OTA programs in Florida

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 Florida 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 Florida, 2 of the 3 programs ask for a high school diploma or equivalent and 1 asks for earlier courses first.

By kind, the 3 programs here are OTA (associate degree, 2 programs) and OTA program (level not stated, 1 program).

See the 3 programs

How much do OTA programs cost in Florida?

$8,304 to $11,879

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

In the typical program

Finished the program: Not enough data; 2 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Working 6 months later: Not enough data; 2 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Earned a year, estimated: Not enough data; 2 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Length: Not enough data; 2 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 Florida may also offer OTA programs. How these figures are made

Are there free OTA programs in Florida?

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 $8,304 to $11,879.

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

All 3 OTA programs in Florida approved for WIOA funding

3 programs

OTA (associate degree)In personHigh school diploma or equivalent
Occupational Therapy Assistant 2020
State College Of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota-Cs
Bradenton
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
State College Of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota-Cs, BradentonOTA (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimated$31,000
Price if you pay yourself$11,879
Program website, Occupational Therapy Assistant 2020 at State College Of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota-Cs
More details about Occupational Therapy Assistant 2020 at State College Of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota-Cs
Finished
68%
Working at 6 months
77%
Earned in a quarter
$7,754
Length
Left out
Cost of supplies
$3,224
Students counted
95
Earned a year, estimated
$31,000
Price if you pay yourself
$11,879
Program website, Occupational Therapy Assistant 2020 at State College Of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota-Cs
OTA (associate degree)In personHigh school diploma or equivalent
Occupational Therapy Assistant (AS Degree)
Keiser University - CSB
Melbourne
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
Keiser University - CSB, MelbourneOTA (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimated$9,900
Price if you pay yourself$9,500
More details about Occupational Therapy Assistant (AS Degree) at Keiser University - CSB
Finished
71%
Working at 6 months
75%
Earned in a quarter
$2,474
Length
96 weeks, 30 hours a week
Cost of supplies
None listed
Students counted
28
Earned a year, estimated
$9,900
Price if you pay yourself
$9,500
OTA program (level not stated)OnlineEducation and courses
Occupational Therapy Assistant
Polk State College-Cs
Based in Winter Haven, FL
Accredited school
Education and courses
Polk State College-Cs, based in Winter Haven, FLOTA program (level not stated) · Accredited schoolOnline · Education and courses
Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
Price if you pay yourself$8,304
Program website, Occupational Therapy Assistant at Polk State College-Cs
More details about Occupational Therapy Assistant at Polk State College-Cs
Finished
Not reported
Working at 6 months
Not reported
Earned in a quarter
Not reported
Length
60 weeks, 5 hours a week
Cost of supplies
$1,284
Students counted
Not reported
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Price if you pay yourself
$8,304
Program website, Occupational Therapy Assistant at Polk State College-Cs

How to pay for OTA programs in Florida

WIOA funding can pay for OTA programs in Florida

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 North Port, Palm Bay and other Florida cities

Choosing an area filters the program list above. 1 program is online.

Other training in Florida

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

Where the Florida occupational therapy assistant program numbers come from

Which Florida occupational therapy assistant programs are on this list?

These are the occupational therapy assistant programs Florida 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 Florida offers.

How the prices and results of Florida 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.

Sources for the facts about OTA programs in Florida

Show the 9 sourcesHide the sources

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