Occupational Therapy Assistant Program

***PLEASE NOTE:  The application periods for the class beginning Fall 2023 are the months of February, May, July and August. 

Applications for Fall 2023 entrance through Fall 2025 entrance (OCTA)

Application Timeline	Campus Locations
Fall Enrollment - Apply in February	Newport - Evening/Weekend

Admissions Guidelines

Minimum requirements to apply to the Occupational Therapy program:

1. CCRI Application for Enrollment into General Studies with a pre-occupational therapy (OCTA) concentration.
2. Official copy of a high school transcript, GED® transcript or baccalaureate transcript from an accredited institution, including date of graduation or completion.
3. Completion of an ACCUPLACER test issued by CCRI's Department of Advising and Counseling or a bachelor's degree or higher. Students may retake the ACCUPLACER test once before being required to complete a developmental course.
   • Reading Comprehension Requirement:
     • Score of 75 or above in Classic Accuplacer is required in Reading Comprehension
       or score of 250 or above in Next Generation Accuplacer is required in Reading Comprehension
       or ENGL 0890: Critical Reading with a grade of "B-" or better 
       or ENGL 0950: Integrated Critical Reading and Writing with a grade of "B-" or better
4. Completion of RHAB 1100: Foundational Kinesiology is recommended and may be considered in the performance-based acceptance process.
5. Complete the following required pre-requisite courses with a grade of "C" or better (these courses are limited to two attempts):
   
   • BIOL 1020: Human Physiology or BIOL 2202: Anatomy & Physiology 2 (A&P2) Biology Requirement: See below for description of Biology Department changes and how these changes affect admission requirements.
   • MATH 1025: Introduction to College Math.
     The following courses will substitute for MATH 1025: MATH 1200, 2110, 1139, 1175, 1240, 1241, 1179, 1181, 2077, 2138, 2111, 2141, 2142, 2243
     The highest grade earned in any of the above MATH courses will be calculated in the point system.
   • ENGL 1010: Composition I
     ENGL 1300 will not substitute for ENGL 1010.
   • PSYC 2010: General Psychology
   • PSYC 2030: Developmental Psychology
   • COMM 1010: Communication Fundamentals
6. Completion of BIOL 1010: Human Anatomy or BIOL 2201: Anatomy & Physiology 1 (A&P1). OCTA 1000: Introduction to Occupational Therapy, and RHAB 1010: Medical Terminology for Rehab Health with a grade of "B-" or better (these courses are limited to two attempts).
   Note: All attempts prior to August 31, 2016, including transfers, are considered to be ONE attempt regardless of number of times the class was taken.
7. A minimum overall cumulative grade point average of 2.7 for all college courses taken is required to apply to the program.
8. Complete a Preadmission Degree Evaluation.
   

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   All the above requirements must be met satisfactorily BEFORE submission of the Performance-Based Health Science (PBHS) application and does not guarantee acceptance.  Students declining acceptance into the program for the semester must resubmit a PBHS application for the program and meet current requirements.  Once accepted into the program, the student must attend a mandatory orientation conducted by the Rehabilitative Health Department.
   

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9. Complete and submit an online PBHS application here.
   Deadlines are listed on the form.

Technical Standards: The physical activity level for the Occupational Therapy Assistant is classified as “medium” by the Department of Labor in the Dictionary of Occupational Titles. Students must have the ability to perform essential physical skills and demonstrate the cognitive and behavioral skills or be able to perform them using compensatory techniques and/or adaptive devices. These essential skills can be found on the Essential Skills for OTA website.

Students are required to submit a background check when directed by notification from the Office of Enrollment Services. Final acceptance to the program is dependent on the results of the background check. Anyone convicted of a crime may be unable to attend clinical experiences that are required to complete the program.

Policies following acceptance into the Occupational Therapy Assistant program: 

• Students must have a physical examination and required immunizations completed prior to starting the program
• Students must have a current CPR card (American Heart Association, Health Care Provider Level) obtained through an AHA-recognized community training center.
  This course is available at CCRI - HEAL 0200.

Please note: Requirements are subject to change. 

For more clarifying information regarding any of the above please contact the Office of Enrollment Services at:

• Deb Watson, Newport Campus, [email protected]
• If more specific information is needed, contact Christine Lynch, Interim Occupational Therapy Assistant Program Director, at [email protected]

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Occupational Therapy Assistant Program Admission Criteria Point System

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The performance‐based acceptance process is based on the performance indicators identified for the program. A point system based on the admissions guidelines has been assigned to the performance criteria.

The criteria for the incoming class will include:

• Program GPA
• Grades in BIOL 1010 / BIOL 2201 (A&P1), BIOL 1020 / BIOL 2202 (A&P2), MATH 1025, ENGL 1010, COMM 1010, PSYC 2010, PSYC 2030, RHAB 1010 and OCTA 1000
  • The above are pre-requisite courses
• Accuplacer Reading Score

*ACCUPLACER may be taken no more than three times.

In the event of a tie, students who have completed RHAB 1100: Foundational Kinesiology will receive preference over those who have not and further preference will be given according to the grade achieved using the following point system:

Credits granted through AP, CLEP, challenge exams or assessment of prior learning will be recognized as satisfying course requirements and will be assigned points equivalent to a grade of "B."

Please review the Department of Health website to learn about licensing requirements for the health sciences professions.

Please note: A Social Security number is required to begin the licensing process for the health sciences professions.