Admission for Occupational Therapy Assistant Program

Initial admission is based on requirements for admission to the University; however, admission to the University does not assure admission to the Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy Assistant program. Requirements for admission to BSOTA courses are:

• Admission to the University of North Alabama
• Submit a formal application to the Anderson College of Nursing and Health Professions which includes an application fee.
• Students previously enrolled in another healthcare program, including those within the ACONHP, must provide a letter of eligibility to return to the program without stipulation by the dean or director. If ineligible to return to the program, the student is ineligible to apply to the Anderson College of Nursing and Health Professions.
• Students must be eligible to participate in rotations in all clinical facilities to be eligible for admission to the program.
• Possess and maintain a minimum overall grade point average of 2.75 (4.0 scale) in required OTA courses, including a “C” or higher in all required prerequisite courses as listed in the General Studies Component for Occupational Therapy Assistant majors. This GPA must be maintained from the time of application through the start of OTA courses. 
• Complete a criminal background check, be in good standing with university student conduct, and have a negative drug screen as specified on the application for admission.

Progression/Retention

Retention in the program is based on continued satisfaction of health requirements, certification, liability requirements, and appropriate academic progress with a grade of C or higher in each OTA course.

• Appropriate academic progress with a grade of C (75) or higher in each professional OTA course.
• Students must be eligible to participate in rotations in all fieldwork facilities to be eligible for admission/retention in the program.
• Satisfactory completion of OTA courses done in sequence. When a student receives a grade of less than C (75), the student may not progress to any course until the failed course is retaken and requirements are met.
• A student who has failed an OTA course may repeat the failed course only once. In the Anderson College of Nursing and Health Professions, no student will be permitted to use the Repeat/Recompute Policy or the Second Chance Provision for any occupational therapy assistant course (OTA designation). A student in the OTA program can receive no more than one course failure throughout the program. After two course failures, the student will be dismissed from the program.
• There are reasons for which a student might fail fieldwork and these include unsatisfactory behavior or critical incidents found in the Disciplinary Policies of the current occupational therapy student handbook. The fieldwork failure is an “F” for the course no matter when/if the student withdraws. This includes any time within the University’s withdrawal (“W”) period. Should this be a second course failure for the student, the student will be required to withdraw from all OTA courses at the time of the second course failure.
• Any student who withdraws from semester I of the program will be required to submit a formal application during a future application period, see the Occupational Therapy Student Handbook.
• Once admitted into the ACONHP, a student with a failing average in any OTA course may not withdraw from the course to prevent course failure. This includes any time within the University’s withdrawal (W) period. Any student who drops a course with an average of less than 75 will receive a WF in OTA courses. A WF for any reason is considered a course failure. Students who are eligible to repeat a failed course will be readmitted to the course on a “space available” basis.
• After a second withdrawal from the same course (without extenuating circumstances), a student will be required to wait one year before retaking the course. Extenuating circumstances are to be determined by faculty on an individual basis.
• Students eligible to return to an OTA course after a withdrawal “W” or course failure “D/F” from a required OTA course will be readmitted to the course on a “space available” basis.
• Maintenance of 2.0 GPA throughout the OTA program.
• Once the student is “out of sync”, he/she/they must adjust to any curriculum changes occurring at that time.

Dismissal

After two course failures, the student is dismissed from the program. A situation in which the student places the client’s life in danger or shows severe behavioral misconduct toward the client and family, clinical facility staff, faculty or other students will result in immediate Administrative Dismissal of the student from the program. In such cases, the student's transcript will reflect the University's grade system as outlined in the University catalog. Behaviors for which the ACONHP have zero tolerance and result in dismissal from the program are listed in the occupational therapy student handbook.

Readmission

The student who is academically unsuccessful in two or more courses in semester one and/or two of the OTA program will have the option to reapply to the OTA program.

• Student who reapply must meet all admission requirements and complete the application process like a new applicant.  Reapplying does not guarantee admission.
• If admitted, the student will start the program as a semester one OTA student and repeat all OTA courses regardless of grade in previous semesters.
• Complete withdrawal from semester one will require the student to complete the application process for consideration in a future semester.
• The option to reapply does not apply to students who are dismissed from the program for conduct-related offenses.
• Once a student withdraws or is dismissed from the program, they are only eligible to be admitted one additional time.

The student in the last two semesters of the OTA program who has failed the two OTA courses may petition the appropriate Health Professions Committee Chairperson for readmission after being dismissed from the program. Students may seek readmission to the ACONHP only one time, after the second course failure. Any readmitted student who earns a grade below C in an OTA course will be permanently dismissed from the program. Guidelines for readmission may be found in the Occupational Therapy Student Handbook that is specific to the student.

Requirements for the BS in Occupational Therapy Assistant