3 Benefits of Occupational Therapy Assistant Online Programs

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When it comes to furthering your education to become an occupational therapy assistant, there are several roads you can take. But one option offers flexible online learning, immersive fieldwork experiences and a quality 16-month curriculum you can count on. Occupational therapy assistant online programs like the one at St. Catherine University offer a path toward a rewarding career in the healthcare field and lend support each step of the way.

Let’s learn about three major benefits of OTA online programs.

1. Online Learning Has Advantages

When you choose the St. Kate’s Online OTA program, you gain access to online learning modules that guide you through your education. Through our intuitive online learning platform, you’ll engage with your instructors and peers through discussion boards and live chats. You’ll also have the control to revisit material you want to review and set the pace for your coursework within the confines of deadlines set by your instructors.

Online learning also enables you to learn from wherever is most convenient for you. No need to worry about parking or getting to class in time to find a good seat — you’ll have the best seat wherever you choose to learn.

Additionally, learning online offers interactive elements that appeal to every type of learner.

Whether it be imagery, audio, video or any other online element, our designers ensure the learning modules are equipped with engaging information each step of the way. The modules also use standard tools like PowerPoint, multiple choice quizzes and more.

Faculty at St. Catherine University also benefit from the advancements in online education because they can easily teach pupils outside of the classroom and across state boundaries.

Students do not need to live in the state where their skills labs are located because the Online OTA program is 80 percent online and 20 percent onsite. They just need to be able to travel to complete labs with an instructor and their classmates in person.

Even though St. Catherine University's instructors are not educating students in a typical classroom setting, they still connect with them in a positive way and make meaningful connections.

two OTA students studying together with books and laptops

2. Our OTA Program Has Accreditations You Can Count On

St. Catherine University is dedicated to academic excellence and student success. As such, we work hard to maintain respected accreditations at the university and program levels. We uphold standards of the highest quality. The accreditations we hold ensure you can breathe easy knowing you are getting an education that is not only of the highest caliber but is also respected and recognized within the field.

As a student in the St. Kate’s OTA program, you will graduate having the most up-to-date knowledge. You’ll also be prepared with the skills you need to work as an OTA, and to take the NBCOT® Exam for becoming a certified occupational therapy assistant (COTA).

Our Accreditations

St. Catherine University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), an independent and well-known organization that was founded in 1895 as one of six regional institutional accreditors in the country. This regional accreditation means St. Kate’s has been closely evaluated and certified for meeting very specific standards of higher learning.

The Online Occupational Therapy Assistant Program itself is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association. We also hold state accreditations that vary by location.

You’ll Get an Excellent Education

St. Kate’s dedication to preparing next generation of OTAs with a high-quality education goes back nearly 60 years. In 1964 we launched the very first OTA program in the country. Fifty years later, we expanded to Virginia and became the first institution to provide an online OTA program that combines online and hands-on learning. California, Minnesota and Texas are now among the states that offer the program — although, as we mentioned, you can enroll from anywhere so long as you are willing to travel to one of those states to complete your in-person labs.

OTA school students in classroom studying together

You will finish a total of 71 credit hours as an online Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) associate degree student at St. Kate's. Phase 1 of the curriculum will consist of 1–3 semesters of Liberal Arts and Sciences courses, followed by a 4-semester OTA professional course program (Phase 2). Hands-on education fills out your curriculum through labs and fieldwork. All in, you'll get a well-rounded education that will prepare you to acquire an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in OTA degree and take the NBCOT® Exam, which is required to become a certified occupational therapy assistant (COTA).

We have three start dates in Winter, Summer, and Fall.

Start Your Career as an OTA Today

Now that you know the benefits of occupational therapy assistant online programs, it’s time to make a move for your future in the healthcare industry.

From job demand to course flexibility to hands-on education, everything you need to become a certified OTA is available through St. Catherine University.

Now is the best time for you to change careers or transfer your existing college credits and earn your associate degree through the 16-month Online OTA program. Contact us today and find out how you can get started.

outside shot of st. kate campus

The Ultimate Guide to Occupational Therapy and OTA

Get answers to your questions about the field, about the OTA career path, and about St. Catherine University’s Online OTA program.

book with cover title: Occupational Therapy Assistant Explained