OTA Admission Criteria

Mail application materials to:

OTA Program
McLennan Community College
1400 College Drive
Waco, Texas 76708

Applications are not accepted by e-mail.  Applications may be mailed or hand delivered to Marisa Moore, HPN 118 or Glynnis Gaines ADM 303, Monday through Thursday, until the application deadline. 

Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission, you must meet these minimum requirements when you apply:

• Be 18 years old or older
• Be a high school graduate or have an equivalent diploma
• Be TSI complete
• Have completed or be currently enrolled in all pre-requisite courses
• Have a minimum GPA of 2.5 in prerequisite and co-requisite courses
• Earn a grade of C or better in all pre-requisite and co-requisite courses

View Admissions Criteria. 

Prerequisite Courses:

• BIOL 2401 Anatomy & Physiology I
• PSYC 2301 General Psychology
• HPRS 1206 Medical Terminology
• ENGL 1301 Composition I

Corequisite Courses:

• BIOL 2402 Anatomy & Physiology II *
• PSYC 2314 Lifespan Growth & Development *
• 3-Credit Hour Language, Philosophy, & Culture OR Creative Arts Elective *

*these courses may be taken as a co-requisite.

Applications are reviewed and scored using a scoring rubric. After the applications are scored, the Health Professions Admissions Committee meet to approve students for admission into the Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program.

The OTA program begins each fall semester. Applicants must complete 40 hours of volunteer work or work experience in two different settings. You must complete 20 hours in each setting and document your hours using the  McLennan OTA Occupational Therapy Experience form.

Applications submitted without these forms will not be accepted. Applicants must also submit two (2)  Basic Workplace Skills Assessment forms: 

• One form must be completed by an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant.
• The second form may be completed by another reference such as a supervisor, teacher, or employer

Examples of occupational therapy settings:

• Acute care hospital inpatient occupational therapy
• Outpatient occupational therapy
• Pediatric occupational therapy
• Acute inpatient rehabilitation hospital
• Mental health inpatient or outpatient setting
• Skilled nursing facility
• Home health occupational therapy

Admission to the McLennan Occupational Therapy Assistant program is conditional upon completing a criminal background check and drug screen. Students are responsible for paying the initial criminal background check and drug screen. If you have any criminal convictions, you should contact the program director for further advising. Licensure Information: Most states, including Texas require a license to practice occupational therapy. If you have a felony or misdemeanor conviction (other than minor traffic violations), it is your responsibility to contact the following organizations to determine eligibility for certification and licensure: National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy ( NBCOT) 301-990-7979 Executive Council of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Examiners ( ECPTOTE) 512-305-6900 The faculty wants every student to have a successful experience in the program and enjoy a rewarding career in occupational therapy. Criminal background checks help protect patients, visitors and healthcare workers in hospitals and treatment facilities. If you have questions about the criminal background check, please contact the program director or program faculty member.

Application Materials

To be considered for admission, you must submit all completed application materials in the OTA office by the deadline. This includes:

• Completed application form
• Transcripts (including MCC)
• Two Workplace Skills Assessment forms
• Two Occupational Therapy Experience forms (documentation of volunteer hours)
• Verification of attendance at an OTA Program General Information Session (form received at time of attendance)

You must meet all admission requirements for McLennan Community College.

Important: You must submit a completely new application packet  EACH time you apply to the program. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Background Check Requirement

Admission to the McLennan Occupational Therapy Assistant program is conditional upon completing a criminal background check and drug screen. 

Students are responsible for paying the initial criminal background check and drug screen.   

If you have any criminal convictions, you should contact the program director for further advising.

Licensure Information

Most states, including Texas require a license to practice occupational therapy.

If you have a felony or misdemeanor conviction (other than minor traffic violations), it is your responsibility to contact the following organizations to determine eligibility for certification and licensure:

National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy ( NBCOT)  301-990-7979 

Executive Council of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Examiners
( ECPTOTE)
512-305-6900

The faculty wants every student to have a successful experience in the program and enjoy a rewarding career in occupational therapy. Criminal background checks help protect patients, visitors and healthcare workers in hospitals and treatment facilities.

If you have questions about the criminal background check, please contact the program director or program faculty member.

Program Director, Occupational Therapy Assistant
254-299-8154