14/16 | 87.5% | 14 | 92.8 | 100% |
| 2016 | 13/16 | 81% | 13 | 100% | 100% |
| Total | 54/66 | 81% | 97.6% | 100% |
View school performance data on NBCOT »
OTA Program Information Sessions
- March 17 at 2:30 and 5 p.m.
- May 8 at 3 p.m.
All sessions will be in E217. No registration required.
See what our OTA students are doing
Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) students presented at Illinois Occupational Therapy Association’s state conference...
Posted by McHenry County College on Tuesday, October 29, 2019
Shout out to Krecia Sweeney, a full-time student in MCC's Occupational Therapy Assistant program, who received the...
Posted by McHenry County College on Monday, October 28, 2019
Total Cost of Occupational Therapy Assistant AAS
(in-district) Total Amount: $13,566.00
Credit Hours to Complete: 72
Weeks to Complete: 128
What makes MCC's Occupational Therapy Assistant AAS program better than or distinct from similar programs at other institutions?
At MCC, instructors emphasize focus on the community, cultural sensitivity, professionalism, and clinical reasoning in every aspect of the program. MCC's OTA program incorporates technology, evidenced-based information, and current trends to provide you with hands-on experiences to assist in the learning process. Many aspects of the program include working with community partners to encourage more application-based learning within the curriculum.
MCC's OTA program continues to be awarded accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE).
What you need to know about getting your Occupational Therapy Assistant AAS (CIP 51.0803 )
| in-district | out-of-district | out-of-state | international | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $8,028.00 | $27,228.00 | $33,849.00 | $33,849.00 |
| Additional Occupational Therapy Assistant AAS Costs | $5,538.00 | $5,538.00 | $5,538.00 | $5,538.00 |
| Program Total | $13,566.00 | $32,766.00 | $39,387.00 | $39,387.00 |
Careers
What job opportunities are available to someone with an Occupational Therapy Assistant AAS?
This AAS degree prepares you to function as a professional OTA in a variety of health care settings including hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, private homes and school settings under the supervision of a Registered Occupational Therapist (OTR).
| Occupation and Occupational Profile Link | SOC Code |
|---|---|
| Occupational Therapy Assistants | 31-2011 |
How will MCC's Occupational Therapy Assistant AAS program prepare me for my career or connect me to opportunities?
Gain real-world experience and network in the community as you complete your fieldwork experiences and through application-based curricular activities.
By the Numbers:
- Occupational Therapy Assistant is ranked #1 Best Health Care Support Joband #12 in The 100 Best Jobs by U.S. News
- The job market for Occupational Therapy Assistants is expected to grow 41% from 2012 to 2022
- The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the median annual wage for occupational therapy assistants in 2016 was $59,010.
What have graduates gone on to do?
MCC OTA students have been hired by locals school districts, skilled nursing facilities, and local children's outpatient clinics throughout the area.
Outside of the Classroom
MCC Occupational Therapy Assistant students created the content for a horticulture therapy program at Autumn Leaves residential memory care provider in Crystal Lake. The horticulture therapy program will allow Autumn Leaves residents to plant, care, smell and taste the plantings. Pictured are, from left Molly Dickow of Cary, Autumn Leaves resident Mary Gray and Jody Meyer of Crystal Lake.
- Join MCC's Student Occupational Therapy Assistants and learn about shadowing and volunteer opportunities!
- American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)
- Illinois Occupational Therapy Association (ILOTA)
Contact Us
Additional information:
- OTA Courses
- OTA Student Handbook and Fieldwork Manual
- OTA Information Sessions
- OTA Admission Policies
- Online Proctored Exams