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
Submit an official high school (or HSED/GED) transcript with graduation date.
- If you are a current high school student, you can be admitted with an unofficial, or official, current transcript. Your final official transcript with graduation date must be submitted prior to the program starting or you will be withdrawn from the program.
Review and sign Background Check Disclosure
Out-of-State applicants sign a Professional Licensure Disclosure
Complete admissions meeting with a Northwood Tech counselor (academic admission requirements apply)

2025-26 Occupational Therapy Assistant Additional Program Information

2025-26 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
Complete physical exam, including immunizations
Possess current certification of "BLS Basic Life Support"
Review and sign Health Sciences Confidentiality Statement
Participate in a mandatory program orientation session

2025-26 Occupational Therapy Assistant Student Handbook

OTA Practice Definitions

Commonly Used Abbreviations

2025-26 OTA Fieldwork Handbook
Spring 2026 Fieldwork Level II dates: TBD

Fieldwork Update Info

OTA Program Orientation-Fall 2025

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.
  - 2025-26 Academic Calendar
  - 2025-26 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
- To understand more about the requirements for background checks and how the results may affect you, please review the OTA Background Check Disclosure under Admission Requirements at the top of this page.
- Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) students are required to complete the following background checks between August 1 and September 1 of the year they are admitted to (514) courses:
  - WI Caregiver Background Check
  - If requested by the fieldwork site - National Criminal Background Check
  - Students who will complete fieldwork in Minnesota ONLY - MN Department of Human Services (DHS) Background Study
- To complete the WI Caregiver background check:
  - Fill out these forms:
    - WI Background Identification Disclosure (BID)
    - Northwood Tech Student Identification (ID) form
  - Submit the completed forms to the staff member listed for your campus:
    - Ashland- Cassie Vesey cassie.vesey@northwoodtech.edu
    - New Richmond- Mary Diestel mary.diestel@northwoodtech.edu
    - Rice Lake- Ashley Smith ashley.smith@northwoodtech.edu
    - Superior- Nikki Kruger nikki.kruger@northwoodtech.edu
- To complete the National Criminal Background Check:
  - Open the Verified Credentials, LLC link and click GET STARTED NOW.
  - Follow the instructions to complete your purchase.
- To complete the MN Department of Human Services (DHS) Background Study
  - If required ONLY--The instructor or program director will provide more information.
  - Review the MN DHS Background Study Notice of Privacy Practices
  - Check your email for updates about your background study.
  - Information about completing the fingerprinting and photo requirement will be emailed to you. The fee for fingerprints and photos is $10.50.
  - See more information on the MN DHS Background Studies website https://mn.gov/dhs/general-public/background-studies/
- To update a background check
  - After initial background checks are completed, you may need to update your checks. For details about this requirement or to report changes, use this form:
    - Self-Report form for background checks
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
- Learning Styles -- check your learning style
- Health Sciences Confidentiality Statement
- OTA Student Information Sheet -- Please complete and submit with OTA online orientation.
Information Only
- 2025-26 OTA Program Cost Sheet
- Insurance Information
- 2025-26 OTA Program Technology Needs
- 2025-26 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
- Find the Distance Learning Education Policy in the OTA Program Policies (OTA-17)
- Find the Health Sciences Professional Expectations and Dress Code in the Health Sciences Policies (HS-24)
- Find the Failure/Course Repeat Policy in the OTA Program Policies (OTA-21)
- 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.

2025-26 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 Fall 2025 semester, you will maintain priority reentry until Fall 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 if space is available. For example, if you leave the program during or at the end of the Fall 2025 semester, you will maintain priority reentry until Fall 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