OTA programs in New York

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

3 schools offer these occupational therapy assistant programs, and New York 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 New York, 1 of the 3 programs takes students without a high school diploma and 2 ask for a diploma or equivalent.

All 3 are the same kind of program: OTA (associate degree).

See the 3 programs

How much do OTA programs cost in New York?

$8,880 to $15,031

is what the 3 programs with a price cost if you pay yourself

In the typical program

Finished the program: Not reported; None of the 3 programs report it
Working 6 months later: Not reported; None of the 3 programs report it
Earned a year, estimated: Not reported; None of the 3 programs report it
Length: Not enough data; 3 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5

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

Are there free OTA programs in New York?

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.⁴
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 $8,880 to $15,031.

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

All 3 OTA programs in New York approved for WIOA funding

3 programs

OTA (associate degree)HybridHigh school diploma or equivalent
A.A.S. Occupational Therapy Assistant
Maria College
Albany
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
Maria College, AlbanyOTA (associate degree) · Accredited schoolHybrid · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
Price if you pay yourself$8,880
Program website, A.A.S. Occupational Therapy Assistant at Maria College
More details about A.A.S. Occupational Therapy Assistant at Maria College
Finished
Not reported
Working at 6 months
Not reported
Earned in a quarter
Not reported
Length
53 weeks, 50 hours a week
Cost of supplies
None listed
Students counted
Not reported
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Price if you pay yourself
$8,880
Program website, A.A.S. Occupational Therapy Assistant at Maria College
OTA (associate degree)In personNo diploma needed
AAS Occupational Therapy Assistant
Jamestown Community College
Jamestown
Accredited school
No diploma needed
Jamestown Community College, JamestownOTA (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · No diploma needed
Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
Price if you pay yourself$12,385
Program website, AAS Occupational Therapy Assistant at Jamestown Community College
More details about AAS Occupational Therapy Assistant at Jamestown Community College
Finished
Not reported
Working at 6 months
Not reported
Earned in a quarter
Not reported
Length
53 weeks, 50 hours a week
Cost of supplies
None listed
Students counted
Not reported
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Price if you pay yourself
$12,385
Program website, AAS Occupational Therapy Assistant at Jamestown Community College
OTA (associate degree)HybridHigh school diploma or equivalent
Occupational Therapy Assistant A.A.S.
Erie Community College-North
Williamsville
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
Erie Community College-North, WilliamsvilleOTA (associate degree) · Accredited schoolHybrid · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
Price if you pay yourself$15,031
Program website, Occupational Therapy Assistant A.A.S. at Erie Community College-North
More details about Occupational Therapy Assistant A.A.S. at Erie Community College-North
Finished
Not reported
Working at 6 months
Not reported
Earned in a quarter
Not reported
Length
53 weeks, 50 hours a week
Cost of supplies
None listed
Students counted
Not reported
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Price if you pay yourself
$15,031
Program website, Occupational Therapy Assistant A.A.S. at Erie Community College-North

How to pay for OTA programs in New York

WIOA funding can pay for OTA programs in New York

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 Albany, Jamestown, Buffalo and other New York cities

Choosing an area filters the program list above.

Other training in New York

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

Where the New York occupational therapy assistant program numbers come from

Which New York occupational therapy assistant programs are on this list?

These are the occupational therapy assistant programs New York 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 New York offers.

How the prices and results of New York 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 New York figures?

The US Department of Labor's own results site lists New York among the states with "known data quality concerns".¹⁰ The figures here are shown as the state reported them; check them with the school before you enroll.

Sources for the facts about OTA programs in New York

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