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Program Overview
Occupational therapy assistants (OTA) work with individuals across the lifespan, whose ability to participate in everyday activities is complicated by developmental disability, physical and/or emotional illness, injury or aging.
The Occupational Therapy Assistant program at Madison College will train you to work with occupational therapists in helping individuals improve functionality, quality of life and independence.
Please note that after acceptance to the Occupational Therapy Assistant program, you will be required to complete a background check and provide documentation of current required immunizations and current Healthcare Provider CPR certification. Further information about these requirements will be shared at program orientation.
Madison College students report 100 percent satisfaction with our two-year Occupational Therapy Assistant degree program.
- "The OTA classes are very relevant and instructors are very experienced."
- "We get practical information and see the full scope of OT."
- "This program is flexible, practical, and gets you where you want to go."
- "We see OT in practice in a wide variety of settings from pediatric to geriatric."
- "The Health Education Center at the Truax campus is beautiful and state-of- the-art."
Program Details
Wisconsin law requires background checks for persons who provide care for others or have access to people who receive care. This law applies to students in many School of Health Sciences programs. Please review the Caregiver Background Check information on the School of Health Sciences Forms and Policies. A felony conviction may impact a graduate's eligibility for certification and credentialing.
Students in the Occupational Therapy Assistant program can attend full or part time.
Courses are scheduled on weekdays.
Hybrid courses include weekly in-person instruction and asynchronous online work.
In-Person Occupational Therapy Assistant instruction is offered at the Madison College Truax campus.
Occupational Therapy Assistant Program Handbook.
Your Advantages at Madison College
- Study in our state-of-the-art Health Education Center, including a simulated patient home where students practice teaching everyday skills.
- Learn with top faculty for personalized attention and real-world learning.
- Benefit from a series of on-site clinical practicums at local health facilities.
- Spend less than $13,000 for total tuition and program costs for your Madison College degree.
OTA Careers
Occupational therapy assistants are employed in community settings providing mental health, residential care and home health, and work-related services as well as in nursing homes, hospitals, and schools.
Earning your associate degree in the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program at Madison Area Technical College prepares you for a range ofprofessional positions in the field of occupational therapy, including:
- Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA)
- Adult day care coordinator
- Activities coordinator
- Community support worker
- Life skills trainer
- Durable medical equipment coordinator
- Job coach
- Family support worker
- Supported employment specialist
With additional education and/or work experience, Occupational Therapy Assistant Program graduates may find employment as:
- Assisted living program coordinator/ manager
- Case manager
- Community-based residential facility manager
- Assistive technology provider
Graduation Rates
This table outlines the number of students who started the program and how many of them ultimately graduated.
Graduation Year # of Students Started vs Graduated Graduation Rate 2020 24/16 67% 2021 23/19 83% 2022 27/22 81% Total 74/57 77% The total number of graduates from Madison College’s Occupational Therapy Assistant Program during the 3-year period 2020-2022 was 57 with an overall graduation rate of 77%.
The National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) provides program data results.
The program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education. -
Curriculum and Experience
Prospective program students, the information below reflects the basic requirements for students admitted for the 2023-2024 academic year. To learn more about Madison College, visit us.
Current and newly admitted program students, go directly to your Degree Progress Report to view:
- Progress toward your specific requirements
- Alternative (in lieu of) courses to meet specific requirements
If you have questions after reviewing your degree progress report (advisement report), please see Advising Services.
Pre-Occupational Therapy Assistant CoursesThe following course must be completed prior to acceptance into Occupational Therapy courses:First SemesterSecond SemesterSummer SemesterThird SemesterElective3 CreditsFourth Semester -
Admission
To Apply
Students need to complete the petition process to get into core-program classes for this program. Before submitting an application, it’s important to review the Petition Process webpage which also includes estimated wait times for each program.
- View the admission requirements for application deadlines, materials, and requirements
- There is no current estimated wait time between acceptance into pre-program and the start of core classes. The estimated time to enter the core-program is subject to change based on the variable number of students ready to petition each semester.
- Learn more about the Madison College experience and get help with the admissions process
After Acceptance
Once you have been accepted in a pre-program status, your next step is to complete the Petition Requirements. See the Petition information in the next section.
Additional Notes
Students are required to meet the current admission and petition requirements. Requirements are subject to change based on updates to accreditation requirements or Madison College program assessment data.
Questions?
Contact Enrollment Services at EnrollmentServices@madisoncollege.edu or 608.246.6210.
Get Started!
Apply to Madison College and take the first step towards your Occupational Therapy Assistant career.
- View the admission requirements for application deadlines, materials, and requirements
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Petition
After Acceptance
After you have been admitted into a pre-program status, complete all of the Petition Requirements for your program. Login to your student account and run a Degree Progress Report to review the Petition Requirements and see which requirements you have completed and which need to be satisfied.
Requirements vary by program, and may include some or all of the following:
- Petition Workshop: This is done online and can be found in Blackboard after you have been admitted in a pre-program status
- Prerequisites (examples: Algebra, Geometry, Chemistry, Biology, English and Reading): This varies by program
- Course Requirements (examples: Anatomy and Physiology, Intro to Psychology, etc.): This varies by program
- Testing Requirement (examples: ACT, HESI, TEAS): This varies by program
You can view the Petition Requirements for this program using the links below.
After completing the petition requirements, students are then selected for entry into core-program courses through the Petition Process.
Questions?
Contact Enrollment Services at EnrollmentServices@madisoncollege.edu or 608.246.6210.
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Transfer Opportunities
UW System Schools
The terms of the Leadership & Org Studies agreement are limited to students who complete an associates of applied science degree and are admitted to the Organizational Studies emphasis of the Leadership and Organizational Studies at UW O. Students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher. The terms of the Human Services Leadership agreement are limited to students who have complete an associates of applied science degree and have been admitted to the Human Services Leadership degree at UW O. Students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher.Wisconsin Private Schools
Student who earn an Associate Degree from Madison College can transfer a minimum of 60 credits and a maximum of 72 credits to Lakeland College to be applied to the requirements of the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Sciences degree.Any Madison College student who has successfully completed an associate degree in applied science after 2015, and meets admission requirements for the Rader School of Business (RSOB) at the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) can earn a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Technical Sales at MSOE by successfully completing the AAS to BBA Technical Sales Transfer Track in the Business Administration program. --- In particular, any Madison College student who successfully completes all technical courses and general education courses in their AAS program with a grade of C or better (not C-) in each course; successfully completes all other specified courses, as defined in this transfer agreement, with a grade of C or better (not C-) in each course; and meets the MSOE admission requirements for transfer students into the BBA Program at MSOE, minimum 2.75/4.0 cumulative GPA from the last regionally accredited school will be admitted into the AAS to BBA Technical Sales Transfer Track in the Bachelor of Business Administration program at MSOE.Out-of-State Schools
Students who complete any associate degree at Madison Area Technical College will have no additional general education core curriculum requirements to meet but must satisfy the Kirkpatrick Signature Series requirement. This applies to students who are pursuing a bachelors of arts, bachelors of science or bachelors of fine arts at Bellevue University.Students graduating with an associate degree from MATC with a 2.0 GPA or higher are guaranteed admissions into CSU-Global and can transfer up to 64 semester credits from MATC to be applied toward earning a Bachelor’s Degree at CSU-Global. -
Career Outcomes
After completing the Occupational Therapy Assistant program at Madison Area Technical College, you will be able to:
- Demonstrate professional behaviors, ethical standards, values and attitudes of the occupational therapy profession.
- Practice within the distinct role and responsibility of the occupational therapy assistant.
- Advocate for the profession, services and consumers.
- Value lifelong learning and the need to keep current with best practices.
- Apply occupational therapy principles and intervention tools to achieve expected outcomes
- Serve a diverse population in a variety of systems that are consistent with entry-level practice.
- Serve individuals across the life span whose ability to participate in everyday occupations is complicated by developmental disability, physical and/or emotional illness, injury or aging. Occupations are the activities of daily life that have value to individuals and help them be contributing members of their communities.
- Use purposeful activities to improve the physical, cognitive, emotional and social skills needed to function.
- Offer alternative approaches and adaptations to compensate when needed.
- Promote the balance of self-care, work and leisure activities that results in the quality of life and level of independence valued by the individual.
- Collaborate with occupational therapists.
- Work in community settings providing mental health, residential care and home health and work-related services as well as in nursing homes, hospitals and schools.
Accreditation/Credentialing
The Madison Area Technical College associate-degree-level occupational therapy assistant program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is 301.652.6611 and its website is www.acoteonline.org. Graduates of the program will be 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 individual will be a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA). In addition, all states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.
***Students must complete 16 weeks of Level II fieldwork within 18 months following the completion of the didactic portion of the program.
The total number of graduates from the Madison Area Technical College Occupational Therapy Assistant program from 2020-2022 was 57, with an overall graduation rate of 77%.
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Graduate Summary
Graduate Report Summary Overview
2020 2021 2022 Number of Program Graduates 15 17 26 Number of Surveys Sent 11 17 25 Number of Surveys Returned 8 15 23 Percent of Surveys Returned Available for Employment 8 15 22 Percent Available for Employment 100.00% 100.00% 95.70% Not in Labor Market Percent Not in Labor Market 0.00% 0.00% 4.30% Available for Employment
2020 2021 2022 Graduates Employed 6 12 17 Percent of Graduates Employed 75.00% 80.00% 77.30% Employed in Related Occupation 5 10 13 Percent Employed in Related Occupation 83.30% 83.30% 76.50% Employed in Unrelated Occupation 1 2 4 Percent Employed in Unrelated Occupation 16.70% 16.70% 23.50% Employed - No Response 0 0 0 Percent Employed - No Response 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% Seeking Employment 2 3 5 Percent Seeking Employment 25.00% 20.00% 22.70% Reaction To Training at Madison College
2020 2021 2022 Student satisfaction Mean (Out of 4) 3 3.3 3.6 Number of Satisfaction Responses 8 15 23 Very Satisfied (4) 4 5 15 Percent Very Satisfied 50.00% 33.30% 65.20% Satisfied (3) 2 9 7 Percent Satisfied 25.00% 60.00% 30.40% Unsatisfied (2) 0 1 1 Percent Unsatisfied 0.00% 6.70% 4.30% Very Unsatisfed (1) 2 0 0 Percent Very Unsatisfied 25.00% 0.00% 0.00% Primary Reason for Attending Madison College
2020 2021 2022 Number of Primary Reason Responses 8 15 23 Preparation for Getting a Job 4 8 14 Percent Preparation for Getting a Job 50.00% 53.30% 60.90% Career Change 3 6 8 Percent Career Change 37.50% 40.00% 34.80% Improvement of Existing Skills 0 0 0 Percent Improvement of Existing Skills 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% Preparation for Further Education 1 1 1 Percent Preparation for Further Education 12.50% 6.70% 4.30% Personal Interest 0 0 0 Percent Personal Interest 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% Other 0 0 0 Percent Other 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% When Employment was Obtained
2020 2021 2022 Number of When Employment Obtained Responses 6 12 17 Before Enrollment 1 0 3 Percent Before Enrollment 16.70% 0.00% 17.60% While Attending the College 0 1 0 Percent While Attending the College 0.00% 8.30% 0.00% After Training at the College 5 11 14 Percent After Training at the College 83.30% 91.70% 82.40% Location of Employment (related and unrelated)
2020 2021 2022 Number of Employment Location Responses 6 9 14 In College District 4 7 12 Percent In College District 66.70% 77.80% 85.70% In Wisconsin, Not in District 0 0 0 Percent of In Wisconsin 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% Outside of Wisconsin 2 2 2 Percent Outside Wisconsin 33.30% 22.20% 14.30% Employer Location Unknown 0 0 0 Percent Location Unknown 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% Salary Trend 2020 2021 2022 Full Time Employment (Related Job) Full Time Salary Count 4 7 9 Average Monthly Wage $3,629 $3,482 $4,206 Average Hourly Wage $21.10 $20.24 $24.45 Average Work Hours per Week 38.8 41 40.6 Part Time Employment (Related Job) Part Time Salary Count 0 3 2 Average Hourly Wage $21.67 $27.00 Average Work Hours per Week 30 26.3 27.7 -
Graduate Employers
Graduate Employers for academic year: 2022 Employer(s) Job Title City* State** Positions Central Wisconsin Center Treatment Specialist 2 CI Pediatric Therapy Centers Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant Verona Ellicot Center Rehabilitation Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant Buffalo NY Fort Health & Rehabilitation Occupational Therapy Assistant Fort Atkinson Lancaster Community School District Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant Lancaster Mendota Mental Health Institute Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant National Staffing/Heritage Square Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant Greendale Oakwood Village Life Enrichment Specialist Powerback rehab Occupational Therapy Assistant UW Health Care Direct Assistive Tech Professional (ATP) Middleton UW Health Care Direct Complex Rehab Equipment Specialist Middleton * - Only cities outside of Madison will display.
** - Only states outside of Wisconsin will display.
*** - If you have a position to post, please contact Career and Employment Services at jobpostings@madisoncollege.edu