Admissions Requirements for Occupational Therapy Assistant

Students intending to enter the Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) Program will be admitted to South University as candidates for the OTA program. Only after completing prerequisite coursework and achieving the requirements outlined below will students be admitted into advanced standing in the OTA Program.

Students may transfer prerequisite courses into the program before entering advanced standing if approved by the OTA Program Director and the Registrar. Transfer credit will not be accepted for courses in the South University OTA Professional Phase Curriculum.

Note: This does not apply to South University OTA students (in good standing) who are transferring between campuses.

Admissions Requirements for the OTA Professional Phase

Requirements for admission into the OTA Program include the following:

1. Completion of the OTA Application, available from OTA faculty (or, at some campuses, the Receptionist)
2. Copies of official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended, including South University.
3. Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.85 on all prerequisite courses, which does not guarantee admission into the OTA Program.
4. Completion of prerequisite courses, passing each course with a minimum grade of C.
5. Understanding that a felony conviction may affect ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.
6. Completion of a minimum of 24 hours of observation or volunteering in at least two occupational therapy practice areas, as documented on the approved form
7. Completion of the Self-Assessment Inventory
8. Signed Acknowledgement of Risk and Release of Liability form
9. Signed Student Medical Insurance Verification Form and provided a copy of the front and back of student's medical insurance card
10. Students must have initiated and/or completed a background check submitted through Castle Branch; the fee to the company is the responsibility of the student
11. Students must have initiated and/or completed a drug test, submitted through Castle Branch; the fee to the company is the responsibility of the student
12. Students must have initiated and/or completed all required immunizations, submitting all original lab results and exams through Castle Branch; all fees are the responsibility of the student
13. Provided documented proof of a physical exam; all fees are the responsibility of the student
14. Completion of a Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, Basic I Life Support (BLS) for Health Care Providers or have arranged for certification before the application deadline
15. Completion of all requirements for financial aid (as applicable)
16. Notify the OTA Program if there are changes to the student's name, address, phone, or email.
17. Notify the OTA Program, when selected, of the student's decision whether or not to attend.

Ranking of Applicants for the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program

Ranking applicants for admission into the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program will be done during the second quarter of coursework in general education requirements based on coursework taken in the first quarter.

Ranking will be done and comprises the following five elements, listed in descending order of importance:

• Self-Assessment Inventory (SAI)
• Cumulative GPA for prerequisites (i.e., UVC1000 Strategies for Success, AHS1001 Medical Terminology, PSY1001 General Psychology, ENG1100 Composition I, BIO1012 Anatomy and Physiology I Lecture and BIO102 Anatomy and Physiology I Lab, ENG1200 Composition II, MAT1001 College Algebra I or MAT1005 College Algebra II)
• ENG1100 English Composition I
• PSY1001 General Psychology
• AHS1001 Medical Terminology

Equal weight will be assigned to the cumulative GPA for prerequisite courses, ENG1100 English Composition I, and PSY1001 General Psychology.