Ready to make a real impact on people's lives?
Discover how a career as an Occupational Therapy Assistant can empower you to help others thrive.
The Occupational Therapy Assistant program trains students to work with individuals limited by physical, emotional, developmental disabilities, illness, or the aging process. The goal is to help people of all ages live life to the fullest by enabling them to perform everyday activities at home, work, or school.
Working under the indirect supervision of a Registered Occupational Therapist, the Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant provides patients with training on ways to perform life’s daily activities. An occupational therapy assistant also offers patients and their families suggestions on how to adapt home, work and school environments to best meet the individuals' unique needs.
The Occupational Therapy Assistant Associate Degree Program at CT State Manchester is a two-year selective admissions program that combines coursework with two 8-week supervised clinical experiences focusing on the psycho-social, physical and developmental aspects of occupational therapy practice.
ACCREDITATION
The 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 301-652-6611 and its web address is www.acoteonline.org.
Manchester Community College’s previously accredited program has undergone a consolidation with those at the other community colleges in Connecticut and now operates under Connecticut State Community College. ACOTE has transferred accreditation of the Manchester Community College OTA program to Connecticut State Community College. The data presented herein corresponds to the program under its former name, Manchester Community College.
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Admissions
This is a selective admissions program. Additional admissions requirements beyond general acceptance to the college are needed.
Curriculum
See learning outcomes and required courses for the Occupational Therapy Assistant degree.
Contact
Donna Sweeney, M.Ed.,OTR/L
OTA Program Director
Email: Donna.Sweeney@ctstate.edu
Phone: 860-512-2717
Learn More
CERTIFICATION
Graduates of the program 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 graduate will be a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA). Additionally, all states require licensure to practice; However, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT certification exam. A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification exam or attain state licensure. Program results from the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) can be found at https://www.nbcot.org/Educators-Folder/SchoolPerformance.
PROGRAM OUTCOMES
| Year | Total Number of New Graduates Testing | Total Number of New Graduates Passing (% passing) | Total Number of New Graduates Failing (% failing) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 9 | 8 (89%) | 1 (11%) |
| 2022 | 19 | 19 (100%) | 0 (0%) |
| 2021 | 14 | 14 (100%) | 0 (0%) |
| 2020 | 16 | 16 (100%) | 0 (0%) |
| 2019 | 16 | 15 (94%) | 1 (6%) |
The total number of graduates from Manchester’s OTA program during the five-year period of 2018-2023 was 95, with an overall graduation rate of 93%.
| Graduation Year | Students Entering/ Graduating |
Graduation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 14/16 | 87.5% |
| 2022 | 23/20 | 87% |
| 2021 | 18/17 | 94% |
| 2020 | 19/18 | 95% |
| 2019 | 21/17 | 81% |
| Total: | 95/88 | 93% |
Program results from the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) can be found at https://www.nbcot.org/Educators-Folder/SchoolPerformance.
Find out about a career in Occupational Therapy.
COST TO ATTEND
| Fall 2024 10 Credits |
Spring 2025 16 Credits |
Fall 2025 12 Credits |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition CT Resident, OTA Classes | $1,920 | $2,304 | $2,304 |
| OTA Clinical Program Fee | $377 | $377 | $377 |
| Books | $516.12 | $447.69 | $0 |
| Student Activity Fee | $20 | $20 | $20 |
| College Services Fee | $263 | $305 | $305 |
| U-Pass Transportation Fee | $40 | $40 | $40 |
| Total Semester Cost (OTA) | $3,136.12 | $3,493.69 | $3,046 |
Total Program Cost: $9,675.81
| Fall 2024 7 Credits |
Spring 2025 16 Credits |
Fall 2025 3 Credits |
Spring 2026 12 Credits |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition CT Resident, OTA Classes | $1,344 | $2,304 | $576 | $2,304 |
| OTA Clinical Program Fee | $377 | $377 | $377 | $377 |
| Books | $391.46 | $447.69 | $62.66 | $0 |
| Student Activity Fee | $20 | $20 | $20 | $20 |
| College Services Fee | $200 | $305 | $116 | $305 |
| U-Pass Transportation Fee | $40 | $40 | $40 | $40 |
| Total Semester Cost (OTA) | $2,372.46 | $3,493.69 | $1,191.66 | $3,046 |
Total Program Cost: $10,103.81
| Fall 2024 7 Credits |
Spring 2025 8 Credits |
Fall 2025 3 Credits |
Spring 2026 8 Credits |
Fall 2026 12 Credits |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition CT Resident, OTA Classes | $1,344 | $1,536 | $576 | $1,536 | $2,304 |
| OTA Clinical Program Fee | $377 | $377 | $377 | $377 | $377 |
| Books | $391.46 | $254 | $62.66 | $193.69 | $0 |
| Student Activity Fee | $10 | $10 | $10 | $10 | $10 |
| College Services Fee | $200 | $221 | $116 | $221 | $305 |
| U-Pass Transportation Fee | $40 | $40 | $40 | $40 | $40 |
| Total Semester Cost (OTA) | $2,362.46 | $2,438 | $1,181.66 | $2,377.69 | $3,036 |
Total Program Cost: $11,395.81
Tuition and fees are subject to change and are set by the Board of Regents for Higher Education and the Connecticut State Legislature. Totals shown represent OTA classes only; exact program totals are dependent upon the general education courses transferred in by the student. All OTA courses must be taken at CT State Manchester.
Tuition and fees for any outstanding general education* courses and out-of-state tuition can be found on the college’s Tuition and Fees page.
*ANT*1018, BIO*1111, CCS*1001, COM*1301, ENG*1010, MATH*1003 or Math 1201 or Math 1200, PSY*2001 and electives in CSC and Elective ARHX – Arts and Humanities.
JOB OUTLOOK
Occupational therapy is a fast-growing specialty in the healthcare field. Demand is strong and is expected to remain strong for individuals with the training and education received from CT State’s accredited Occupational Therapy Assistant program.
Jobs will likely be found in all types of healthcare settings–hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, rehabilitation centers and home health agencies—as well as retirement communities, schools and wellness centers.