2025-26 Occupational Therapy Assistant Requirements and Application

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From submitting your application to admission to registration, Northwood Tech is available to help guide you through the admissions process. To help you successfully complete this program, Northwood Tech has developed a set of program requirements and technical standards. For students with a disability, reasonable accommodations are available to help you be successful in the program of your choice.


Admission Requirements

The first step to get admitted is to fill out a Northwood Tech application, and Northwood Tech will guide you from there. If you're not quite ready to become a student, visit a campus to get the full Northwood Tech experience. A campus tour will give you the opportunity to meet staff, instructors and students, tour the campus and get a real feel for the campus culture. 

  • Complete Online application form
  • Submit an official high school (or HSED/GED) transcript with graduation date.
    • If you are a current high school student, you can be admitted with an unofficial, or official, current transcript. Your final official transcript with graduation date must be submitted prior to the program starting or you will be withdrawn from the program.
  • Review and sign Background Check Disclosure
  • Out-of-State applicants sign a Professional Licensure Disclosure
  • Complete admissions meeting with a Northwood Tech counselor (academic admission requirements apply)

2025-26 Occupational Therapy Assistant Additional Program Information will be available April 2025.

2025-26 Occupational Therapy Assistant Additional Program Information-Transfer Track will be available April 2025.

Program-Specific Requirements

  • Submit Background Check fee
  • Have an acceptable Wisconsin Caregiver Background Check, National Criminal Background Check, Minnesota Caregiver Background Check (if applicable), and other states, if applicable
  • Complete physical exam, including immunizations
  • Possess current certification of "BLS Basic Life Support"
  • Review and sign Health Sciences Confidentiality Statement
  • Participate in a mandatory program orientation session

Get a feel for our campus culture, newly renovated spaces, faculty and staff. Find out if Northwood Tech is the right place for you. 

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2025-26 Occupational Therapy Assistant Student Handbook

  • 2025-26 Health Sciences & Occupational Therapy Assistant Student Policies will be 
                        available August 2025.

 

2025-26 OTA Fieldwork Handbook
Spring 2026 Fieldwork Level II dates:  TBD

  • 2025-26 Fieldwork Handbook Policies and Spring 26 dates will be available August 2025.

OTA Program Orientation-Fall 2025

  • 2025-26 Occupational Therapy Assistant Orientation documents will be available April 2025.

2025-26 OTA Reentry

  • 2025-26 OTA Reentry documents will be available August 2025.

OTA Withdrawal

  • Instructions for Withdrawal from OTA Core Courses 
    • If you are on this web page, your OTA Academic Advisor has been notified that you dropped your OTA core (10-514-XXX) courses.
      • If you are withdrawing from your OTA core (10-514-XXX) courses, the OTA program would like to gather data regarding your decision to withdraw. This data is useful in the OTA planning process. Thank you for providing this information.
      • Reentry students have priority reentry status for one year. For example, if you leave the program during or at the end of the Fall 2024 semester, you will maintain priority reentry until Fall 2025. Should you decide to postpone your reentry to the OTA program during the priority year, you will forfeit your priority reentry status and will be eligible for reentry after other students waiting to reenter have had the opportunity to reenter.
      • Please carefully review the Withdrawal from the OTA Program form. Please complete the form and email it to becky.mika@NorthwoodTech.edu or print and mail this form within one month of your exiting the program to the following address:
      • Becky Mika
        Northwood Technical College
        2100 Beaser Ave.
        Ashland, WI 54807

      • If you plan to return to the Northwood Tech OTA program, please review the Reentry process and complete the Intent to Reenter OTA Program form.
      • If you have questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact Becky Mika, OTA Program Director, at becky.mika@NorthwoodTech.edu or 715-319-7263.

Technology Requirements

If using Macintosh or Linux based computers, coursework must be submitted using your Office365 tools provided with your Northwood Tech email account. It is important to verify with your Program Faculty if non-Windows based computers are acceptable in the program.

View All Technology Requirements

Contact

Choose a campus to view contact information, or for general assistance, please contact us.

Rice Lake Admissions Contact

Nicole Messicci

Admissions Advisor

715.788.7144

Contact

Ashland Admissions Contact

Jennifer Bednarik

Admissions Advisor

715.685.3039

Contact

New Richmond Admissions Contact

Sherry Rehnelt

Admissions Advisor

715.752.8136

Contact

Superior Admissions Contact

Anna Kalin

Admissions Advisor

715.319.7331

Contact

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Take the Next Step

Are you ready to experience success? Northwood Tech staff are standing by to support you in reaching your educational and career goals, so do it. Take the leap.