Occupational Therapy Assistant

Students interested in pursuing a career as an Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) are encouraged to complete high school coursework that builds a strong foundation in the sciences, mathematics, and communication. These subjects help prepare students for the academic rigor of the OTA program and the professional demands of the field.

-Anatomy & Physiology
-Biology
-English
-Mathematics – Algebra, Geometry, Statistics & Probability
-Physics
-Psychology

Additionally, volunteer experience in health care or human service settings is highly encouraged to gain exposure to the field and develop interpersonal skills.

Special Admission Requirements/Prerequisites
"Technical Ability Standards"
"Technical ability standards" for the Erie Community College Occupational Therapy Assistant Student are essential functions or abilities required to meet the physical and intellectual demands of an OTA student while participating in the program. Technical ability standards can be met with or without reasonable accommodations. Students must demonstrate good physical endurance and good health. Sufficient physical strength is required for lifting and moving the human patient in a clinical setting. Additional required skills for a clinical setting include: visual observation of patients and clients in treatment sessions; manipulation and handling of therapy equipment; and the ability to demonstrate cognitive skills relative to problem solving, clinical reasoning, and handling stress. If you have any concerns that you might not meet these standards, please contact the OTA Department to set up an appointment for advisement. Additionally, as a student of the SUNY Erie OTA Program, students must conduct themselves in a professional manner, adhering to the American Occupational Therapy Association Code of Ethics, Standards of Practice, client rights, and confidentiality. Note that a felony conviction may prevent a student from completing our academic program through fieldwork, a degree requirement, required for degree completion.

Introduction of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act requires that no qualified individual with a disability shall, by reason of such disability, be excluded from participation in or denied the benefits of SUNY Erie Community College's services, programs or activities or be subjected to discrimination by SUNY Erie. The term "qualified individual with a disability" means an individual with a disability who, with or without reasonable modifications to rules, policies, or practices, the removal of architectural, communication or transportation barriers, or the provision of auxiliary aids and services, meets the essential eligibility requirements for the receipt of services or for participation in programs or activities. Students must be able to perform the essential functions of the program in order to meet certain minimum academic and technical standards.

Essential Functions as needed for typical program success:
Motor Capability:

• Move from room to room and maneuver in small spaces
• Transfer patients who may require physical assistance
• Guard and assist patients with ambulation
• Perform exercise techniques, including applying resistance during exercise. Therapeutically handle patients
• Lift and carry up to 50 pounds, and exert up to 100 pounds force for push/pull
• Squat, crawl, bend/stoop, reach above shoulder level, kneel, use standing balance, and climb stairs
• Use hands repetitively; use manual dexterity. Ability to use fine skilled movements such as finger dexterity and eye-hand coordination, for effective tool use, dressing, personal hygiene, grooming, cooking, and communicating
• Adjust, apply, and clean therapeutic equipment
• Perform CPR
• Travel to and from academic and clinical sites
• In the average clinical day, students sit 1-2 hours, stand 6-7 hours, travel 1-3 hours

Sensory Capability:

• Coordinate verbal and manual instruction
• Assess a patient from a distance that allows visual observation of patient posture, response to treatment, and interpretation/assessment of the environment
• Respond to a timer, alarm, or cries for help
• Monitor vital signs
• Possess auditory, visual, and tactile abilities sufficient to assess patient status and perform treatment (including seeing skin color changes, seeing facial expressions and non-verbal communication, hearing heart/lung sounds, and feeling for muscle contractions/to discriminate hot vs. cold/to fabricate splints).
• Possess the ability to effectively attend to multiple features of a task, personal interaction, and/or group to include ability to selectively focus and attend to key features, use divided and alternating attention between two or more features in a quick and safe manner.
  
  

Communication Ability:

• Communicate effectively in English with patients, families, and other health care providers, both in person and through documentation (including explaining treatment procedures, teaching patients and families, documenting in charts)
• Effectively adapt communication for intended audience
  
• Interact, and establish rapport with individuals, families, and groups from a variety of social, emotional, cultural, and intellectual backgrounds
• Assume the role of a health care team member
  
• Function effectively under supervision and effectively communicate with supervisor

Problem Solving Ability:

• Function effectively under stress
• Respond appropriately to emergencies
• Adhere to infection control procedures
• Demonstrate problem-solving skills in patient care (including reasoning, prioritizing, and synthesizing data or information)
• Use sound judgement and safety precautions
• Address problems or questions to the appropriate person at the appropriate time
• Organize and prioritize job tasks, materials, and schedule
• Follow policies and procedures required by clinical and academic settings

Social-Emotional Capability and Professionalism: 

• Possess the ability to use effective work ethic skills to include attendance, punctuality, positive work attitude, respect, cooperation, teamwork, professional manners, productivity appropriate to course and job role requirements and to work with persons of diverse backgrounds.

Computer/Technological/Information Literacy:

• Possess the ability to use basic computer (word processing/PowerPoint/Excel), electronic communication and on-line course skills on a regular basis.
• Possess the ability to access, evaluate, and use a variety of information resources such as library services, electronic catalogs, and databases in an efficient, ethical, and legal manner.

SUNY Erie OTA seeks to create an inclusive learning environment.  If there are aspects of the curriculum that result in barriers to a student's inclusion, they are strongly encouraged and invited to notify the Department Head.  Our program mission involves serving our students which means making course materials accessible and fostering student success.  Students taking classes in the Occupational Therapy Department at Erie Community College who are considering requesting reasonable accommodations or academic adjustments are encouraged to contact Students Access Center at 716-851-1487.

The need for adaptations within the typical OTA program as determined by essential functions may preclude specific OT practice areas for fieldwork placement.  For example, an individual who cannot lift and carry up to 50 pounds or exert up to 100 pounds of push/pull force would not be best suited for a traditional clinic-based adult physical disabilities fieldwork placement.  For another example, an individual who does not possess the sensory-motor skills to fabricate an arm/hand splint would not be eligible for fieldwork placement in hand therapy/orthotics.  Due to the diverse practice areas of occupational therapy, placement is possible in mental health settings, as well as emerging practice areas.

Other Relevant Admission Requirements/Prerequisites

In addition to the requirements of the SUNY Erie Admissions Department which include an application indicating OTA as the program of choice for the semester of interest, transcripts, and Placement Testing or waiver, OTA applicants must also meet special admission requirements.  All applicants are encouraged to contact the Admissions Department to check the status of their application and verify receipt of all required documents (transcripts, proof of virtual shadow hours, letters of recommendation).  All intended majors are encouraged to make sure that they communicate with the Admissions Department to add an OTA Program focus or interest.

• Applicants should have a 80 percent or above high school average within five years of prospective admission for applicants without any college credit.  Should an individual only have high school GPA information older than 5 years, they need to establish an undergraduate college GPA with at least some of the OTA general education courses.
• A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.8 is required for all undergraduate colleges attended within five years of prospective admission.  Should an individual only have undergraduate college GPA information older than 5 years, overall undergraduate college GPA will be considered.
• Applicants will comply with the college’s math and English competency requirement, as well as complete developmental coursework prior to admission into the program.
  
  • Applicants must either surpass the MT 006 level in math placement testing or be waived from math placement testing based on data (high school average of math courses [75+], GED score of 450 or higher, TASC math score of 500 or higher).  If not successful, applicant must complete and pass MT 006.  Any math developmental course must be successfully completed with a minimum passing grade of “C.” 
  • Applicants must pass the SUNY Erie English Placement Test at the EN 100 level or above unless waived from taking the test.  Any English developmental course must be successfully completed with a minimum passing grade of “C.”  
• Complete virtual shadowing as made available to applicants and submit the required proof of virtual shadowing document as part of your application process, as a document upload. Reach out to OTA@ecc.edu with any questions about this requirement.
• Secure two letters of recommendation for admission into the SUNY Erie Occupational Therapy Assistant Program, from past or current teachers, volunteer coordinators, employers/work supervisors, spiritual leaders, coaches, or mentors.  Ensure that both letters of recommendation are dated and have included a signature, as well as contact information including name, phone number, and e-mail address.  Ensure that both letters of recommendation include a description of your relationship with the provider of the letter.  Ensure that both letters speak well to your strength of character, basic professionalism, and personal ethics.  Submit both letters of recommendation by uploading them as part of your application process.  Reach out to OTA@ecc.edu with any questions about this requirement.
• It is strongly recommended that interested students meet with a Health Sciences Admission Counselor to support their application process and help determine viability for applying to the program.  Students with an OTA focus, or interest, should meet with OTA Department Head for advisement and for consideration of transfer credit.  Acceptance into General Studies does not guarantee future entrance into the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program.
• Occupational Therapy Assistant Program is housed at North Campus and admits students in the Fall Semester only. Application deadline is February 15. All pieces of the application packet must be submitted by the deadline of February 15 (online application, high school and all college transcripts, proof of virtual shadowing, and letters of recommendation as specified above).
• Meeting program admission requirements does NOT guarantee acceptance into the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program. Viablity of candidates is assessed through admissions artifacts.  Admission is based on the academic qualifications, critical thinking skills and soft skills of the student (academic transcript, virtual shadowing response, letters of recommendation). Admission is also based on space availability.
• If an applicant is not selected for admission, they must submit another application packet for the following admission term to be reconsidered. Applicants re-applying must submit proof of virtual shadowing, and letters of recommendation for each time that they apply to the Program. Proof of shadowing hours questions are subject to change annually and the updated document must be used by applicants.
• SUNY Erie OTA does not have a waiting list. If an accepted applicant declines their seat, the Department will contact the next most qualified candidate based on rubric scores, provided their are other existing viable candidates.

According to FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), cost of attendance is defined as total amount of attending the program, which includes tuition and fees, books, supplies, transportation, loan fees as well as fees associated with distance education.

*ESTIMATED PROJECTED COST AS TUITION INCREASES ARE DETERMINED ANNUALLY BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

**AMOUNT INCLUDES ONE SUMMER SEMESTER, PER THE OTA COURSE SEQUENCE.

***NEW YORK STATE OUT-OF-COUNTY RESIDENTS CAN SECURE AN OUT-OF-COUNTY RESIDENT FORM FROM SUNY ERIE, HAVE IT SIGNED BY THE APPROPRIATE PARTY IN THEIR HOME COUNTY, AND TURN THE FORM INTO THE BURSAR’S OFFICE AT SUNY ERIE WITHIN THE FIRST 30 DAYS OF SCHOOL.  THIS ALLOWS SUNY ERIE TO BILL YOUR HOME COUNTY FOR OUT-OF-COUNTY FEES AND THIS REDUCES THE TUITION FEE FOR NEW YORK STATE OUT OF COUNTY RESIDENTS.

¹Student Fees include: Student Life Fee (Programming for Health/Wellness Programming, Diversity & Equity, Life Skills, Financial Literacy, Student Success, Student Leadership, Athletics, Commencement); Transportation Fee (Campus Parking, NFTA pass, Campus Shuttles); Document Fee (One time College fee to provide any future requested copies of transcripts, medical records, etc. at no additional cost to the student. Online requests submitted through national clearinghouses’ services may be charged a small processing fee by the vendor.); Student Activity Fee (Student Government, Student Clubs, Student Planned Events (i.e. winter ball, speakers, voter registration, etc.); Technology Fee (Online library databases and subscriptions, technology infrastructure including labs, wireless access, etc.); Registration Fee; START New Student Orientation Fee; and Lab Fees/Clinical Rotation Fees/Malpractice Insurance linked to specific required courses.

²OTA Books & Supplies include a breakdown of OTA textbooks and AOTA membership.

³Loan Fees – N/A - SUNY ECC does not directly lend money to our students.

⁴Distance Education Fees – N/A - SUNY ECC does not have fees associated with distance learning.

An Associate in Applied Science degree is granted to each student who successfully completes all coursework and all fieldwork. The student must also demonstrate proficiency in algebra with a minimum placement test score of 40 for the Algebra Test.

Number of Program Graduates
The following table reflects the number of students who graduated from the OTA program during the three most recent academic years:

Program Graduation Rates
The OTA program is designed to be completed in two years. Graduation rates reflect the percentage of students who completed the program within 150% of its published length (three years), with documented allowable exclusions applied.

The SUNY Erie Community College Occupational Therapy Assistant program had a total of 36 graduates during the three-year reporting period ending in 2026, with an average graduation rate of 74.5% across the three most recent applicable entering cohorts.

Note: The OTA program temporarily suspended admissions in Fall 2023 during a period of probation. Admissions resumed in Fall 2024; therefore, no entering cohort or corresponding graduation rate is reported for Fall 2023. 

New York State licensure is required for employment in New York State. Upon graduation from the program, an individual is eligible to apply to take the NBCOT OTA Certification Exam and to apply for licensure.  All states in the U.S. require state licensure. Separate applications for state licensure must be filed within that state.  Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate's ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination and attain state licensure.

New York State DOES require passing of the National Certification Exam (NBCOT) for employment in New York State. A final, official transcript indicating confirmation for an Associate in Applied Science degree (A.A.S.) in Occupational Therapy Assistant must be submitted to NBCOT as part of the application process for the national certification exam.

Program results from the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) can be found online at https://www.nbcot.org/Educators-Folder/SchoolPerformance 

Website for NBCOT: www.nbcot.org

Website for NYSED-Office of the Professions regarding licensure/authorization/permit to practice: http://www.op.nysed.gov/

New York State prides itself in the high quality of its licensed and certified professionals. For the protection of its citizens, each license and certificate has requirements that individuals must meet in order to be licensed or certified in New York State. SUNY’s academic programs leading to licensure or certification are carefully designed to meet and exceed these State requirements. This is a role SUNY plays in protecting the public. Other states frequently have their own requirements, so if your goal is to practice in another state, the following disclosure statement will help you check to see what that state requires.

Per U.S. Federal Regulations, §668.43 (2019 Rule), and in compliance with the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA) Manual version 19.2, SUNY ERIE Community College OTA Program provides the following disclosure statement related to the educational requirements for professional licensure and certification:

SUNY Erie’s Occupational Therapy Assistant Program is an ACOTE accredited occupational therapy assistant educational program. The Program also meets the educational requirements by the Board of Regents in New York State to award an Associate in Applied Science Degree (AAS) with a major in occupational therapy assistant.

ACOTE® accredited occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant educational programs satisfy the states’ educational requirements in all states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. For more information regarding state qualifications and licensure requirements, please refer to the AOTA State Licensure webpage.  https://acoteonline.org/about/

The 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: 301-652-AOTA
www.acoteonline.org
AOTA: www.aota.org

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, 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 and attain state licensure.