Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a national or state exam I must take after I graduate?

Yes. After graduation from the Suffolk OTA Program, all students must pass a national certification exam from NBCOT in order to practice as a Certified Occupational Therapist, which is recognized in all states. Students must then apply for a New York State License to practice and work in New York.

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Are only the grades from pre-requisite courses or my overall GPA considered when making admissions decisions into the OTA Program?

For students already in college, ONLY the grades from pre-requisite courses (BIO130, ENG101, and PSY101) are considered for admissions purposes, NOT overall GPA. Please note, all students applying to be considered for acceptance to the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program are required to provide documentation of completing a minimum of 25 volunteer hours in a clinical environment where licensed occupational therapy services are rendered (by the January 15 annual due date) to be eligible for admissions consideration.

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Can I take any of the pre-requisite courses in the spring semester after the application due date and have it count for this admissions cycle?

No, all pre-requisite courses and observation hours must be completed and reported to the Admissions Office by the annual January 15th due date.

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How can I apply to the OTA Program, and where do I get the verification form for my observation hours?

Please see the tab on this page, or visit the Admissions Office at any one of the three Suffolk Campuses. The Verification Form of Clinical Observation to include with your application can be acquired through the Admissions Offices or on our tab for “Apply”.

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Do we need to find our own fieldwork internships?

No, the OTA Program places students in available fieldwork assignments. As per the OTA Student Handbook, “Assignments are guaranteed; location is not.”

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Can I find a job after I graduate?

Yes. Graduates from the OTA program usually find employment within the first 6 months of graduation, or make plans to attend an OTR program at a four-year institution.

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I am not the best math student, and I see math is required. Can you suggest which math to take?

Students are required to take MAT103 (Statistics) to graduate from the OTA Program. Some students who feel they need more support in math find it helpful to take MAT009 as the second required math course before they take MAT103.