Occupational Therapy Assistant Requirements & Application

From submitting your application to admission to registration, Northwood Tech is available to help guide you through the admissions process. To help you successfully complete this program, Northwood Tech has developed a set of program requirements and technical standards. For students with a disability, reasonable accommodations are available to help you be successful in the program of your choice.

Admission Requirements

The first step to get admitted is to fill out a Northwood Tech application, and Northwood Tech will guide you from there. If you're not quite ready to become a student, visit a campus to get the full Northwood Tech experience. A campus tour will give you the opportunity to meet staff, instructors and students, tour the campus and get a real feel for the campus culture.

Complete Online application form
Have earned a high school diploma or GED certificate; current high school seniors must provide both a current high school transcript and a final (official) transcript with confer date
Review and sign Background Check Disclosure
Review and sign Functional Abilities Disclosure
Out-of-State applicants sign a Professional Licensure Disclosure
Complete admissions meeting with a Northwood Tech counselor (academic admission requirements apply)

2024-25 Occupational Therapy Assistant Additional Program Information

2024-25 Occupational Therapy Assistant Additional Program Information-Transfer Track

Program-Specific Requirements

Submit Background Check fee
Have an acceptable Wisconsin Caregiver Background Check, National Criminal Background Check, Minnesota Caregiver Background Check (if applicable), and other states, if applicable
Pass a physical exam, have current immunizations, and demonstrate negative status for tuberculosis (Tb)
COVID vaccination---highly recommended
- NOTE: Northwood Technical College cannot guarantee clinical placement or ability to progress in the program if a student is not able to meet the clinical site requirements including but not limited to; influenza vaccine, covid vaccine, negative tb skin test or QuantiFERON®-TB Gold In-Tube test (QFT-GIT) or T-SPOT®.TB test (T-Spot), up to date acceptable background check, or any other clinical requirements required by the clinical site. Northwood Technical College cannot guarantee clinical placement if the clinical site must be changed due to students inability to meet the site specific requirements. Many sites require the student information 4-6 weeks prior to the clinical start date.
Possess current certification of "BLS Basic Life Support"
Review and sign Health Sciences Confidentiality Statement
Participate in a mandatory program orientation session

2024-25 Occupational Therapy Assistant Student Handbook

OTA Practice Definitions

Commonly Used Abbreviations

2024-25 OTA Fieldwork Handbook
Spring 2025 Fieldwork Level II dates: TBD

Fieldwork Update Info

OTA Program Orientation-Fall 2024

Be aware that you need to follow the timelines and procedures listed here in order to participate.

No forms. No class. No exceptions.

What You Will Need to Do
- Complete OTA online orientation and all required steps. The link for the OTA online orientation will be emailed to you and is located in the Welcome to the OTA Program letter. If you need a second copy sent to you, please reach out to the OTA Program Director.
- You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download and use the files in the OTA online orientation.
  - 2024-25 Academic Calendar
  - 2024-25 OTA Required Courses - to be used as a guide. Although your academic advisor can provide guidance, you are ultimately responsible for selecting courses that meet a program's graduation requirements.
Background Checks
- The agencies that host the Northwood Tech OTA students for fieldwork courses have significantly increased their demands for background check scrutiny over the past several years. Northwood Tech wants to ensure students understand, prior to the start of the program, that if there are no fieldwork agencies that will accept the student based on the background check history, the student must be excused from the OTA program, regardless of the student's academic standing. This is explained further in the Background Check Disclosure form listed above, under Admission Requirements.
- All OTA students are required to complete a Wisconsin Caregiver Background Check. Some facilities require a National Criminal Background Check, which must be completed through Verified Credentials, LLC:
- In addition to that, if you are a student who will complete a clinical rotation in Minnesota, you will also be required to complete a Minnesota Caregiver Background Check. Your Program Instructor/Advisor will inform you if a Minnesota background check is needed.
  - MN Department of Human Services (DHS) Background Studies
  - The MN Dept. of Health Services NETStudy 2.0 background study requires all persons who provide services to children and vulnerable adults to be fingerprinted and photographed.
  - Students will be required to provide Northwood Tech a copy of an Acceptable Form of ID for DHS Background studies (scroll down to What documents can be used to verify ID?), the completed Minnesota Caregiver Background Check and $44.
  - Northwood Tech staff will verify the information provided and enter it into the MN DHS website. Background Study subjects will receive an email from IDEMIA-IdentoGO that includes an individual specific tracking number called a Universal Enrollment Identification (UE ID). The email will be sent within a few minutes of the background study application being submitted in NETStudy 2.0 by the provider. The email includes instructions for study subjects to use IDEMIA-IdentoGO's pre-enrollment system and information on locating a fingerprint location.
  - Students MUST present a form of ID to be fingerprinted and photographed and will be required to pay the $10.50 fee at the fingerprint and photo location.
  - Within 14 days of receiving the email from IDEMIA-IdentoGO, students must be fingerprinted and photographed. If not completed within 14 days, the above process and fee payment will need to be repeated.
  - Background Study Notice of Privacy Practices
- After background checks are completed, students are expected to self report any changes.
Health Form and Directions
- 1. Complete the HS Health Form and save it.
- 2. Follow instructions on the form for submission.
To Complete and Submit with OTA online orientation
- Functional Abilities Disclosure - listed above, under Admission Requirements. Read the functions and initial/sign the last page as described. Submit with OTA online orientation.
- Learning Styles -- check your learning style
- Health Sciences Confidentiality Statement
- OTA Student Information Sheet -- Please complete and submit with OTA online orientation.
Information Only
- 2024-25 OTA Program Cost Sheet
- Insurance Information
- 2024-25 OTA Program Technology Needs
- 2024-25 OTA Program Textlist -- you will purchase most of your books during the first semester of course work; you will use them throughout your program
Program Policies
- Distance Learning Education Policy
- Health Sciences Professional Expectations/Dress Code
- OTA Failure/Repeat Policy
- Student Biographical Change Request -- please print and use this form if you change your name, address, or phone number(s). You should submit it to your local Student Services to be certain that the changes are entered in the main computer system.

2024-25 OTA Reentry

OTA Reentry Instructions
- In the event an OTA student who is matriculated into core OTA (514-XXX) and/or core science (806-XXX) courses has to temporarily leave the program, the student is considered a "reentry" student. This may occur because the student:
  - 1. Must temporarily take leave from core OTA courses due to personal or other reasons that do not allow the student to continue in the program at the current time. This includes military service.
  - 2. Failed and is eligible (see OTA Failure/Course Repeat/Dismissal Policy) to repeat either a core OTA or science course that is a prerequisite for the following semester.
  - 3. Withdrew from a core OTA or science course that is a prerequisite for the following semester.
  - If you are on this web page, the OTA program director has determined you are a reentry student.
  - Reentry students have priority reentry status for one year if space is available. For example, if you leave the program during or at the end of the Spring 2025 semester, you will maintain priority reentry until Spring 2026. Should you decide to postpone your reentry to the OTA program during the priority year you will forfeit your priority reentry status and will be eligible for reentry after other students waiting to reenter have had the opportunity to reenter.
- Please carefully review the Intent to Reenter OTA Program form. Sign and return this form within one month of your exiting the program to Becky Mika at becky.mika@NorthwoodTech.edu.
  - If you return your Intent to Reenter OTA Program form you will receive an email through your Northwood Tech email account giving you further details regarding course registration for the semester of your reentry. If you do not return your Intent to Reenter OTA Program form by the deadline, it will be assumed that you are no longer interested in enrolling in the Northwood Tech OTA program courses, and your name will be removed from the reentry priority list.
  - Please note that while you may not be eligible to continue with core OTA courses at this time due to pre/corequisite requirements, you are still eligible to take general studies or elective courses required for graduation from the OTA program.
  - If you plan on retaking coursework through another WTCS college, you must still complete and return the Intent to Reenter OTA Program form. This will ensure your reentry priority status for the one-year time limit.
  - If you have questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact Becky Mika, OTA Program Director, at becky.mika@NorthwoodTech.edu or 715-319-7263.
  - Reentry Student Checklist

OTA Withdrawal

Instructions for Withdrawal from OTA Core Courses
- If you are on this web page, your OTA Academic Advisor has been notified that you dropped your OTA core (10-514-XXX) courses.
  - If you are withdrawing from your OTA core (10-514-XXX) courses, the OTA program would like to gather data regarding your decision to withdraw. This data is useful in the OTA planning process. Thank you for providing this information.
  - Reentry students have priority reentry status for one year. For example, if you leave the program during or at the end of the Spring 2025 semester, you will maintain priority reentry until Spring 2026. Should you decide to postpone your reentry to the OTA program during the priority year, you will forfeit your priority reentry status and will be eligible for reentry after other students waiting to reenter have had the opportunity to reenter.
  - Please carefully review the Withdrawal from the OTA Program form. Please complete the form and email it to becky.mika@NorthwoodTech.edu or print and mail this form within one month of your exiting the program to the following address:
  - Becky Mika
    Northwood Technical College
    2100 Beaser Ave.
    Ashland, WI 54807
  - If you plan to return to the Northwood Tech OTA program, please review the Reentry process and complete the Intent to Reenter OTA Program form.
  - If you have questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact Becky Mika, OTA Program Director, at becky.mika@NorthwoodTech.edu or 715-319-7263.

Technology Requirements

If using Macintosh or Linux based computers, coursework must be submitted using your Office365 tools provided with your Northwood Tech email account. It is important to verify with your Program Faculty if non-Windows based computers are acceptable in the program.

View All Technology Requirements