Occupational Therapy Assistant Admission Requirements

The Occupational Therapy Assistant program at Hawkeye is considered a 1+1 model. Students must complete separate admissions requirements for Phase I: Admissions Requirements and Phase II: Program Requirements.

Phase I: Admission Requirements

During Phase I, students complete the general education courses, which can be completed full-time in as little as one year, or part-time.

To be accepted to Phase I students must:

1. Be a high school graduate or equivalent.

2. Apply at Hawkeye

3. Meet basic skill competencies in reading, writing, and math.

   Basic skill competencies assessment provides information about your academic skills in reading, writing, and math. This information will be used to determine your acceptance, course selection, and registration.

   Competency is met by achieving the following sub scores on the ACT or the COMPASS assessment:

   ACT sub scores	COMPASS scores
   19 - Math 19 - Reading 19 - English	42 - Algebra 82 - Reading 65 - Writing

   OR

   Complete all of the following college success courses with a "C" grade or higher at Hawkeye Community College or comparable courses at another accredited college:

   • ENG061 College Preparatory Writing II
   • MAT063 Elementary Algebra
   • RDG040 College Preparatory Reading III

   OR

   Any combination of the above fulfilling the basic skills requirements in math, reading, and writing.

4. For full acceptance into the Occupational Therapy Assistant program, you must successfully complete the Phase II: Program Requirements and the Occupational Therapy Assistant program application.

Phase I: Admissions Process

1. Send your transcripts and test scores to the Admissions office.

2. Completed applicant files (we have your application, transcripts, and test scores) will be processed as follows:

   • Applicants not meeting the program's Phase I admission requirements will be sent an inactivation letter.

   • Applicants meeting all Phase I Basic Skills requirements will be considered Occupational Therapy Assistant 'Wait' students and will be able to take general education courses as required in Phase I of the program.

     Being a 'Wait' student does not guarantee Phase II acceptance.

     Phase II program applicants who successfully complete Phase I courses, Phase II entrance requirements, and complete the Phase II program application will continue with Phase II of the program as openings are assigned.

Phase II: Program Entrance Requirements

Phase II contains the Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) technical courses and clinical education experience, which are completed on a full-time basis in approximately 12 months.

Phase II requires an Occupational Therapy Assistant program application.

Before applying to Phase II of the program, applicants must complete the following requirements.

1. One year of high school biology, English, and math (algebra and geometry) with a grade of "C" or better in each course. One semester of a college-level comparable course may be substituted.

2. Proof of completion of a total of 24 observation hours with a licensed occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant at three different clinical sites (eight hours per site).

   Observations must include at least three different types of facilities (example: outpatient, hospital inpatient, home health, or long-term care).

   Arranging observations is the responsibility of the student.

   Document the observations on the Pre-Admission Observation Hours form [pdf]. Return the form with your Phase II application.

3. After the completed application is received by the program, a review of the application will be completed and if accepted, the Occupational Therapy Assistant program will conduct interviews with perspective students prior to acceptance into the Phase II.

4. A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 is required for Phase I with no lower than a:

   • "B" in BIO168 Human Anatomy and Physiology I w/lab,
   • "B" in BIO173 Human Anatomy and Physiology II w/lab, and
   • "C" in any individual Phase I general education course.

   BIO168 and BIO173 must have been completed within the last five years of starting Phase II, unless waived by the program chair.

5. At least 20 credits of Phase I course work must be completed with the required cumulative GPA and individual course grades prior to applying for Phase II of the program.

Phase II: Admissions Process

1. Complete and submit a Phase II application packet.

   Phase II Occupational Therapy Assistant application packets are available outside of Health Education and Services Center 208, by emailing the program advisor, or by printing and completing the following documents:

   • Program Application [pdf]
   • Curriculum Checklist [pdf]
   • Pre-Admission Observation Hours [pdf]
   • Student Health and Immunization Record [pdf]
   • Iowa Core Performance Standards for Health Care Career Programs Acknowledgement Form [pdf]

2. Students must submit a resume with their Phase II application packet. Resume should include past and current employers.

3. Phase II program applicants who successfully complete Phase I coursework and Phase II entrance requirements will continue with Phase II of the program as openings are assigned.

   Students will be notified of their acceptance or non-acceptance via their Hawkeye email.

4. Twenty students are accepted into Phase II each Fall Semester. Applicants will be accepted based on the date the Phase II program applicant file was completed.

5. If necessary, alternates will be contacted, based on the date the Phase II program applicant file was completed, to fill unconfirmed positions in the program.

6. Students that are accepted to Phase II will receive an Occupational Therapy Assistant Student Handbook that details additional information about the program, including the physical exam, updated immunizations, and criminal background checks that need to be completed prior to the start of Phase II courses.

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