Occupational Therapy Assistant Program

Coming soon: New Occupational Therapy Assistant Program

The new Occupational Therapy Assistant Program is launching soon! This program will provide the knowledge and skills to improve the lives of individuals of all ages, helping them regain independence and participate in meaningful activities.

OTA Degree Map       

About the program

• Program Start: January 2027
• Degree Awarded: Associate of Science (A. S.)
• Key Focus Areas: Understanding the foundations of occupational therapy, client-centered care, and intervention techniques to address a range of needs, including physical, cognitive, and psychosocial challenges.
• Hands-on Experience: The program will include a combination of classroom learning, laboratory experiences, and fieldwork opportunities to provide practical skills and real-world application of knowledge.
• NBCOT Eligibility: Graduates will be eligible to sit for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) Certification Exam.

Why choose this OTA program?

Admissions Criteria

All prospective OTA students must meet Helena College’s institutional admission requirements and submit the following materials to complete their admissions file:

• Proof of Immunization: Documentation of two doses of MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella).
• Official High School Transcript: Must include a posted graduation date and be received in a sealed envelope from an accredited high school.
• Current high school students may be conditionally admitted pending receipt of a final transcript with graduation date.
• GED Scores or
• Sealed Homeschool Transcript signed by the home instructor.

Transcripts from non-accredited high schools must be validated through the appropriate Office of Public Instruction.

Download the OTA Program Checklist

Prerequisite Requirements

The following courses must be completed before enrollment into the OTA program

Graduation Requirements

Helena College’s general graduation requirements (degrees, GPA minimums, credit requirements, etc.) are published in the Academic Catalog (link). The OTA program-specific requirements are:

• Academic Coursework:
  Occupational Therapy Assistant students must attain a cumulative grade point average of C (75%) in each course to graduate. If a course grade is below 75%, or clinical skills are not all successfully demonstrated, the OTA student may be placed on Academic Probation and the deficiencies must be remediated within three (3) attempts and within sufficient time, as determined by the faculty/administration, to continue in the program without disruption of the program continuity.
• Clinical Education:
  Fieldwork experience must be integrated with didactic coursework to introduce students to clinical settings in order to successfully graduate. Level I Fieldwork will be completed during Semester Two (summer) in conjunction with coursework, and Level II Fieldwork will be completed during Semester Four (spring). Level II Fieldwork will consist of full-time supervised, in-depth clinical rotations (two 8-week sessions).

Cost of Attendance and Tuition Disclosure

Helena College publishes tuition and mandatory fees on its Tuition & Fees page and in the academic catalog. Tuition and fee information is subject to change and students are advised to review the most current schedule.

Go to the Tuition and Fees Page

Refund and Fee Statements:
Costs that may change (e.g., per‐credit fees, identification fees, program specific fees) include statements indicating that published fees are subject to change.

OTA Program Cost Disclosure:
The OTA program must also display the total cost of attendance (COA) including:

• Tuition and mandatory fees
• Estimated additional expenses specific to OTA (e.g., uniforms, supplies, certification exam fees)
• Estimated living and travel costs related to fieldwork

Accreditation Status

The OTA program is in the initial accreditation stages. Accreditation is granted by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) .

Ready to learn more?

The comprehensive program website is currently under development. It will include detailed information about:

• Curriculum and course descriptions
• Admission requirements and application process
• Faculty and staff profiles
• Tuition and financial aid information

Questions?