The document summarizes the requirements and process for applying to the Occupational Therapy Assistant associate degree program at HGTC. It outlines that the 4 semester program accepts 22 students per year based on a weighted criteria scoring system. Applicants must complete prerequisite courses with a minimum 2.5 GPA, obtain 20 hours of observation, and submit their application by May 15. Acceptance is competitive, so students should aim for the highest GPA possible in prerequisites. Requirements after acceptance include tuition deposit, background check, health exam, and CPR certification. Program expenses are also outlined.

1. Occupational Therapy Assistant
Associate Degree
STRATEGIES TO ENHANCE PROGRAM SUCCESS

2. Overview
 4 semester program
 Admission is based on weighted criteria.
 Applications Due: May 15th each year to apply for a seat in the Fall
Semester (August start) class at the Grand Strand Campus. 22 top
qualified students will be accepted each year.
 Late or incomplete applications will not be reviewed for
admission.

3. Application Requirements
 Must be admitted to the College and currently eligible for enrollment.
 Complete all 6 Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) Prerequisite Courses
with a minimum grade of “C” and a GPA of 2.50. All courses must be within
the required time limits. Further information about these courses is provide
on the next slide.
 Submit proof of 20 hours of observation completed within 3 years prior to
applying for the OTA program. Documentation forms are available on the OTA
webpage under the Student Resources tab.

4. Occupational Therapy Assistant
Prerequisite Courses
The following 6 courses must be completed with a grade of ‘C’ or higher, minimum GPA of
2.50 and within the time limits, where indicated:
1. English Composition I (ENG 101)
2. Anatomy and Physiology I (BIO 210 – 5 year time limit & has a prerequisite of BIO 112
or 101)
3. Anatomy and Physiology II (BIO 211 – 5 year time limit)
4. General Psychology (PSY 201)
5. Either College Algebra or Probability and Statistics (MAT 110/120 – 10 year time limit)
6. One Humanities course

5. Observation Hours
 OTA applicants are required to schedule and complete 20 hours of observation in a facility with a
licensed occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant. Observation hours must be
completed in the three years prior to submitting your OTA application.
 Scheduling and completing the observation is the students’ responsibility.
 Observation may be completed at more than one facility – as long as the combined hours equal at
least 20 hours.
 The Observation Form must be signed by a licensed OT or OTA. Their contact information and license
number must be included.
 The completed observation form should be submitted to the Admissions office on any campus by the
application deadline. Please attach the form to your OTA application.

6. Weighted Criteria for Acceptance
 The scoring criteria on the next slide is used to determine which applicants will be accepted
into the Occupational Therapy Assistant program. The 22 students with the highest number of
points are accepted to begin the program in the Fall Semester at the Grand Strand Campus.
 Acceptance depends on your points vs. the points of the other applicants at that time.
Therefore, points required for acceptance to the program will change with each review
period.
 Acceptance into the OTA program is limited and competitive. There is no guarantee of
acceptance. Your grades are very important. Even though the minimum GPA requirement is
2.5, you should strive for a much higher GPA.

7. Occupational Therapy
Assistant Admission
Scoring Criteria
Pre-requisite core courses GPA (BIO210, BIO 211, ENG101,
MAT110/120, PSY201, and Humanities)
Points
Earned
3.91 – 4.00 13
3.81 – 3.90 12
3.71 – 3.80 11
3.61 – 3.70 10
3.51 – 3.60 9
3.41 – 3.50 8
3.31 – 3.40 7
3.21 – 3.30 6
3.11 – 3.20 5
3.01 – 3.10 4
2.91 – 3.00 3
2.81 – 2.90 2
2.75 – 2.80 1
Completed at least 8 credit hours of the OTA prerequisite
or co-requisite courses with an overall GPA of 2.5 or better
(BIO210, BIO211, ENG101, MAT110/120, PSY201, PSY203,
and Humanities) from HGTC or Coastal Carolina Univ.
(CCU)
2
Horry or Georgetown County Resident (as established by
the College)
1
Total Points

8. Be the BEST Applicant you can be!
Applying with the highest number of points you can obtain is important! Consider these options to increase
your points:
 Apply with the best grades possible: The grades in your prerequisite courses play a large part in OTA
acceptance. Strive for A’s to keep your GPA high. If you make C’s in some of your courses, consider
retaking the course(s) to get a higher grade. *Always check with financial aid before retaking courses as
it may affect your Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) if you retake too many or already have W’s, F’s
or D’s in other courses.
 Apply for and obtain residency status: If you are not coded as an “In-County resident”, go to
http://www.hgtc.edu/admissions/residency.html to complete a Residency Application. Obtaining a
South Carolina driver’s license and car registration (if the car is in your name) are normally an important
part of this process. Read the application and instructions carefully.

9. Requirements AFTER Acceptance
If you are accepted into the program, your acceptance letter will provide detailed instructions and deadlines for completing
the following items. DO NOT complete them before you are instructed. This information is being provided so that you can
plan ahead to cover the costs of these items.
1. Submit a $500.00 tuition deposit to reserve your seat. This is an out-of-pocket expense and not covered by financial aid.
2. Pass Certified Background Check and Drug Screening. The current cost for this is $72.00. The return of an unfavorable CBS and/or UDS
may result in a student being removed from the desired program. Clinical sites/facilities determine applicant’s eligibility to participate in
clinical studies based on their policies. If you complete the background check before being instructed to do so you will have to redo it
and pay the $72 again. The Background Check, drug screening, and payment of $72 will be required each semester while in the
program.
3. Complete a Health Physical and submit proof of required immunizations. (Physical and immunizations costs are your responsibility, so
plan ahead financially.)
4. Show proof of current Health Care Providers CPR. You may take a class through HGTC’s Continuing Education/Workforce Development
Department. You may register online for the course on the HGTC Continuing Education/Workforce Development website. This course
costs approximately $105.00.

10. Program Expenses
 You may view a comprehensive list of program expenses that a student can expect to
incur during enrollment in the Occupational Therapy Assistant curriculum under the
Student Resources tab on the OTA program webpage.
 Please keep in mind that these figures are approximations and are based on current
costs. Many of these expenses are payable to third parties and subject to change
without notice.
 Tuition is subject to change.
 Supplies and fees: Students will be responsible for items above and beyond tuition,
such as business causal clothes for fieldwork, clinical supplies, and items needed for
projects.

11. Occupational
Therapy Assistant
Program Schedule
 Occupational Therapy Assistant is a 4
semester program. Once accepted you
will attend year-round, including
summer. Please plan ahead financially
as you may not receive financial aid for
the summer. Clinicals will vary by
semester but may require 1-2 days a
week. Students may have to travel up to
a 50 mile radius to fulfill clinical
requirements.
First Semester (Fall) Third Semester (Summer)
OTA 101 Fundamentals of Occupational Therapy 3 OTA 221 Adult Physical Dysfunction II 4
OTA 105 Therapeutic Analysis in Occupational
Therapy
3 OTA 155 Gerontology
2
OTA 162 Psychosocial Dysfunction 3 OTA 245 Occupational Therapy Department
Management 2
OTA 200 Introduction to Kinesiology 3
OTA 144 OTA Clinical Introduction I 1 SEMESTER TOTAL 8
SEMESTER TOTAL 13
Second Semester (Spring) Fourth Semester (Fall)
OTA 220 Adult Physical Performance I 4 OTA 108 Professional Development 1
OTA 203 Kinesiology for Occupational Therapy 3 OTA 262 OTA Clinical Application I 7
OTA 176 Pediatric Development & Dysfunction 4 OTA 264 OTA Clinical Application II 7
OTA 144 OTA Clinical Introduction II 1 SEMESTER TOTAL 15
SEMESTER TOTAL 12
TOTAL PTA CREDIT HOURS 48
TOTAL PREREQUISITE CREDIT HOURS 20
TOTAL CREDIT HOURS 68

12. You have completed the
Occupational Therapy Assistant STEPS Session!
 HGTC reserves the right to change the program admission
requirements at any time. You must meet the admission requirements
that are in effect at the time you submit your application.