• Faculty & Staff
• Programs & Courses
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Rehab Health Home

Program Facts

• What is the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program like at CCRI?
• How can I prepare myself for the Occupational Therapist Assistant Program?
• What is the process for application to the program?
• If I apply, what are the chances of getting accepted?
• Where can I get more information about the program?

What is the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program like at CCRI?

Prerequisite courses for the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program can be taken on any CCRI campus.  The OTA program courses are offered in an evening/weekend format on the Newport County Campus.  Fieldwork experiences are scheduled during the day and typically run from Monday – Friday.

The program integrates classroom preparation and clinical practice.  General education courses such as English Composition, Oral Communication, Anatomy, Physiology, Algebra, and Psychology enhance the Occupational Therapy Assistant program core courses.  Courses include laboratory sessions to learn and practice hands on skills required to be an Occupational Therapy Assistant.  Under the supervision of an Occupational Therapist or certified Occupational Therapy Assistant, students participate in fieldwork experiences in a variety of occupational therapy settings where skills learned in the classroom are practiced.

As you consider choosing a program to prepare you for a lifelong career as an Occupational Therapy Assistant, consider how CCRI can provide you with a superior educational experience.

• The CCRI Occupational Therapist Assistant Program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE).
• As a state school, CCRI provides you with an affordable, high quality education for under $10,000, thousands of dollars less than other private schools.
• The CCRI Occupational Therapy Assistant program is proud of its 100% pass rate for first time testers on the NBCOT national examination since 2000. Graduates have passed the exam consistently in the top 25th percentile nationally.
• The CCRI OTA faculty hold degrees in the field of Occupational Therapy as well as years of clinical practice in neurological and orthopedic rehabilitation, hand therapy, pediatrics, burns, trauma, psychiatry, developmental delays and work hardening.
• OTA Program faculty are dedicated to student success, and committed to excellence in preparing students for careers as Occupational Therapist Assistants.
• The CCRI OTA Program offers a well established and refined curriculum which facilitates the development of hands-on and clinical reasoning skills required for successful practice in a variety of Occupational Therapy settings.
• CCRI provides a strong network of student support services such as supplemental classroom instruction and peer tutoring through the Student Success Center.
• Flexibility in course scheduling helps to accommodate individual student schedules.

How can I prepare myself for the Occupational Therapist Assistant Program?

Interested students should enroll in a math and science curriculum, including algebra, biology, and physics or chemistry.  Students should consider completing the online RHAB 1100: Foundational Kinesiology, and RHAB 1010: Medical Terminology courses at CCRI in preparation for success in the OTA curriculum.  High school students can take these online courses during their senior year. All students will need good reading and communication skills to prepare them to take English Composition I at the college level.

What is the process for application to the program?

All students wishing to apply to the OTA program must complete all prerequisite courses with a “C” or better and must have a GPA of at least 2.0.  Refer to the OTA Program Admission Guidelines document for further information.  Applications are accepted in February, May, and August following completion of the preadmission requirements.

If I apply, what are the chances of getting accepted?

Applicants are rank ordered for acceptance through the performance based application process.  Since inception of the program, there has been sufficient space to accept all qualified applicants into the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program.

Where can I get more information about the program?

• CCRI Web Page: www.ccri.edu/rehabhealth/
• Call Deborah Watson at the Newport campus (401) 851-1637 or email dwatson@ccri.edu. 
• If more specific information is needed, contact Michael Nardone, Occupational Therapy Assistant Program Director at (401) 851-1667 or email mnardone1@ccri.edu  

This page developed and maintained by the Rehabilitative Health Department. Send comments and suggestions about the content of this page or the technical operation of the web site in general to .  ©2010, Community College of Rhode Island - All rights reserved.

This page last modified on: February 19, 2009