St. Catherine University Online OTA Student Support

We are committed to helping you find academic and personal success during your time on our online OTA program. As a St. Kate’s student, you have access to several support services designed to help you navigate the program, gain the knowledge and skills the OT field demands, and prepare for a career in occupational therapy assistance.

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NBCOT Prep Coaching Program

St. Kate’s support for our online OTA students doesn’t end at graduation. Becoming an OTA takes more than a degree; you have to be certified. While other OTA graduates have to prepare on their own to take the NBCOT exam, St. Catherine’s NBCOT Prep Coaching Program (NBCOT PCP) begins preparing you for the exam during your third semester.

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How the NBCOT PCP Works

  1. Preparation. Students take a 200-question practice exam during the Practice Models/Professional Issues II course (semester 3) and then follow a unique seven-week study plan based on their individual results.
  2. Coaching. Weekly group sessions with peers will help graduates stay on top of their study plan. Plus, graduates will meet one-on-one with their coach, a licensed OT practitioner, who will aid in their progress.
  3. Performance. We aim to have at least 85% of participants successfully pass the NBCOT exam within 3 months of graduation.

Career Development

Whether you need help with your cover letter or resume, are looking for jobs or internships, want to improve your job or interviewing skills, or have questions about salary negotiation, our Career Development team will connect you with the resources you need. 

Additional Student Resources

Whether you need to improve your writing skills or have a disability that requires special accommodations, our student support services can make all the difference in your learning experience. In fact, these services continue the personalized support you will have become accustomed to during the admissions process.

  • Disability resources: take advantage of an accessible, inclusive learning environment. We offer assistance to students who may need:
    • Alternative test accommodations
    • Peer note-taking support
    • Sign language interpreters
    • Adaptive technology
    • Clinical accommodation planning

Technical standards and essential requirements describe the functions necessary for students to complete their education and training in the OTA Program and to assume the role of an occupational therapy professional. The standards and requirements are stated to ensure that all students, regardless of disability status, are aware of the expectations of the program. Academic requirements are not waived due to a student’s disability. Students must be able to meet the academic requirements and behavior expectations with the approved accommodations.

For more information, contact:
The Student Accessibility and Accommodations office staff coordinates academic accommodations for students with disabilities and can be reached at (612) 690-6563 or via [email protected].

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  • Multilingual services: receive additional testing time if your native language is not English
  • Studying assistance: let us help you improve your time management and test-taking skills
  • Tutoring sessions: interact with peers who can help you better understand course material
  • Writing assistance: connect with a writing assistant to improve the quality of your prose

Many of the student resources we provide are available online using interactive video software. When accommodating a special need that impacts the online learning process, it helps when we know of any assistive technology or auxiliary services that has proven effective for a student in the past.

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Want More Information?

Contact us to learn more about the support services available to students in the online OTA program.