Before You Apply

Admission to the OTA program is selective. Meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee acceptance.

Applicants must:

• Be admitted to St. Charles Community College with an active SCC ID and email
• Complete at least 15 college-level credit hours
• Earn a minimum 2.75 GPA
• Complete ENG 101 (C or higher, within the past five years)
• Complete MAT 096 or place into MAT 098 or higher
• Complete any required developmental or ESL coursework

Application review begins:

• March 20 for Fall admission
• October 20 for Spring admission

Applications received after these dates will continue to be reviewed until the cohort is full. Early submission is strongly encouraged.

Admission decisions are sent to your SCC email within two weeks of application review.

Have questions or need help with your application?

Stop by the Center for Healthy Living to meet with a Dardenne Creek Campus Advisor—walk-ins are welcome! You can also contact us by emailing dccadvising@stchas.edu.

What abilities and skills do you need? 
OTAs have a very physically demanding job that requires stooping, bending, lifting, coordination and flexibility. Successful OTAs also must have good interpersonal skills, be able to work with a wide variety of people, be organized and self-directed, and be team players. 

Would you like this work? 
Ask yourself the following questions as you consider this field. 

• Do you like to be around and work with people? 
• Do you like science? 
• Do you like the field of medicine? 
• Can you work independently with little direct supervision? 
• Do you have patience? 
• Can you wait for extended periods of time before you see results of your work? 
• Do you like to work with your hands? 
• Are you creative and a good problem solver? 

If this sounds like you, you may have just found your career! 

Student selection process 

Program criteria differ from general SCC admission. The Occupational Therapy Assistant program requires a 2.75 GPA and completion of specific coursework. The specific application standards set for the OTA program are based on literature describing the ultimate goal of an increased probability of student success. 

All prospective students seeking admission to the OTA program must follow the same college application procedure as outlined in the OTA program curriculum guide. Students are not discriminated against on the basis of race, age, gender, religion, or national origin by either SCC or the OTA program. Students begin their application process with an allied health/career-technical advisor who advises and guides them through the process. Faculty will not meet individual students until OTA orientation, held in the semester preceding the start of class. 

Criteria for admission to the OTA program were established by the OTA program coordinator in collaboration with the director of admissions and reviewed by the OTA Program Advisory Committee, the Dean of Nursing & Allied Health, and the Vice President of Academic Affairs. Criteria are subject to change. 

Students will be considered as active applicants only if they maintain contact with the advisor at least annually. Students who do not maintain contact or who cannot be reached by the address or telephone number on record at the college will be dropped from the applicant file. 

*Please note, the OTA program admits students twice a year in the fall and spring semesters. 

The total number of graduates from St. Charles Community College Associate of Applied Science degree during the last 3 calendar years of 2023-2025 was 45 graduates with a graduation rate of 90%. 

The three year average NBCOT Exam pass rate for new graduates is 84%.

Effective Fall 2024
In-District Base Tuition Rate- General Education Courses 
$113 per credit hour + $10 per credit hour Technology Fee + $4 Student Success fee   = $127/credit hour 
In-District Rates- Tier II OTA Courses 
$213 per credit hour + $10 per credit hour Technology Fee + $4 Student Success fee   = $227/credit hour 

Program Costs* 
*Estimates based on in-district rates 

OTA PROGRAM 

*Incidental Fees are Approximate 

Tuition costs are based on residency status at the time of registration. For out-of-district tuition rates, please visit SCC's Tuition and Payment page.

The Occupational Therapy Assistant Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) c/o Accreditation Department, of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at:

www.acoteonline.org 

Graduates of the program will be able 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). Many states, including Missouri, require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results on the NBCOT Certification Examination. 

The Missouri and Illinois Boards of Occupational Therapy, as well as NBCOT, may refuse licensure to applicants who may jeopardize the well-being of their citizens. 

Note: Some fieldwork and employment sites require criminal background checks, child abuse clearance checks, vaccination requirements, etc. in order for students to participate in fieldwork and employment activities. A felony conviction may affect a graduate's ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination and/or may prevent an individual from obtaining a license to practice. Students may wish to contact the appropriate regulatory body for additional information PRIOR to enrolling in a program of study. Information obtained through various screening procedures may prevent entry into the OTA program. 

All OTA students must complete Level II Fieldwork within 18 months following completion of academic preparation. 
Program results from the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) can be found online at https://www.nbcot.org/Educators-Folder/SchoolPerformance.