OTA Application Requirements

Students may choose to follow their catalog rights for prerequisites to the program, or they may choose to follow the prerequisites to the program listed at time of entry.

If you plan to use catalog rights and meet eligibility with Fall 2025/prior course sequence (as listed below), you will need an "AA/AS General Education Requirements" form completed by a SCC counselor verifying your coursework and catalog year to maintain catalog rights.

If you already have an "AA/AS General Education Requirements" form completed and it is missing the catalog year, you will need to have a new form completed to upload into your 2025-2026 program application.

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.

Required General Education Fall 2025 and later – old to new Local GE

This table is for students who have completed general education (GE) courses for an AA or AS degree before Fall 2025 and plan to maintain their catalog rights to use SCC’s old GE pattern for their AA or AS degree. Students can use courses from the new GE areas (second column) to fulfill the corresponding old GE requirements (first column).

For example, if you need to complete a course from area IIb on the old GE pattern (first column), you can use the new GE pattern and take a course from either L1B or L2 (second column) to meet the IIb requirement.

Catalog Rights

For the purpose of graduating or earning a certificate from any college in the Los Rios Community College District, a student who attends at least one session (whether quarter, semester, or summer) in each calendar year at any California community college, California State University, University of California, or any regionally accredited institution of higher education, may choose to meet the requirements in effect at the Los Rios college from which the student intends to graduate, as follows:

• Requirements that were in effect at the time the student was admitted to a Los Rios college
• Requirements that were in effect at the time the student originally enrolled in an accredited college
• Requirements that were in effect at the intended date of graduation from a Los Rios college

Please note:

• A college may authorize or request substitution for discontinued courses.
• students who change their major field of study may be required to complete those requirements for the major in effect at the point of change.

For purposes of this section, "attendance" means taking classes in at least one session (semester or summer session) in each calendar year. Absence for attendance at another regionally accredited institution shall not be considered an interruption in attendance, per Los Rios Policy P-7242: Establishing Catalog Rights.

Exception

Students who possess a bachelor's (BA/BS) or higher degree from a college or university accredited through a regional accrediting agency recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) are deemed to have satisfied both the general education and graduation competency requirements for an AA/AS degree. Degrees from accredited institutions outside of the US will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Get General Education Guidance

If your goal is to earn an Occupational Therapy Assistant - Associate of Science (AS) degree without transfer, then you can follow the local AA/AS GE requirements or the Cal-GETC requirements to select your GE classes.

Regardless of what type of student you are, it's best to meet with a counselor to help you pick courses that will meet the GE requirements for your educational goal.

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.