What to expect in a Occupational Therapy Assistant program

[@apreeahaynes9259]

I always wanted to be an OTA thanks for your feedback.

[@martinmagnia314]

thanks !

[@ellysiaroy5496]

Thank you for the information Meeka! I apply to my program May of 2023 :) I’m excited

[@kita.x0x0]

Congrats! 🎉🥰

[@Lizzie0425]

Do you have any tips or advice for the interviewing process to get accepted into the OTA program? I have an interview coming up for the OTA program at my college and I'm soooo nervous. This was a great video and hope to see more from your channel.

[@meekazanielle]

Thank you so much! I plan to upload more videos soon. So when I applied to the OTA program at my school, they didn’t require us to do an interview but the following year they made it a requirement for the next class . My advice would be to research that program prior to the interview just in case they ask you specific questions and also so you can ask them questions, give a brief background about yourself, your interest in OTA and your interest in their OTA program. At the end of the day they want to see if you are a good fit for the program, will you be able to handle the workload that comes with being in the program. So make sure you touch on your strategies, I would give them an example such as passing a hard exam or class, what were your struggles and how did you overcome. I’m sorry that my response is long but feel free to write me any questions that you may have. Thank you for your support

[@Kenzcrawf98]

Have you noticed an increase of pay with your bachelors on top of your COTA degree? Or does it not make much of a difference? Thanks !

[@meekazanielle]

Hi, no me having a bachelor degree didn’t affect my pay.

[@averyiemoni]

I start OTA in May … unfortunately I will have to work throughout the program . Any tips on how to manage school and classes ? I’m so nervous. I was a nursing major and switch because I loved watching the OT’s make a difference in people lives besides managing health.

[@meekazanielle]

Hey! I was in a nursing school too before I made the switch to OTA but do you know what your class schedule will be like ? Mines was only 2x a week from 8-4 so I was able to work to work the other days. Plus my job at the time was willing work with my schedule. I worked 20-25 hours . I even worked during level 2 fieldwork but that was really hard and I was so tired but I made it worked.

[@averyiemoni]

@@meekazanielle Yes , we start in the summer with 7 credit hours (3 classes). Fall will be our first FT schedule (I’m doing the FT route but summer is PT). In the fall, we will be there 8-4 and sometime Fridays . I work on the weekend now but just nerves lol because I’ve never studied to KNOW only studied to Pass a test! The program is also 55 mins away from because in SC we only have 2 school in the state that has an ACCREDITATION for OTA!

[@meekazanielle]

@@averyiemoni ohhhh, will there be a lot of traffic during your commute ? I’m sure you’ll do fine. I had to switch my studying style up every semester because every semester was different. My first semester, I used flash cards.

[@averyiemoni]

@@meekazanielle thank you sooo much!!!!!!!!

[@dariysaj08]

How many presentations did you have to do ? I’m really dreading them in my program 😣 Great video!

[@meekazanielle]

Hi! The program that I was in, we didn’t have many, mostly research papers. There was one big presentation for our last semester where we had to present for at least 15 mins.

[@ajohnson2283]

I ny program we had lots of group assignments and presentations every semester including in fieldwork

[@nvdg867]

i thought if you had your bachelors you didn't have to do the 2 years just the certification?

[@meekazanielle]

Hey! Currently you need to have a associate degree (2 years ) regardless if you have a bachelors degree to become a OTA and you will need a Masters to become a OTR. I do have a bachelors degree but it is in a different field. Three years ago AOTA had made mentioned of requiring people to have a bachelors degree to practice as a OTA but they didn’t go through with the change.

[@ajohnson2283]

I am in my last semester graduate in May. When did you begin studying for the NBCOT exam? Did you pass on your first attempt?

[@meekazanielle]

I started studying the end of May and no I didnt pass on my first attempt. I was rushing and was so focus on getting a job. I am doing a video on what work for me to pass on my second attempt.

[@ajohnson2283]

@@meekazanielle thank you! I will be looking forward to your next video .

[@cosmicknight4665]

Did you do the program through community college or private school? How much was Tuition?

[@meekazanielle]

Hi, I went to a community college. For the two years, I think I paid 4k or under.

[@Rawyalty220]

@@meekazanielle does it have to be a community college that is specifically occupational therapy assistant accredited or can u go to any community college for it?

[@rosagatica6349]

So is the program that you get accepted the same as the aas degree?

[@meekazanielle]

Yes, Occupational therapy assistant program is an associate degree