Application Requirements / Enrollment Eligibility
To enroll in the Occupational Therapy Assisting (OTA) program students must be eligible for graduation with the exception of OTA coursework and have an overall GPA of 2.5 or higher. Courses passed with a grade of “P” or “CR” will be calculated into the student’s GPA as a “C” grade.
| Course Number | Course Name | Units | Comments | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AH 106 | Communication for Allied Health | 2 LEC | Taught at SCC only | |
| AH 311 | Medical Language for Health Care Providers | 3 LEC | Adult school courses do not qualify | |
| OR | AH 301 | Healthcare in a Multicultural Society | 3 LEC | Meets Ethnic/Multicultural graduation requirement |
| ANTH 310 | Cultural Anthropology | 3 LEC | Meets Ethnic/Multicultural graduation requirement | |
| SOC 300 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 LEC | Does not meet Ethnic/Multicultural graduation requirement | |
| OR | BIOL 100 | Introduction to Concepts of Human Anatomy and Physiology | 3 LEC | Within the last 10 years at time of application |
| BIOL 430/431 | Anatomy and Physiology | 10 LEC/LAB | Within the last 10 years at time of application | |
| LIBR 307 | Medical Information Resources | 1 LEC | Taught at SCC only | |
| OR | NUTR 300 | Nutrition | 3 LEC | Applies towards Gerontology degree |
| NUTR 480 | Nutrition - Honors | 3 LEC | Applies towards Gerontology degree | |
| FCS 340 | Nutrition | 3 LEC | Applies towards Gerontology degree | |
| HEED 300 | Health Education | 3 LEC | Does not apply towards Gerontology degree | |
| OTA 100 | Introduction to Occupational Therapy | 1 LEC | Taught at SCC only | |
| OR | PSYC 300 | General Principles | 3 LEC | Within the last 10 years at time of application |
| PSYC 480 | Honors General Principles | 3 LEC | Within the last 10 years at time of application | |
| OR | EDUC 300 | Human Development: A Life Span | 3 LEC | Must be from conception to death |
| PSYC 370 | Human Development: A Life Span | 3 LEC | Must be from conception to death | |
| FCS 324 | Human Development: A Life Span | 3 LEC | Must be from conception to death |
| Course Name | Comments |
|---|---|
| Area I- Humanities | Foreign/sign language recommended |
| Area II(b)- Communication and Analytical Thinking | May be covered by math completion – see counselor |
| Area III(a)- Physical Education | May be waived with military DD214 – see counselor |
| Area IV(a)- American Institutions | Political Science recommended |
| Area VI-Ethnic/Multicultural Studies | AH 301 recommended |
| Reading Competency |
Must have documentation on file. Reading competency may be met by completing the SCC Associate Degree General Education requirements |
| Writing Competency |
Must have documentation on file. Complete one of the following courses with a grade of “C” or better:
|
| Math Competency |
Must have documentation on file. Complete one of the following courses with a grade of “C” or better:
|
For the OTA Program Courses only: If you have taken program course work at another college that you would like to substitute for an OTA Program Course.
- Check your classes on the OTA Course Equivalency Chart because your prior coursework may count toward required classes for the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program.
- If you don’t see your course from another institution on the Equivalency Chart, but believe it should be counted, complete a Course Substitution Petition and be sure to give yourself at least two to three weeks for processing.
- Once your petition is approved, an Official Transcript will need to be submitted to the Admission & Records Office prior to the application deadline.
All students are required to have their GE verified by a counselor by completing the Course Verification Form provided in Step 5 below. Please see step 5 and read the instructions carefully before scheduling your appointment with a counselor.
Steps to Apply to OTA
Please review the eligibility requirements above carefully. All students must be graduation-ready to be eligible for enrollment.
- Apply to Sacramento City College.
- Attend an OTA information session.
- Submit a Course Substitution Petition for any OTA Program Course taken outside the Los Rios Community College District and not included on the OTA Course Equivalency Chart.
- Provide official college transcripts for any college outside of the Los Rios Community College District (American River, Cosumnes River, Folsom Lake or Sacramento City Colleges) to the Admissions and Records Office to be placed on your record prior to applying to the program.
- Complete a Course Verification Form prior to application.
- Instructions. Read over the Course Verification & App Instructions very carefully before you complete this form.
- Verification. The form must be verified by a Los Rios counselor. To ensure you and your counselor have enough time to verify courses during your appointment, fill in your form prior to your meeting.
- Read the Required Commitment for Completing the OTA Program and the Essential Functions Required of Allied Health Students
- The Occupational Therapy Assistant online application is open twice each year:
- Fall 2024: Applicants apply between midnight on August 21 and 11:59 pm on October 22.
- Spring 2025: Applicants apply between midnight on February 15 and 11:59 pm on April 15.
- Note:
- Students with an In Progress course taken during the Summer semester course must wait to apply until after grades have been posted to their transcript.
- Students with Fall In Progress coursework must show proof of enrollment at the time of application and submit proof of successful completion at the end of the semester to retain eligibility.
- Waitlisted courses cannot be counted for in-progress coursework.
Any questions should be sent to SCC-OTAInfo@scc.losrios.edu.
The list of qualified new applicants will be randomized and entered into the next available enrollment year on the waitlist. Applicants will be notified about their enrollment status and year approximately six weeks after the close of the application period.
The SCC OTA program uses a waitlist system for program enrollment. This enables a student to submit one application, rather than one each year as was the case before the waitlist. Once your application is approved, you will receive an enrollment date for when your cohort will begin. All cohorts begin in the spring semester.
While on the waitlist, students use this time to save additional money for school and fieldwork requirements. It provides time to arrange childcare and other family needs or to arrange transportation and housing. The waitlist also gives the student time to arrange life activities and responsibilities so that when enrolled in the program, their focus can be on a fast track to completion, certification, and employment.
That said, the waitlist is a dynamic process that can have many changes. For seats that open early, the list will shift so that the next in line are offered enrollment earlier than expected, if they choose. Open seats are offered in the order of eligibility on the waitlist, however, there have been instances of significant changes in the waitlist.
If accepted, students will receive instructions for maintaining their enrollment eligibility. As the student’s enrollment year approaches, detailed information will be provided about requirements that must be completed to enroll during their assigned semester.
Requirements include:
- Drug screen
- Background check
- CPR for healthcare providers
- TB test
- Proof of or receive necessary immunizations
- Physical exam
- Online clinical training courses
- Malpractice insurance
These costs are in addition to tuition, textbooks, name badge and lab fees. The estimated costs are approximately $1,000 and required by the beginning of the spring semester in which the student enters the program (these costs are subject to change). Students may be eligible for financial aid. Contact the Financial Aid office for more information about financial aid eligibility and assistance.
Students must be able to perform the Essential Functions Required of Allied Health Students and meet the Required Commitment for Completing the OTA Program.