The associate-degree-level occupational therapy assistant program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-6611 and its web address is www.acoteonline.org. Graduates of the program will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapy assistant administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA). In addition, all states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure

Program graduates are certified through an examination given by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). Recent graduate performance: https://www.nbcot.org/Educators-Folder/SchoolPerformance

Download the Admissions Checklist

Admission Procedure

1. Make application and be accepted to Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.
2. Application can be completed online.
3. Submit copies of official transcripts of all schools attended to the Office of Admissions.
4. All transcripts must be reviewed by the Office of Admission for determination of course credits.
5. Meet all Academic Requirements (listed below) and complete any program pre-requisites or Entry Requirements.
6. After successful completion and submission of ALL academic and entry requirements (See section below), the student is eligible to complete the Occupational Therapy Assistant Supplemental Application for Program Admission.

Spring Semester Application Submission: Between August 15^th and November 1^st complete and submit the online Supplemental Application. To complete and submit the online Supplemental Application:

1. Visit Web Services.
2. Select Student.
3. Select School of Nursing and Health Professions Supplemental Application.

Thereafter, the applicant MUST read the guidelines carefully. In order to complete and submit the application, college admission and ALL pre-requisite requirements are required. Supplemental Application Deadline Dates: Spring semester – November 1^st (If deadline falls on a weekend, holiday, or closing, the deadline is 5 p.m. on the next college business day). ALL required test scores, transcripts, and entry items (CBC, pre-orientation, etc.) must be completed with results placed in Banner (MGCCC’s computer information system) by the appropriate college employee prior to the deadline. In addition, any outstanding college holds must be clear in order for the applicant to complete and submit the supplemental program application. Incomplete applications will not be considered. (MGCCC reserves the right to review additional supplemental applications following the posted deadline).

Academic and Entry Requirements

• Achieve a minimum Composite ACT Score of 18.
• Register for and complete the HESI A2 Exam – HESI Exam Registration and Dates.
• Achieve a GPA of 2.5 on College work with no grade less than “C” on any core courses required for graduation.
• Successfully complete all General Education Prerequisite Courses (as listed below)
• Review the online mandatory Pre-School of Nursing and Health Professions Orientation Session prior to completing the supplemental application for program ranking. The session can be viewed anytime and anywhere you have access to the internet. The Power Point presentation gives you valuable information on topics common to all School of Nursing and Health Professions programs at MGCCC. Even without the ability to speak directly or interact immediately with a School of Nursing and Health Professions advisor, the session speaks to frequently asked questions from program entrance to completion. In order to receive credit for viewing the session, follow the steps below. The information is approximately one (1) hour in length. To complete this requirement do the following:
  1. Visit Web Services.
  2. Select Student.
  3. Select School of Nursing and Health Professions Supplemental Application Orientation Session.
  4. In order to receive credit, you must review the entire session.
  5. Click Survey Complete so that your log-in information will be recorded in the college’s BANNER system.
• Comply with Mississippi law requiring a Criminal Background History Check with Fingerprinting through the Mississippi Department of Health. All students making application to a School of Nursing and Health Professions program at MGCCC are required to obtain a clear or acceptable Criminal Background Check from the MGCCC Campus Police Department at HC, JC, Perkinston, or GC Campus. The criminal background check policy (including testing dates and times) can be viewed at School of Nursing and Health Professions Criminal Background Check Policy.

Selection Process

Program openings are filled based on Selective Admission; applicants are ranked based on their individual achievement test scores and prior college course work. Student ranking for entry into the OTA program is based on the GPA, ACT composite, and the HESI Entry Exam. Students are selected according to the following criteria:

• Academic Core GPA – 10%
• Cumulative GPA – 30%
• ACT Composite – 30%
• HESI A2 Exam – 30%

Program enrollment is a floating number which can fluctuate each year based on availability of clinical rotation slots, but not to exceed accreditation allowed capacity. Students who are selected are also held to the following program policies.

Progression and Program Completion

Once students have been accepted into the OTA program, they will progress through five consecutive semesters. To progress to the next semester, students must maintain a 78 or higher in each course. Students must complete all graduation requirements and fieldwork within 12 months following the completion of the didactic portion of the program. Once completed, students will receive an Associates of Applied Science degree in OTA and will be eligible to take the NBCOT National Certification Exam. Students must complete all graduation requirements and fieldwork within 12 months following the completion of the didactic portion of the program. Students must complete all requirements within 4 years of entering the OTA program.

OTA Program Policies

• All students are required to submit to substance testing in accordance with the substance testing policy and procedures for the School of Nursing and Health Professions. The testing policy can be viewed by clicking here: School of Nursing and Health Professions Substance Testing Policy.
• The School of Nursing and Health Professions requires proof of Immunizations and/or CPR. Submission of all required documents will begin following program acceptance. Failure to meet the requirements will result in withdrawal/dismissal.
• Upon admission to the Occupational Therapy Assistant program, students must maintain a 2.5 GPA on the required courses and complete each course with a C or better.
• Adherence to additional clinical affiliation requirements may be necessary depending on clinical rotation placement. (i.e. hospital orientation, HIPAA training, CPR certification)
• The School of Nursing and Health Professions Student Manual can be viewed here