OTA programs in Mississippi

2 OTA (occupational therapy assistant) programs with costs, results and funding that can make them free

2 schools offer these occupational therapy assistant programs, and Mississippi has approved every one for workforce funding. Each shows its price if you pay yourself and how past students did.

Occupational therapy assistants help occupational therapists treat clients, guiding them through exercises and teaching new ways to manage everyday tasks such as dressing and bathing. Most need an associate degree from an accredited OTA program and usually a state license, which takes the program, fieldwork and a passed exam; passing it also earns the title Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA).¹

In Mississippi, both programs ask for a high school diploma or equivalent.

Both are the same kind of program: OTA (associate degree).

See the 2 programs

How much do OTA programs cost in Mississippi?

$6,040 to $9,800

from the lowest-priced program to the highest, if you pay yourself

These two programs

Finished the program: Left out; 6 in 10 of Mississippi's programs report exactly 100%, far more than in other states
Working 6 months later: 89%
Earned a year, estimated: about $26,500
Length: 64 to 68 weeks

Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Only programs approved for workforce funding are listed; other schools in Mississippi may also offer OTA programs. How these figures are made

Are there free OTA programs in Mississippi?

Yes, if you qualify. WIOA (public workforce funding) can pay for any program on this page, in full or in part, depending on local limits.²³⁴For a degree, the job center first looks at grants such as a federal Pell Grant; WIOA pays toward what they don't cover.⁴In program year 2024 it paid toward the training of at least 6 people at 1 of the 2 programs here.
Ask an American Job Center whether you qualify, or call 1-877-872-5627.⁵ Before funding training, the center goes through an assessment and a career plan with you.⁴
Or pay yourself. These programs cost $6,040 to $9,800.

Who qualifies, and other ways to pay: financial aid, grants and the GI Bill

All 2 OTA programs in Mississippi approved for WIOA funding

2 programs

OTA (associate degree)In personHigh school diploma or equivalent
Occupational Therapy
Itawamba Community College
Tupelo
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
Itawamba Community College, TupeloOTA (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimated$26,500
Price if you pay yourself$6,040
6 students trained with WIOA funding
More details about Occupational Therapy at Itawamba Community College
Finished
Left out
Working at 6 months
89%
Earned in a quarter
$6,628
Length
68 weeks, 34 hours a week
Cost of supplies
$1,000
Students counted
69
Earned a year, estimated
$26,500
Price if you pay yourself
$6,040
students trained with WIOA funding
6
OTA (associate degree)In personHigh school diploma or equivalent
Occupational Therapy
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College - Perkinston (Main) Campus
Perkinston
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College - Perkinston (Main) Campus, PerkinstonOTA (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
Price if you pay yourself$9,800
More details about Occupational Therapy at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College - Perkinston (Main) Campus
Finished
Not reported
Working at 6 months
Not reported
Earned in a quarter
Not reported
Length
64 weeks, 40 hours a week
Cost of supplies
$1,000
Students counted
38
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Price if you pay yourself
$9,800

How to pay for OTA programs in Mississippi

WIOA funding can pay for OTA programs in Mississippi

Every program on this page is approved for it. Whether you qualify, how much your local area pays and how to apply are on our page Does WIOA pay for job training?

Financial aid and grants for OTA programs

Most students can get federal student aid for college, career school or trade school. A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, usually doesn't have to be repaid. Ask the school whether its program qualifies.⁶⁷

GI Bill for OTA programs

Veterans, service members and qualified dependents can use GI Bill benefits for non-college training programs.⁸

The program list does not show which programs accept these. Ask the school.

OTA programs in Tupelo, Gulfport and other Mississippi cities

Choosing an area filters the program list above.

Other training in Mississippi

How OTA programs compare with the rest of allied health: Allied health programs in Mississippi

Where the Mississippi occupational therapy assistant program numbers come from

Which Mississippi occupational therapy assistant programs are on this list?

These are the occupational therapy assistant programs Mississippi approved for WIOA funding (public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act), as reported to the US Department of Labor for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Each state keeps its approved programs on an eligible training provider list (ETPL).⁹ The list here covers programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Schools that never applied for approval are missing, so this is a part of what Mississippi offers.

How the prices and results of Mississippi occupational therapy assistant programs are measured

Prices are tuition and required fees for someone paying without workforce funding, as the school reported them; check the current price with the school. Results describe students who left each program in recent years, so they are no guarantee, and the yearly earnings are the reported quarter times four, an estimate. A program without a "Trained with WIOA funding" line may still take WIOA students. Where a field was left empty or withheld, the page says "Not reported", and "Left out" where a figure was filed but failed one of our checks; nothing is estimated to fill a gap. Where the numbers come from explains each figure in full.

How reliable are the Mississippi figures?

We leave out the share who finished for Mississippi: 6 in 10 of its programs report exactly 100%, far more than in other states.

Sources for the facts about OTA programs in Mississippi

Show the 9 sourcesHide the sources

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