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Occupational Therapy Assistant

At Central Methodist University we offer a Post-Professional Bachelor of Science in OTA Degree for practicing COTA’s.

The Post-Professional Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy Assistant studies is designed for experienced occupational therapy assistants who are licensed and credentialed. This is not an entry-level program. Accreditation for this degree is governed through the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

The dynamic nature of contemporary health and human services delivery systems requires the occupational therapy assistant to possess basic skills as a direct care provider, educator, manager, leader, and advocate for the profession and the consumer. These characteristics and skills align with Central Methodist Universities Learning Principles: Communication, Curiosity, and Community. 

This degree is designed to expand the experienced OTA’s skillset for important leadership roles in health care, academia, and advocacy for professional and community organizations. Taking advantage of this baccalaureate degree option will prepare the licensed and certified OTA professional for advanced leadership opportunities in the workforce, to teach in an Associates-level OTA program with the required ‘one degree above’, to complete the qualifications for an OTR program, or with a path to graduate school to pursue the qualifications needed to work in the field of academia, another one of OT’s settings where there is a great need.

Currently this is the only post-professional OTA-B level program in Missouri.

OTA Program Outcomes

Upon conclusion of the post-professional OTA-B program, graduates will be able to:

  • Demonstrate the ability to synthesize in-depth knowledge in a practice area through the development and completion of a baccalaureate project in one or more of the following areas: clinical practice skills, administration, leadership, advocacy, or education.
  • Understand the use of quantitative and qualitative methods for data analysis that include: Basic descriptive, correlational, and inferential quantitative statistics analysis and synthesis of qualitative data in relation to healthcare.

Explain business aspects of practice: business plans, financial management, program evaluation models,

  • strategic planning.

    Course Progression

    In order to complete the curriculum, students must complete outlined OTA Core Coursework and a minimum of 30 credit hours of 300+ level coursework. Students must complete a total of 120-credit hours to earn their Bachelor’s degree, inclusive of the hours completed for the OTA associate's degree.

    OTA Requirements for Admission

    1. Applicants must meet the admission requirements of the University,
      • minimum GPA of 2.0 overall; 
      • an associate degree in OTA from a regionally accredited institution (OTA programmatic credits from the OTA A.S./A.A.S. will be applied toward the OTA-B; general education credits will also transfer where applicable).
      • official transcripts from all regionally and nationally accredited colleges and universities attended; and  
      • Current unrestricted OTA license
      • NBCOT certification
    2. Non-native speakers of English must present evidence of proficiency in the English language by scoring a 550 or higher on the paper-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or 213 or higher on the computer-based TOEFL or 77 or higher on the Internet-based TOEFL.

    OTA Curriculum Requirements

    1. A cumulative 2.0 GPA must be maintained and a grade of "C+” 75% or above must be attained in all OTA courses (OTA309, OTA315, OTA480)
    2. The OTA program should be completed within five (5) years of enrollment.

    Graduation Requirements

    1. Satisfactory completion of the liberal arts and/or general education coursework as well as all courses in the major;
    2. satisfactory completion of at least 120 credit hours; 
    3. satisfactory completion of at least 17 credit hours of upper-division coursework in the major;  
    4. satisfactory completion of at least 30 credit hours of upper-division coursework; 
    5. cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 on coursework earned at CMU; 
    6. cumulative GPA of at least 2.3 on all upper-division OTA major coursework; 
    7. payment of all tuition and fees; and 
    8. recommendation of the faculty. 

The grading scale for the OTA is based on 75% as the minimum percentage for a "C" grade.

To graduate, students must maintain a grade of "C" in all OTA Core Coursework.

Requirements for Continuation in Program: Students who earn less than a "C" in a course may not continue in their cohort. Any one course where the student earns less than a "C" must be repeated and completed with a grade of "C" or higher, and then the student will join the subsequent cohort. Any second instance when a student earns less than a "C"- whether it is a repeated course or one taken for the first time - results in the student's dismissal from the program.