Have you witnessed the magic of occupational therapy?

Do you want to be part of it?

Consider training to be an Occupational Therapy Assistant (or “OTA”) at Fox College!

Learning To Live Life

OTAs implement treatment plans developed by Occupational Therapists. They help patients relearn skills for their daily lives. But they also help patients regain confidence they may have lost. It can be powerful for everyone. 

Do you realize how many people benefit from occupational therapy?

Children with developmental delays or disabilities need help to succeed in school and life

Adults with injuries, illnesses, or disabilities need rehabilitation help

Patients with chronic conditions such as MS, Parkinson’s, and arthritis need help getting through their days

Older adults with chronic conditions want help to maintain independence

People struggling with mental health challenges need help developing skills and strategies that will work for them

What Does it Take to Be an OTA?

Occupational therapy requires creativity, as you need to come up with and select good ideas and technologies.

Occupational therapy requires advocacy, as you need to help patients access services and accommodations.

Occupational therapy requires empathy and patience and a positive attitude, as the road ahead can seem long.

Do you have a positive attitude? Do you want to share it with others? And do it as a career?

Can you see yourself as an OTA?

Accreditation

The Occupational Therapy Assisting 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 and its Web address is www.acoteonline.org. Students 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). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA). In addition, all states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the result of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate's ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure. 

Occupational Therapy Assistant Program Graduation Rates As Of 1/23/2026

Performance on the NBCOT credentialing exam can be found at www.nbcot.org/Educators-Folder/SchoolPerformance

Note: Students must complete Level II fieldwork within 18 months following completion of the didactic portion of the program.

Our Program

To be an OTA, you need formal training from a school like Fox College.

Why consider Fox’s ACOTE-accredited program?

1. We are part of a small college, in a close-knit community.
2. Our Tinley Park location is close to most of Chicagoland, and our parking is free.
3. Our faculty are mostly full-time, so they are there to help you on your journey.
4. Our program is only 18 months long, including 4 months of fieldwork.
5. There are no prerequisites.
6. You will be taking hands-on OTA classes from Day 1.
7. Our clinical lab simulates real-world settings.
8. Your fieldwork will give you practice and experience in a real-world setting.
9. Our ACOTE accreditation qualifies you to take the NBCOT exam.
10. We provide real career services to help you find the job you want.

Specific course descriptions and other information may be found in our academic catalog.

To see the essential functions you will need to perform in the program, please click to view the Essential Functions In The Occupational Therapy Assistant Program.

Careers

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects demand for occupational therapy assistants and aides to grow 18 percent from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations.²

The Fox College commitment continues after graduation, when our career services assistance will help you find the right job!

If you later want to specialize in your career, you may pursue certification, certificates, and other credentials.  These are earned through the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) or other organizations.  

 OTAs can and do work wherever they are needed:

• Hospitals 
• Rehabilitation centers
• Schools
• Nursing homes
• Mental health facilities
• Pediatric clinics 
• Community health centers 
• Private practice 
• Workplaces 
• In your home 
• Education 
• Correctional facilities 
• Assisted living facilities 
• Vocational rehabilitation programs 
• Hand therapy clinics 
• Assistive tech centers 
• Hospice and palliative care 
• And more!

Finish First at Fox College!

 Call, visit, or request information today!