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:

  • Facilitate treatment after injuries
  • Provide ongoing rehabilitation across the lifespan
  • Work in geriatrics 
  • Work in pediatrics (school-based or outpatient)
  • Encourage and promote independence across the lifespan

The Occupational Therapy Assistant AAS program is designed to prepare you to function as a professional OTA in a variety of healthcare 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) 652-6611 and its web address is www.acoteonline.org. Accreditation status can be verified at acoteonline.org/schools

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.

OTA Program Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
    OTA Program Graduation Rates as of 1/30/2024
    Graduating Class Number of students admitted to the original cohort Number of students who graduated at the normally expected time Number of students who graduated within 150% of the normally expected time Graduation rate (% completing within 150% of the normal expected time)
    2023 11 8 TBD TBD*
    2022 15 12 3 100%
    2021 16 15 0 93.75%
    2020 16 14 0 87.5%

    *Students currently enrolled in the program and expected to graduate in 150% of the time are not included in the final percentage.

  • NBCOT Pass Rate
    OTA Program NBCOT Pass Rates
    Graduation Year NBCOT Pass Rate
    2022 93%
    2021 100%
    2020 100%
    2019 100%
    Total: 98.25%
    View NBCOT program data results

Requirements and Guidelines

Contact (815) 455-8710 with specific questions about this program.

(in-district) Total Amount: $12,369.75

Credit Hours to Complete: 67

Weeks to Complete: 80


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Sample Semester 1 4 Credit Hours

    COURSE LIST Course Ids: BIO-157*#4 hrs
*This course is not required for graduation

Sample Semester 2 12 Credit Hours

    COURSE LIST Course Ids: ENG-151 | SPE-151#3 hrs,PSY-151#3 hrs,BIO-263#4 hrs,HCE-111#1 hr,MCC-101*#1 hr
*This course is not required for graduation

Sample Semester 3 9 Credit Hours

    COURSE LIST Course Ids: ENG-151 | SPE-151#3 hrs,BIO-264#4 hrs,OTA-110#2 hrs

Sample Semester 4 12 Credit Hours

    COURSE LIST Course Ids: OTA-120#3 hrs,OTA-130#3 hrs,OTA-140#3 hrs,AOM-135#3 hrs

Sample Semester 5 11 Credit Hours

    COURSE LIST Course Ids: OTA-150#3 hrs,OTA-160#5 hrs,OTA-170#3 hrs

Sample Semester 6 14 Credit Hours

    COURSE LIST Course Ids: OTA-210#5 hrs,OTA-220#4 hrs,OTA-230#3 hrs,OTA-240#2 hrs

Sample Semester 7 12 Credit Hours

    COURSE LIST Course Ids: OTA-250#2 hrs,OTA-260#5 hrs,OTA-265#5 hrs

Career Outlook

Related Programs

What you need to know about getting your Occupational Therapy Assistant AAS (CIP 51.0803)

Total Occupational Therapy Assistant AAS Costs
Cost in-district out-of-district out-of-state international
Tuition $7,805.5 $22,053.05 $31,002.91 $31,002.91
Additional Costs $4,564.25 $4,564.25 $4,564.25 $4,564.25
Program Total $12,369.75 $26,617.3 $35,567.16 $35,567.16

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. 

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 healthcare settings including hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, private homes, and school settings under the supervision of a Registered Occupational Therapist (OTR).

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:

What have graduates gone on to do?

MCC OTA students have been hired by local school districts, skilled nursing facilities, and local children's outpatient clinics throughout the area. Some students have decided to get higher degrees in occupational therapy at four-year institutions through bridge programs. 

Outside of the Classroom

  • Mission

    OTA Program Mission Statement

    The McHenry County College OTA Program will prepare individuals to function as entry-level certified occupational therapist assistants (OTA). Working in partnership with the occupational therapist and community stakeholders, graduates will successfully plan and implement goal-directed therapeutic occupations uniquely designed to help persons, groups, and populations achieve optimal performance in their daily life roles.

    OTA Program Vision Statement

    Our vision is to be a transformative occupational therapy assistant program with a focus on an occupation-based curriculum tailored to the unique needs of diverse individuals, groups, and populations, while emphasizing excellence in interprofessional and intraprofessional collaboration, clinical reasoning, and community-based learning. We aspire to cultivate lifelong learners who, equipped with professional and ethical values, contribute meaningfully to society through advocacy and scholarship.

  • Program Learning Objectives

    Graduates of the program will:

    • Occupation-Based Practice:
      • Students will apply a foundational understanding in occupation across interactions with all clients.
      • Students will promote the importance of occupation-based interventions with clients and external stakeholders.
    • Clinical Reasoning:
      • Students will develop clinical reasoning skills across lifespans and varied contexts.
      • Students will display proficiency in the analysis and integration of person, environment, occupation, and performance while fostering a holistic approach to client-centered care.
    • Clinical Application:
      • Students will develop and apply relevant interventions for persons, groups and populations.
      • Students will determine appropriate interventions across diverse contexts and needs of clients.
    • Community Engagement:
      • Students will foster interprofessional and intraprofessional collaborative relationships to serve clients and the community.
      • Students will build connectedness with community needs and establish resources.
    • Scholarship:
      • Students will develop self-directed learning skills for academic success and professional growth, seek resources, and engage in reflective practices independently.
      • Students will integrate evidence-based interventions into practice, to critically assess research, apply findings to client needs, and contribute to the delivery of highquality, evidence-informed care.

Additional Information

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Semesters to complete assumes students are taking a full-time credit load of 12 credits per semester (the minimum required for federal financial aid).

Proportion of students completing in normal time is the percentage of completers who earned the credential within the specified time of their first enrollment at the College.

Students attending part-time or changing their program of study are two common reasons why they may not complete in "normal" time.

Tuition and fees are set by the Board of Trustees. Prices for books and supplies are subject to change.

See additional information about international student costs.