Occupational Therapy Assistant Career Outlook

OTA GRADUATION 

Please note that it is possible that NBCOT and WI DSPS may still indicate WITC. You may proceed with your applications using WITC information.

• STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES

  • BEFORE GRADUATION

    • Login to MyNorthwoodTech to access the email from the Registrar about the graduation ceremony. Complete the Graduation Information Form and submit to Student Services. You will need to complete this form whether or not you plan to attend the graduation ceremony.  

    • Ensure all of your Northwood Tech accounts are paid and you do not owe money to Northwood Tech

    • Ensure your high school transcript is on file with Northwood Tech in Student Services

    • Ensure ALL required coursework has been completed with a "C" or better, and/or credit for prior learning has been processed

    • Begin NBCOT application process

    • Begin appropriate state licensure/credentialing process

  • AFTER GRADUATION

    • Within one (1) month after graduation, request an official transcript be sent to NBCOT which includes the confer date of graduation and degree earned. On the Basic Order Information page, be sure to check Hold for posting of current semester degrees, which means Northwood Tech will not release your transcript until your degree has been conferred. If you do not check this box, you will end up requesting & paying for a 2nd transcript to be sent when your degree has been conferred.

      • All transcript requests must be made online and sent directly to NBCOT by Northwood Tech:

      • NBCOT
        One Bank Street, Suite 300
        Gaithersburg MD 20878

    • Or send it electronically using a secure document transfer program to: transcripts@nbcot.org

    • Fifteen (15) business days after grades are due (May 31, 2023), please check this page for updated information as to when the OTACPEs were submitted to Wisconsin DSPS.

    • This web page and your student email will be the only notifications you will receive from us.

• PROGRAM RESPONSIBILITIES

  • OTA program Program Director/Faculty will inform students where they can find the graduation process and forms on the Northwood Tech OTA & WI DSPS websites and assist students to navigate the entire process.

• NBCOT APPLICATION

  • Link to NBCOT Application & Handbook

    • Complete either the online application or paper application

    • Complete all items as requested

    • Exam Level: CERTIFIED OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSISTANT COTA

    • U.S. School Code: 15513

    • May 2023 Completion/Graduation/Confer Date: May 19, 2023 (If graduating other than May 2023, the confer date can be found by running an unofficial transcript through MyNorthwoodTech)

    • COTA Credential: Associate Degree

    • Pay applicable fees

    • Upon confirmation of eligibility to examine, the candidate will receive an Authorization to Test (ATT) Letter by email. Candidates will be instructed to contact a Prometric Test Center (PTC) to schedule their NBCOT exam.

• WISCONSIN STATE APPLICATION

  • The Department of Safety and Professional Services has launched LicensE - the new Online Self-Guided Application System.  All COTA applicants are required to apply via the new system. Paper applications submitted to DSPS will be returned to the applicant. 

  • The following LicensE items can be found on their LicensE Customer Information page:  User FAQs, Customer Portal (register, create an account, and apply for licensure), User Guides and Videos

  • Questions, concerns, error messages, etc., about the process or Customer Portal should be directed to DSPS. DSPS Contact Us by Email (wi.gov) Occupational Therapy questions should be emailed to DSPSCREDMedBdAffiliates@wisconsin.gov

  • Since this will be your first time creating an account in LicensE, please write down your User ID and/or User Name, Password, Email address used, and/or security question(s) as you will need this information to access the site later.

  • Program Information:

    • School Name: Northwood Technical College (may still be listed as Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College)

    • School Address: ASHLAND WI USA (not campus location)

    • Completion/Graduation/Confer Date: May 19, 2023 (If graduating other than May 2023, the  completion/graduation/confer date can be found by running an unofficial transcript through MyNorthwoodTech.)

    • Degree: ASSOCIATE DEGREE

    • Specialty: Occupational Therapy Assistant

    • Complete remainder of application as applicable

    • Pay applicable fees fees: $135 ($145 if also applying for temporary permit)

• OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSISTANT CERTIFICATE OF PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION (OTACPE)

  • Graduates who want to be certified in Wisconsin:

    • All Wisconsin certification applicants MUST complete the APPLICANT section of Form 1570 (Occupational Therapy Assistant Certificate of Professional Education (OTACPE)-May 2023) and email it as a PDF attachment to Hilary Peterson at hilary.peterson@NorthwoodTech.edu. Your form MUST INCLUDE YOUR APPLICATION NUMBER. Do not submit a photo taken from your phone as this cannot be submitted to the WI DSPS. The form must be a PDF.

    • Non-May 2023 Graduates:  If you didn't graduate in May 2023, and need the college to submit an OTACPE form, complete the APPLICANT section of Form 1570 and submit as a PDF to Hilary Peterson at hilary.peterson@NorthwoodTech.edu. The form must be a PDF and INCLUDE YOUR APPLICATION NUMBER. Do not submit a photo taken from your phone, as this cannot be submitted to the WI DSPS. The form must be a PDF.

    • Northwood Tech will upload OTACPEs weekly through the Third-Party Upload Section, which is why the Application Number is critical!