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

The 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).

Jefferson ASOT Program is currently on Probationary Accreditation as of March 23, 2024, due to non-compliance with Standard A.6.4 (Certification Exam Pass Rate). The program has implemented a strong plan of correction related to preparing students for success on the NBCOT exam. As a result, the Program’s NBCOT exam pass rate for 2023 is 90%.

ACOTE, 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD  20814 
Phone: 301-652-6611  |  https://www.acoteonline.org/

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. Students graduating from an ACOTE® accredited occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant educational programs are eligible to take the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) certification exam and apply for licensure in all states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. NBCOT Program data results are available here.

For more information regarding state qualifications and licensure requirements, please refer to the AOTA State Licensure webpage. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.