USI Occupational Therapy Assistant Program

03/25/2026

Great night of collaboration, connection, and meaningful occupation!

This evening, our USI Occupational Therapy Assistant students partnered with the SMILE program and the USI Food and Nutrition program for a hands-on cooking group focused on both skill-building and fun. Together, participants prepared bean burritos, fresh pico de gallo, and homemade guacamole.

Beyond the food, the experience highlighted what occupational therapy is all about—supporting participation, promoting independence, and creating inclusive opportunities for individuals with Down syndrome to engage in meaningful activities. Our OTA students did an excellent job providing the right level of cueing, assistance, and encouragement while fostering a positive and supportive environment.

We are grateful for our continued partnership with SMILE and our colleagues in Food and Nutrition. Experiences like this are what make learning come to life.

03/21/2026

Mount Vernon schools is hiring a part time OT.

Search or browse thousands of teaching jobs and other school jobs from dozens of education job sites in one easy search. Sign up for daily or weekly job alert emails and apply online!

03/20/2026

Congratulations to Emily Lynch, COTA on passing the NBCOT COTA examination!
Your hard work, persistence, and dedication have paid off. This achievement reflects not only your academic and clinical commitment but also your readiness to make a meaningful difference in the lives of your future clients.
We are incredibly proud of you and can’t wait to see the impact you will make as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant.
Welcome to the profession! 👏

Emily states: "I am incredibly grateful to have been part of this program. I want to sincerely thank all of my professors and clinical instructors who invested their time, guidance, and support in helping me grow and discover the kind of therapist I aspire to be.

I am also so thankful for my family and friends. I truly could not have done this without your unwavering support and encouragement.

Above all, I thank God for guiding me every step of the way.

I am so excited for this next chapter as a COTA!!

Emily Lynch.jpeg

03/20/2026

One of our own! Congrats Taylor!

🎉Happy work anniversary! You are an important part of our team and what makes Center for Pediatric Therapy the place “Where Children Succeed”🎉

Our therapists are constantly engaged in educational opportunities to increase their clinical knowledge and bring that expertise into practice. Come see for yourself what sets our team of therapists apart when it comes to making a difference in the lives of children.

03/19/2026

Congratulations to Riley Ingle, COTA on passing the NBCOT COTA examination!

Your hard work, persistence, and dedication have paid off. This achievement reflects not only your academic and clinical commitment but also your readiness to make a meaningful difference in the lives of your future clients.
We are incredibly proud of you and can’t wait to see the impact you will make as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant.
Welcome to the profession! 👏

Riley states: "Passing the NBCOT exam is such a rewarding moment, and I’m incredibly grateful for the journey that brought me here.

First and foremost, I give thanks to God for granting me the strength, perseverance, and guidance to reach this milestone.

I want to thank my professors and clinical instructors for their guidance, patience, and dedication throughout this program. You’ve not only prepared me academically, but also helped shape me into a confident and compassionate future clinician.

To my family and loved ones, thank you for your unwavering support, encouragement, and constant belief in me through every challenge. I’m incredibly grateful for the friendships I’ve built along the way, and I truly couldn’t have done this without each of you.

This journey has pushed me, grown me, and prepared me for what’s ahead, and I’m so excited to begin this next chapter as a COTA and make a difference in the lives of others."

03/19/2026

USI ALS event to feature Duke neurologist and documentary screening March 3, 2026 Events Wellness The University of Southern Indiana will host Illuminate ALS, a special event at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 29 in Carter Hall, located in University Center West on the USI campus, to raise awareness for th...

03/17/2026

Congratulations to Mackenzie Brogan, COTA on passing the NBCOT COTA examination!

Your hard work, persistence, and dedication have paid off. This achievement reflects not only your academic and clinical commitment, but also your readiness to make a meaningful difference in the lives of your future clients.

We are incredibly proud of you and can’t wait to see the impact you will make as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant.

Welcome to the profession! 👏

Kenzie states: “I am so grateful for everything this Program has taught me, as well as the opportunities it has provided. This program not only taught me clinical skills, but also life skills. I would like to give my sincere appreciation to the instructors in the OTA program. These instructors dedicated any and all of their time to support the OTA students academically, as well as personally. Their guidance and encouragement has supported me throughout this program, to now passing this exam. I am excited to start this next chapter as a COTA, applying the knowledge and skills gained during my time as a student.

I am also truly grateful for the lifetime friendships I have gained over the last two years; friendships that started as classmates just learning together. Lastly, I would like to thank my friends and family for always being supportive and pushing me to be the best!”

03/16/2026

Congratulations to Dylan Wallace, COTA on passing the NBCOT COTA examination!

Your hard work, persistence, and dedication have paid off. This achievement reflects not only your academic and clinical commitment, but also your readiness to make a meaningful difference in the lives of your future clients.

We are incredibly proud of you and can’t wait to see the impact you will make as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant.

Welcome to the profession! 👏

Dylan states:

“From the very beginning of the program, I knew I was exactly where I was meant to be. Looking back, I truly couldn’t have asked for a better experience.

I’m so grateful for my cohort the friendships, support, and encouragement through everything meant so much, and I’m thankful to have gone through this journey with such great people.

A huge thank you to my professors and clinical instructors for everything you poured into us. I can’t say enough good things about the OTA program. The professors genuinely care about your success and go above and beyond to give you the best experience and education possible.

Thank you to my family for always making sure I had everything I needed to succeed and for being my biggest support system through it all.

Most of all, thank you God for carrying me through every step of this journey.

Excited and grateful to begin this next chapter as a COTA! 💙”

03/11/2026

This might be what the Class of 2026 looks like in between classes, but rest assured they are ready for their Level IA Fieldwork next week!

Comment some love, best wishes, and advice below as they prepare for their very FIRST fieldwork

Oh, and I’m sure they would love for you you to follow their class page on TikTok: USI OTA ‘26.

03/09/2026

NEWS: Indiana has become the fourth state to issue Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact privileges to practice. The OT Compact, a joint collaboration between AOTA and NBCOT®, is an interstate agreement that facilitates the practice of occupational therapy across Compact member states, equivalent to a license.

Now, practitioners who are licensed and reside in Indiana can join Ohio, Minnesota, and West Virginia practitioners as eligible to apply for and quickly obtain Compact privileges to practice in any of those states.

Find more information about the Compact, application process, and more: https://bit.ly/49QbsID

03/09/2026

Job Posting Alert!!!!