Occupational Therapy Assistant

Three students practicing occupational therapy techniques with a mannequin
Enrollment Steps
1
New & transfer students
Apply to LLCC
2
Setup of your LLCC account
Activate
3
Paying for college
Complete the FAFSA
4
Complete selective admission
View next steps

Program Highlights

Occupational therapy assistants work as a team with occupational therapists helping patients regain, improve, maintain and even develop skills to live happy, meaningful lives

  • Impact direct patient care by guiding patients through OT plans for therapeutic exercise, daily life skills and adapting the patient’s environment.
  • Learn to document progress, communicate encouragement and collaborate with OTs.
  • Prepare to sit for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy Exam (NBCOT.)

Degrees & Certs

LLCC offers the following programs to successfully equip you for a career as a occupational therapy assistant.  Explore available OTA classes in LoggerCentral. Students need to consult with program director before enrolling in OTA classes.

Occupational Therapy Assistant • Associate in Applied Science

Time to completion: 2 years

Cost

For the 2025-2026 academic year (fall 2025, spring 2026 and summer 2026), occupational therapy assistant (OTA) classes have a tuition rate of $287 per credit hour for in-district residents. The total estimated cost of tuition, variable tuition and standard fees is approximately $15,613 for the OTA program. Get more information on tuition and fees. 

Paying for college

Learn more about cost of attendance.
There are ways to get help paying for college. Learn more about paying for college.

Support available

PATH (with electrocardiogram lines). Pipeline for the Advancement of the Healthcare Workforce

The Pipeline for the Advancement of the Healthcare Workforce (PATH) program provides financial and other supports for occupations within the health care field. Learn more about PATH, including support services, programs and eligibility.

Job Outlook

The mean wage for Illinois occupational therapy assistants is $68,170, according to May 2023 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Selective Admission

Applications for the occupational therapy assistant program open each year on Sept. 1 and are accepted through the second Thursday in June. Admissions are on a rolling basis. Sixteen students are admitted each fall semester. Once the class is full, qualified applicants will be placed on a waiting list in the order received and notified if a seat becomes available.

Students who choose to pursue an associate in applied science degree in OTA must meet the minimum criteria to enter the applicant pool.

See OTA Selective Admission Requirements

Attend an information session

Register to attend an information session. Attendees will have the choice of an online session through Teams or an on-demand session for immediate access. Links will be sent to the email address provided in the registration form. 

  • Jan. 22, 2026, 3-3:30 p.m. - online
  • Feb. 19, 2026, 3-3:30 p.m. - online
  • March 19, 2026, 5-5:30 p.m. - online

Tours

Questions about the OTA program or any of our health professions programs? Looking to schedule a tour? Contact recruitment specialists Jeff Martin or Sarah Beggs.  

For official program pass rates on the certification exam please see NBCOT School Performance Data.

 
Graduation Year CohortNumber of Students Graduating/

Number of Students Entering		Graduation Rate (%)
202211/1292%
20236/785%
202411/1385%
Total28/3287%

 

 

The LLCC Occupational Therapy Assistant program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814. ACOTE's telephone number c/o AOTA is 301-652-6611.

Graduates of the program are eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapy assistant administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). Following successful completion of this exam, the individual will be a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA).  Most states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT certification examination.

NBCOT exam fee: $40

State of Illinois occupational therapy assistant license fee: $25

A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT Certification Examination and/or attain state licensure. LLCC and its occupational therapy assistant program recognize that accreditation status represents a promise of quality to the students, the college, the community and the profession of occupational therapy.