Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants, or COTAs, work in collaboration with occupational therapists to provide hands-on services to people of all ages who are learning or relearning ways to succeed in the occupations of life: any tasks one may do daily for work or leisure.

In the AS in Occupational Therapy program, accelerated, experiential, self-directed learning is guided by faculty and mentors active in the profession, preparing you to practice in an array of settings and to sit for the NBCOT (National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy) examination.

The Jefferson Associate of Science in Occupational Therapy program features five 8-week terms per year, with classes Tuesday and Thursday evenings and some Saturday mornings. Additional learning and activities occur through an online format. In addition to active classroom learning, the program includes a strong clinical component, with five total clinical fieldwork experiences required. The first three placements are part-time (36 hours per term), and the final two terms consist of two 8-week, full-time clinical placements—preparing you for your transition into the field.

Thomas Jefferson University Associate of Science in Occupational Therapy program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). Program results from the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) exam can be found on their website.

The Occupational Therapy Assistant Program (Associate of Science in OT) is an accelerated two-year hybrid program comprised of classroom and laboratory instruction and clinical education rotations. 

The Fact Sheet contains additional institutional information. For questions, contact Financial.Aid@jefferson.edu