Occupational Therapy Assistant
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CONTACT DETAILS
Constance Messier
Department Chair
Constance.Messier@BristolCC.edu
774.357.3720
800 Purchase St.
New Bedford, MA 02740
NB 220
Hear from Bristol's 2024 Valedictorian and Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) graduate Aimee Rodrigues.
The Bristol Occupational Therapy Assistant program prepares you for practice as entry-level OTA in a variety of healthcare settings.
The mission of the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program advances the mission of Bristol Community College by providing an accessible, innovative, and inclusive education that prepares students for the ever-changing world. The program prepares generalist, entry-level occupational therapy assistants to practice under the supervision of registered occupational therapists in a variety of healthcare, home, school, workplace, community and other settings. The OTA program prepares graduates to help people of all ages with physical, cognitive, psychosocial, sensory, emotional and other challenges regain, develop, or master everyday skills in order to participate in meaningful occupations and live independent, productive, and satisfying lives. The OTA program embraces the institutional values of student success of communication, respect, inclusion and innovation and conducts the program in a supportive community that values professionalism, evidence-based practice and lifelong learning, respects diversity and prepares well-rounded learners for employment.
Graduates take the NBCOT (National Board Commission of Certification in Occupational Therapy) for certification as an Occupational Therapy Assistant. Eligible candidates must be free of a felony charge which may impact the ability to sit for the NBCOT exam.
Read our graduation requirements here.
Program Outcomes 2021-2023
The total number of graduates from the Bristol Community College Occupational Therapy Assistant Program during the three-year period 2021- 2023 was 60, with an overall graduation rate of 78%. Program results (certification exam pass rates) from the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT®) can be found online at School Performance (nbcot.org).
| Graduation Year | Students Entering | Students Graduating | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 28 (Fall 2019) | 23 | 82% |
| 2022 | 14 (Fall 2020) | 11 | 79% |
| 2023 | 18 (Fall 2021) | 13 | 72 |
| Total 3-year | 60 | 47 | 78% |
Bristol Community College is proud to announce that the college’s OTA class of 2023 has achieved a 82 percent pass rate on the NBCOT exam.
National Board Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) can be found online here.
Cost of Attending and Completing Bristol's Occupational Therapy Assistant Program
Bristol Community College is now free for Massachusetts residents!
The MassEducate and MassReconnect programs allow all Massachusetts residents who have not yet earned a bachelor’s degree to attend Bristol Community College for free.
No tuition. No fees. Regardless of age or income. And both programs include an allowance for books and supplies for certain students. Click here for more details on these free college programs.
The total cost of attending and completing the OTA program (73 credits) is as follows:
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| 2023 - 2024 Tuition and Fees | In-state ($277 per credit): $20,221. Out of state ($483 per credit): $35,259. |
| Additional college fees | $10 application fee; $35 for non-residents. $50 registration deposit. $37 Student Support Fee per semester (included in total above). $9 Instructional Support Fee per credit (included in total above). |
| Bristol Health Insurance Policy | All students must be enrolled in a health insurance plan. Students can use their own plan or purchase the college plan, which is $5770 for Fall and Spring semesters combined. All costs are subject to change. |
Additional costs for the OTA program are approximately $1,440 per year. This includes but is not limited to:
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| AOTA Student Membership | $78 each year. $156 total for two years. |
| CPR Certification | ~$70, one time fee good for two years. |
| One fieldwork shirt and name tag | ~$30, one time fee. |
| Lab supplies | ~$40 over two years. |
| Program pin | ~$20, one time fee. |
| Attendance at one professional conference and three meetings | ~$70 over two years. |
| Fieldwork-related costs: travel, supplies, site-specific requirements such as fingerprinting or National Background Check | ~$400 over two years. This is an estimate. |
| Books and subscriptions | ~$2000. Many of the books purchased in the first semester are used throughout the program. |
Please refer to Tuition and Fees in the college catalog for more details and the most up-to-date information.
Accreditation
The Occupational Therapy Assistant Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupation Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 7501 Wisconsin Ave, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814. ACOTE's phone number is 301.652.6611. The website is acoteonline.org and their email is accred@aota.org.
Resources
- What is Occupational Therapy?
- What is an Occupational Therapy Assistant?
- Occupational Therapy Assistants and Aides employment statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Full Program Details
See program sequencing and full program details in our Course Catalog.