Upon successful completion of coursework & fieldwork experiences, students will receive an Associate of Applied Science Degree.
To be eligible for graduation the student must:
- Have a grade point average of 2.0 or above
- Complete all general, related and occupational therapy assistant courses with a "C" or above
- Successfully complete two level II fieldwork experiences within 18 months of classroom coursework.
Graduates of the program 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). In addition, most states require licensure to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT certification examination. A felony conviction may affect a graduate's ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.
Prior to 2024, the KSU Ashtabula and East Liverpool programs were separately accredited. Therefore, outcome data below is reported separately. Beginning in 2024, outcome data will be combined.
| Year | Number of Program Graduates (calendar year) | Graduation Rates (reported as number of students who graduated from the program within 3 years, divided by number of students who started the program 3 years prior) |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6 | 50% |
| 2022 | 9 | 64% |
| 2023 | 7 | 70% |
| Total 3- year | 22 | 61% |
| Year | Number of Program Graduates (calendar year) | Graduation Rates (reported as number of students who graduated from the program within 3 years, divided by number of students who started the program 3 years prior) |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7 | 67% |
| 2022 | 7 | 50% |
| 2023 | 11 | 79% |
| Total 3- year | 25 | 63% |
Career Information
The job outlook for Occupational Therapy Assistants is excellent. Occupational Therapy Assistants are employed in both traditional and nontraditional settings including acute care hospitals, rehabilitation centers, schools, nursing homes, home health agencies, and mental health facilities. The median national salary (2022) is $64,250. for the State of Ohio $61,510. For more detailed job outlook and salary information: 31-2011.00 - Occupational Therapy Assistants (onetonline.org)