Occupational Therapy Assistant Requirements and 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 functional ability criteria. 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
Complete admissions meeting with a Northwood Tech counselor

2022-23 Occupational Therapy Assistant Additional Program Information

2022-23 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/quantiferon, 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" or equivalent
Review and sign Health Sciences Confidentiality Statement
Participate in a mandatory program orientation session

2022-23 Occupational Therapy Assistant Student Handbook

OTA Practice Definitions

Commonly Used Abbreviations

2022-23 OTA Fieldwork Handbook
Spring 2023 Fieldwork Level II dates: FWIIA: 1/16/23-3/10/23; FWIIB: 3/20/23-5/12/23

Fieldwork Update Info

Cover, Table of Contents, Welcome Letter, and SOUs
Fieldwork Overview
Fieldwork I
Fieldwork II
Tools for Addressing Special Concerns
- E1 Improvement Plan
- E2 Core Ability
Inclusion of Psychosocial Content into the Level II Fieldwork Experience
Supervision Guidelines
Northwood Tech OTA Program Mission and Philosophy
OTA Program Course Information
Site-Based Objective Samples
Fieldwork Policies
Glossary
- L1 Glossary

OTA Program Orientation-Spring 2023

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
- Click on the forms below to print them (all forms are PDF files). You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download and use these files.
  - Agenda
  - 2022-23 Academic Calendar
  - 2022-23 OTA Curriculum Checklist - 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 and Student ID Form. 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 MN DHS Data Worksheet and $42.
  - 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's pre-enrollment system and information on locating a fingerprint location.
  - Students MUST present a form of ID to be fingerprinted and photographed. Students will be required to pay the $9.50 fee at the fingerprint and photo location. Visit MN DHS/IDEMIA Transition for information on fingerprinting and photo locations.
  - 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 Health Form and save it.
- 2. Follow instructions on the form for submission.
To Complete and Give to Instructor
- Functional Abilities Disclosure - listed above, under Admission Requirements. Read the functions and initial/sign the last page as described. Submit to instructor by designated due date.
- Learning Styles -- check your learning style
- Confidentiality Statement
- Student Information Sheet -- please complete and send to Becky Mika by August 1
Information Only
- 2022-23 OTA Program Cost Sheet
- Insurance Information
- OTA Program Technology Needs
- 2022-23 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.

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 prerequisite for the following semester.
  - 3. Withdrew from a core OTA or science course that is prerequisite for the following semester
  - If you are at this website, it means 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 Fall 2022 semester, you will maintain priority reentry until Fall 2023. 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 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 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 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 are planning on retaking coursework through another WTCS college, you must still complete and return the Intent to Reenter form. This will ensure you of 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 at this webpage, it means your OTA Academic Advisor has been notified that you dropped your OTA course (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 Fall 2022 semester, you will maintain priority reentry until Fall 2023. 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. You may complete the form electronically and email 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 are planning on returning to the WITC OTA program, please review the Reentry process and complete the Intent to Reenter 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