What’s the difference between COTA and OTA? An OTA can refer to any person with an OTA degree, and COTAs hold that qualification and certification from passing the NBCOT exam. Some OT settings require their employees maintain COTA certification and being certified boosts your resume.
OTAs register with the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy and hold state licensures. When they complete and pass the NBCOT examination, they automatically receive licensure and become entry-level COTAS (certified occupational therapy assistants.)
At St. Catherine University, we prepare our students to achieve state licensure and tackle the NBCOT examination. We offer students the knowledge, skills, and job readiness for a well-rounded OTA education using a hybrid learning model that combines online coursework with in-person practical application. Choosing from any of our three start dates – in winter, summer, or fall – at one of our four locations in California, Minnesota, Texas, and Virginia, you can begin working toward your OTA certification and acing the NBCOT exam.
What Is a COTA?
A COTA is certified to practice occupational therapy. They work with occupational therapists to create and implement treatment plans and guide patients toward established goals. A COTA’s shift can look different day-to-day. Still, they constantly create adaptive solutions, interact with people from all walks of life, and assist people in living active, independent, and meaningful lives across various settings.
Typical COTA duties include:
- Evaluating clients to see how occupational therapy services may benefit them.
- Gathering data on client medical history.
- Collaborating with occupational therapists for treatment.
- Recording patient progress.
- Maintaining a safe and clean treatment area.
- Offering clients and their families education and support.
How to Become a COTA
St. Catherine’s online Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) associate degree program prepares you to be a confident COTA through online learning, in-person labs and fieldwork experiences.
Completing a program like the one at St. Kate’s is the first step toward becoming a COTA. During the program, you will complete 71 credit hours in as few as 16 months. Our program uses a hybrid model that offers 80 percent online and 20 percent in-person learning.
You’ll take liberal arts and sciences courses and immerse yourself in the OTA professional course sequence. You’ll receive a comprehensive education that allows you to earn a degree and sit for the NBCOT® Exam, which you must pass to become a certified occupational therapy assistant.
What is NBCOT Certification?
The National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc. (NBCOT) certifies occupational therapy professionals, giving them the title of COTA. The organization creates, implements, and actively reviews its certification process to hold only the highest standards.
Completing the St. Kate’s Online OTA program prepares you to sit for this exam, which aims to ensure that you are ready for anything that comes your way as a professional COTA.
The NBCOT exam encompasses questions to assess your capabilities in these key areas:
- Collaborating and gathering information
- Selecting and implementing interventions
- Upholding professional standards and responsibilities
This might sound like a lot to grasp, but rest assured, St. Kate’s will be with you each step of the way. If you choose to utilize our test preparation opportunities, you’ll take a 200-question practice exam and then work through a seven-week study plan created specifically for you based on your test results. You will also have one-on-one meetings with a licensed OT practitioner coach to review test prep and participate in weekly virtual group study sessions.
At St. Kate’s, the path to becoming a COTA is clear — you just have to take the first steps.
Are you concerned about earning your OTA certification? Learn 5 tips to pass the NBCOT exam.
COTA vs. OTA: Career Outlook
If you are considering an occupational therapy assistant career, there are many more career options for certified OTAs.
Career Options for OTAs
Working as a COTA allows you to work in many different environments. Some settings you may not have considered include:
- School Systems: Work with children who struggle with handwriting or need help with fine motor skills, or you may work with children with autism and other disabilities.
- Geriatric Care: COTAs work with geriatric patients to help them maintain independence. You may teach them how to cook meals, a new daily grooming routine, or clean their homes using adaptive equipment. You may also work with patients to help them with the use of a wheelchair or walker and to maintain mobility to complete functional tasks.
- Mental Health Facilities: Here, you may work with a patient to help teach them essential job skills or work on a routine that allows for emotional control and independence.
Are you still deciding what to do with an OTA degree? Explore the top 10 occupational therapy specialties available to you.
COTA Certification May Be Required
In all 50 states, as well as Washington, DC, Puerto Rico, and Guam, occupational therapy is a regulated healthcare profession, according to the American Occupational Therapy Association. These areas have approved legislation requiring occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants to acquire a license to practice therapy.
To receive a license, you must complete specific standards designed to demonstrate that you have attained a particular level of knowledge, experience, and competency to deliver high-quality services safely.
State licensing rules specify the conditions to be satisfied before an OTA can practice. NBCOT is an additional step to licensing that qualifies OTAs even further to give life-changing care.
Become a COTA
If your long-term aim is to become a Registered Occupational Therapist, certification will qualify you to pursue a Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT).
While some practitioners choose to drop their certification later in their careers, having the COTA title signifies a high level of knowledge and competency that can boost them beyond their peers in the field.
With so many benefits to earning a COTA certification, occupational therapy assistants have many great opportunities ahead of them.
Want to learn more? Contact an advisor about earning your OTA degree from St. Catherine University.
