Occupational Therapy Assistant

Three students practicing occupational therapy techniques with a mannequin
At a Glance

Consider a career in a growing and rewarding allied health profession. Occupational therapy assistants provide skilled therapeutic interventions in a variety of health care settings including hospitals, rehabilitation centers, schools, outpatient and skilled nursing facilities. Leadership, advocacy, community and an occupation-based approach toward health and well-being are core to the program’s values.

The Associate in Applied Science, Occupational Therapy Assistant degree program, prepares students with the skills, knowledge and reasoning required of entry-level certified occupational therapy assistants. The two-year program combines lectures, hands-on labs and fieldwork experiences to enhance the educational experience.

Degrees & Certs

LLCC offers the following degree program to successfully prepare students for a career as an occupational therapy assistant. Students must complete six semesters of combined general education, in-person OTA academic coursework and fieldwork. Select the degree to read about required courses.

Occupational Therapy Assistant • Associate in Applied Science

The in-person program begins with the spring semester and graduation is in December of the following year.

Job Outlook

The mean wage for Illinois occupational therapy assistants is $67,780, according to May 2022 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Cost

Occupational Therapy Assistant Program Expenses
Tuition Refund Information

Please note: All costs are subject to change with each semester. Please refer to the LLCC Bookstore and registration for changes each semester.

Paying for college

Learn more about cost of attendance.
There are ways to get help paying for college. Learn more about paying for college.

Support available

PATH (with electrocardiogram lines). Pipeline for the Advancement of the Healthcare Workforce

The Pipeline for the Advancement of the Healthcare Workforce (PATH) program provides financial and other supports for occupations within the health care field. Learn more about PATH, including support services, programs and eligibility.

Start/Info Session

Application deadline is Nov. 1.

Attend an information session

If you are interested in this career, register for an information session and fulfill this requirement for admission. Session dates and times vary. You can attend an in-person session in Logan Hall, Room 1115, on the main campus in Springfield or online via Teams (a link will be emailed to you in the registration confirmation).

Join us for one of these info sessions:

  • Jan. 23, 2025, 5 p.m., online
  • Feb. 20, 2025, 5 p.m., online
  • March 20, 2025, 5 p.m., online
  • April 17, 2025, 5 p.m., online
     

Next steps

To help ensure that students are successful, our program has specific admission requirements. All admission requirements must be met to enter the applicant pool, in addition to the LLCC general enrollment steps. To prepare for applying to the program, please follow the steps on the How to Apply page.

If you have questions regarding program admission requirements or how to apply, please call LLCC Student Success at 217-786-2224 and request to speak with a health professions student success advisor.

The mission of the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program at Lincoln Land Community College aims to graduate competent entry-level professionals dedicated to the advocacy and provision of quality occupational therapy services.

The LLCC Occupational Therapy Assistant 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's telephone number c/o AOTA is 301-652-AOTA.

Graduates of the program are eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapy assistant administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). Following successful completion of this exam, the individual will be a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA).  Most states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT certification examination.

A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT Certification Examination and/or attain state licensure. LLCC and its occupational therapy assistant program recognize that accreditation status represents a promise of quality to the students, the college, the community and the profession of occupational therapy.

 
Graduation Year Cohort Number of Students Graduating/

Number of Students Entering		 Graduation Rate (%)
2021 12/15 80%
2022 11/12 92%
2023 6/7 85%
Total 29/34 85%

For official program pass rates on the certification exam please see NBCOT School Performance Data.