Occupational THerapy Assistants
Occupational THerapy Assistants
What Does a Occupational Therapy Assistant Do?
A occupational therapy assistant (OTA) delivers occupational therapy services under the supervision of a licensed occupational therapist. They carry out therapy activities that help people improve everyday skills—like self-care, fine-motor coordination, mobility, sensory regulation, and using adaptive tools—so individuals can participate more fully at home, school, work, and in the community. OTAs also measure progress, document sessions, and share observations with the supervising occupational therapist to help refine the intervention plan.
In school settings, OTAs often support individuals with disabilities, Birth to 26 years with goals like handwriting, classroom access, and daily living independence.
An Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) helps individuals with disabilities, Birth to 26, build everyday skills for school and life. Under an Occupational Therapist’s supervision, they support handwriting, sensory regulation, self-care, adaptive tools, and classroom access.
Tap a Section Below to Explore:
Explore Careers as a Occupational Therapy Assistant in Michigan
If you’re interested in supporting students with disabilities and building a meaningful career in education, becoming a school occupational therapy assistant may be a strong fit.
OPTIMISE connects individuals with information, resources, and pathways to explore special education careers across Michigan.
Skills and Qualities of an Effective Occupational Therapy Assistant
- Have good communication skills and like to work as a team: listens well, explains activities simply, and collaborates with the supervising occupational therapist and school Partners including paraeducators, Special educators and other school personnel
- Have empathy and patience working with individuals by staying supportive and steady, especially when OT sessions get challenging.
- Have a strong sense of observation: notice small changes in skills, behavior, sensory needs, pain, or fatigue and reports them accurately.
- Be adaptable to be able to adjusts tasks, tools, pacing, and environments to help clients succeed safely.
- Be professional: solid documentation, ethical boundaries, and consistent follow-through.
Education and Training Requirements for Occupational Therapy Assistants
To become a Michigan Occupational Therapy Assistant you will need to:
- Complete an Associate Degree with a ACOTE-accredited Occupational Therapy Assistant program
- Pass the NBCOT COTA exam. COTA = Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
- Pass the Michigan jurisprudence exam
- Apply for a Michigan OTA license through LARA
Occupational Therapy Assistant Degree Programs
Click a orange pin to pursue an advanced career
Certifications/Licensing
Must score in at least the 70th percentile.
- Submit a signed and completed application.
- Provide a check or money order for $90 license fee.
- Request transcripts from all attended colleges or universities.
- Forward score reports from your NBCOT exams.
- Request verification of licensure from past states in which you have practiced.
- Submit fingerprints for a criminal background check.
Financial Resources to Pursue a Occupational Therapy Assistant Degree
Begin your journey as a physical therapist for free with the Community College Guarantee. This degree can lead to a fulfilling lifelong career or serve as a stepping stone toward a higher-level physical therapy degree!
Graduating high school seniors are eligible to earn a skill certificate or degree at their local community college tuition-free just by filling out the new and simplified FAFSA.
Michigan Scholarships & Grants
Michigan Reconnect Program
Michigan Reconnect is a scholarship program that pays you to attend your in-district community college tuition free or pays up to the in-district rate if you attend a community college where you’re considered out-of-district. Applicants must be 25 years old to apply.
Michigan Promise Zones
Thirteen Promise Zones have already begun awarding scholarships. Educators, businesses, families and civic leaders are also striving to embed a pervasive culture of learning in these communities – an essential ingredient in any recipe for education success.
High School Graduate Michigan Achievement Scholarship
Amount: $2,000 – $5,500
Federal Scholarships & Grants
File Your FAFSA
Colleges and career schools use the FAFSA form to determine how much financial aid you’re eligible to receive, which could include grants, scholarships, work-study funds, and loans.You must apply for aid every year.
Federal Student Aid Estimator
The Federal Student Aid Estimator provides an estimate of how much federal student aid the student may be eligible to receive. These estimates are based on the Student Aid Index (SAI), an index to determine federal student aid eligibility.
Subsidized/Un-Subsidized Loans
Direct Subsidized Loans and Direct Unsubsidized Loans are federal student loans offered by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) to help eligible students cover the cost of higher education at a four-year college or university, community college, or trade, career, or technical school.
Pell Grant
A federal grant for undergraduate students with financial need.
Teacher Loan Forgiveness*
Amount: up to $17,500
Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)*
If you’re employed by a government or not-for-profit organization, you might be eligible for the PSLF Program. The PSLF Program forgives the remaining balance on your Direct Loans
*Borrowers can’t receive credit toward TLF and Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) for the same period of service. That means, if you seek and receive TLF, the five-year period of service that supported your eligibility will NOT count toward PSLF. We recommend that you consider whether you’re interested in PSLF before deciding to pursue TLF, because we can’t make changes once you receive forgiveness.
Graduate or Professional Direct PLUS Loan
Direct PLUS loans can help pay for education expenses not covered by other financial aid. The U.S. Department of Education makes Direct PLUS Loans to eligible graduate or professional students through schools participating in the Direct Loan Program.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
Grant for undergraduate students with exceptional financial need, administered directly by financial aid office at each participating school, not all schools participate
Federal Work-Study
part-time employment while enrolled in school, available to undergrad, grad, and professional students with financial need, available to full and part-time students, administered by participating schools, emphasizes employment in civic education and work related to course of study or civic education, on or off campus
COTA Story Tellers
Below are videos highlighting COTAs throughout Michigan.
Find out why they love the profession.