OT Admissions Overview: OTA and OT Bridge Programs
Whether you are thinking about starting a career in occupational therapy or are already working in the field as an occupational therapy assistant (OTA), St. Kate’s offers programs to help you meet your goals. Both of the following programs are designed to be completed in less than two years:
- OTA Program, confers an Associate of Applied Sciences in OTA
- Occupational Therapy Bridge Program, confers a Master of Arts in Occupational Therapy (MAOT). This program has two pathways:
- Direct Entry Pathway: for OTAs who hold a qualifying bachelor’s degree
- Health Science – Pre OT – Bridge Track: for OTAs who need to complete a bachelor’s degree
Explore the OT admissions process for each program below.
Online OTA Admissions Process
During the online OTA admissions process, a counselor will assist you in developing an enrollment plan that works toward your preferred start date out of the three offered per year.
While our OTA program offers start dates in January, May, and August, our university reviews and responds to applications on a rolling basis. This means:
- You benefit from a longer-than-usual application period.
- You don’t have to wait long for an acceptance decision
- If you apply early, you may face less competition (spots can fill up quickly).
Remember, the longer you delay your application, the harder it may be to secure a spot for your preferred start date.
Customizable Curriculum
Your counselor will help you understand our two OTA curriculum options, which affect how long it takes to complete the program.
Option One
Complete the program in as few as 16 months of study if all prerequisites have been completed and a student has a previous degree. This option requires you to complete your LIFE Core and OTA courses simultaneously on our online e-learning platform as part of our LIFE general education core curriculum. Only after completing your LIFE Core courses and prerequisites can you move on to the curriculum’s OTA Professional Sequence phase and the program’s main portion.
Option Two
Complete some or all your LIFE Core courses before beginning the online OTA coursework. This more extended option is ideal for students who:
- Are still needing prerequisites
- Do not currently meet the minimum GPA required to start OTA courses
- Want to ease into online learning
- Need additional schedule flexibility
With this option, the program will take longer than 16 months, but you will have a lighter course load each semester.
OT Bridge Admissions Paths
St. Kate’s OT Bridge Program provides two paths toward earning your MAOT, depending on your level of education and credentials. The Direct Entry Pathway offers two start dates in spring and fall, while the Pre OT-Bridge Track has three start dates in spring, summer and fall.
To accommodate the differences in these program tracks, each has its own path to admission.
Direct Entry Pathway: Designed for OTAs who already hold a qualifying bachelor’s degree:
- BA/BS-to-MAOT pathway
- Students may enroll directly into the OT Bridge Program
- Earn the MAOT in as few as 20 months
Health Science - Pre OT-Bridge Track: Designed for OTAs who need to first complete a bachelor’s degree:
- Students earn an Applied Health Science Bachelor's degree, followed by the MAOT
- Structured, seamless progression from undergraduate to graduate study
- Complete both degrees in as few as seven semesters
- 44 credits count toward both your Applied Health Science bachelor’s degree and the MAOT
Dedicated Counselors
Our dedicated team of admission counselors works exclusively with OTA and OT Bridge applicants. Committed to your success, these champions of higher learning go above and beyond to help you understand the full scope and benefits of the hybrid online programs and the time commitment involved.
Once you decide to pursue your Associate of Applied Sciences in OTA or Master of Arts in Occupational Therapy through St. Catherine University, we assign you a counselor who will help you:
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I start the admissions process?
The first step in the OT admissions process is to contact our admissions team by completing the contact form. You will be assigned a dedicated counselor who will guide and support you. Together, you will develop an education timeline with a target start date, application due dates, and other important deadlines to keep you moving toward your goal.
What happens once I meet the eligibility requirements?
Once you and your counselor determine you meet the eligibility requirements, you can proceed with completing an application for our OT Bridge or OTA programs. After submitting your application, you will send us your official transcripts for review and start working toward completing prerequisites, if necessary.
Where will I complete my skills labs?
While the program’s coursework component can be completed fully online, you will complete 12 skills labs at a designated location within your program area. St. Kate’s offers OTA program labs in California, Minnesota, Texas, and Virginia.
The OT Bridge Program skills labs are only offered in Texas and are held a few times throughout the program.
You are not required to reside in the state where your skills labs will take place; however, you must be willing to travel to your assigned lab location.
For More Information
Contact us to learn more about the OT admissions process for our OT Bridge and online OTA programs.