Occupational Therapy

Bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy assistant

Occupational therapy assistants play a key role in providing occupational therapy services in every area of practice with people all across the lifespan.

They support occupational therapists and clients by providing OT treatment services as indicated on the treatment plans developed by the occupational therapists. They also provide feedback to the OTs, the clients, and the health care team about progress made in treatment.

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Overview

The demand for highly-trained OTAs and increasing accreditation requirements prompted the American Occupational Therapy Association to vote in support of entry-level education for OTAs at the bachelor’s level, in addition to the traditional associate’s degree. Our BHS-OTA degree is the first such program at a public institution in Missouri, and one of only a few in the nation.

“The BHS-OTA program opens the door for affordable, high-quality, evidence-based OT education with an entry-level degree that leads to immediate professional health care employment or further education in OT.”—Dr. Tim Wolf, Occupational Therapy Department Chair.

Admission and application

Learn more about prerequisite courses, GPA requirements and the application process.

BHS in OTA admission and application

Accreditation and credentialing resources

Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE)National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT)

Course work

Students will complete 74 credit hours over 2 years in a full-time onsite cohort model curriculum. Students will also be required to pass a national certification exam administered by the National Board of Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) in order to gain entry into the profession and obtain licensure. Students will have the ability to customize their educational plans through unique combinations of fieldwork and baccalaureate projects.

Curriculum

See the required courses to complete the BHS-OTA degree program.

BHS-OTA professional curriculum broken down by semesterCourse descriptions

Baccalaureate projects

Providing in-depth experience in clinical practice skills, administration, leadership, advocacy and/or education.

Read more

Program outcomes

Graduation yearStudents entering/graduatingGraduation rate
202313/1185%
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. Students must complete 16 weeks of Level II fieldwork as well as completion of a baccalaureate project within 24 months following the completion of the didactic portion of the program.

NBCOT pass rates will be added within 1 year after our first cohort graduates in Fall 2023. View NBCOT program data.

Currently licensed OTAs

Advance your career with a bachelor’s degree! The Bachelor of Health Science online degree program is 100% online, so you can complete your degree while working as an OTA.

Online BHS in Health Science

Cost and aid

The Occupational Therapy department follows the University of Missouri’s undergraduate tuition and fees for the Occupational Therapy Assistant Baccalaureate program.

OTA cost and financial aid