North Carolina · 2027 admissions
Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) Schools in North Carolina
By Deepam Pawar, OT · Updated October 9, 2026 · Sources: ACOTE directory + each program’s own website
North Carolina has 11 occupational therapy assistant programs listed by ACOTE (10 associate, 1 bachelor's). Graduates take the NBCOT COTA exam and then apply for a state license. OTAs in North Carolina earn a median $69,390 a year.
Compare OTA programs in North Carolina
NBCOT COTA results, length and published cost side by side. Accredited programs first, sorted by 2025 pass rate.
| Program | Degree | NBCOT 2025 | Length | Published cost | Starts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabarrus College of Health Sciences Concord | Associate | 100% | 2 years | $39,145 | Fall |
| Cape Fear Community College Wilmington | Associate | 100% | — | $5,320 | — |
| Central Piedmont Community College Charlotte | Associate | 100% | 2 years | — | January (spring) |
| Durham Technical Community College Durham | Associate | 100% | — | $7,505* | — |
| Pitt Community College Winterville | Associate | 100% | — | $9,177* | — |
| Rowan-Cabarrus Community College Salisbury | Associate | 100% | — | — | — |
| Southwestern Community College-Jackson/Sylva Campus Sylva | Associate | 100% | — | — | — |
| Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College Asheville | Associate | 89% | — | — | — |
| South College-Asheville Campus Asheville | Associate | 0% | — | — | — |
| Central Carolina Community College Applicant Sanford | Associate | — | — | — | — |
| Methodist University Candidacy Fayetteville | Bachelor’s | — | — | — | — |
— = not published or not yet verified. Costs are as each school publishes them (full-program tuition; * = all-in total). NBCOT = share of new graduates passing in 2025. Click a program for sources and quotes.
All OTA programs in North Carolina
| Program | City | Length | Format | NBCOT | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College OTA associate degree | Asheville | See program | See program | 89% ’25 | Accredited |
| Cabarrus College of Health Sciences Associate of Science (AS) | Concord | 2 years | Full-time or part-time | 100% ’25 | Accredited |
| Cape Fear Community College OTA associate degree | Wilmington | See program | See program | 100% ’25 | Accredited |
| Central Piedmont Community College Associate of Applied Science (AAS) | Charlotte | 2 years | On-campus | 100% ’25 | Accredited |
| Durham Technical Community College Associate of Applied Science (AAS) | Durham | See program | See program | 100% ’25 | Accredited |
| Pitt Community College Associate of Applied Science (AAS) | Winterville | See program | See program | 100% ’25 | Accredited |
| Rowan-Cabarrus Community College Associate in Applied Science (AAS) | Salisbury | See program | See program | 100% ’25 | Accredited |
| South College-Asheville Campus Associate of Science (AS) | Asheville | See program | Hybrid | 0% ’25 | Accredited |
| Southwestern Community College-Jackson/Sylva Campus Associate of Applied Science (AAS) | Sylva | See program | See program | 100% ’25 | Accredited |
| Central Carolina Community College OTA associate degree | Sanford | See program | See program | — | Applicant |
| Methodist University Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy Assistant | Fayetteville | See program | See program | — | Candidacy |
Status and degree level from the ACOTE directory. Length and format only where confirmed on the program’s own website. NBCOT = share of the program’s new graduates who passed the NBCOT exam in the latest year reported (NBCOT school performance data, retrieved 2026-10-08); new programs have no results yet.
Online and hybrid OTA programs in North Carolina
No OTA program is fully online: every accredited program includes in-person labs and at least 16 weeks of full-time Level II fieldwork. These North Carolina programs offer the most flexibility, based on the school’s own description or ACOTE’s distance-education figure:
- South College-Asheville Campus (Asheville) — format: Hybrid
Pay in North Carolina
U.S. median for occupational therapy assistants: $72,300. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025 (SOC 31-2011). Compare all states.
OTAs in North Carolina are licensed by the North Carolina Board of Occupational Therapy. How to get licensed in North Carolina → · How to become an OTA · OTA salary by state
Frequently asked questions
How many OTA programs are in North Carolina?
ACOTE lists 11 occupational therapy assistant programs at 11 schools in North Carolina: 10 associate-degree and 1 bachelor's-degree. 2 programs are still working toward full accreditation.
How long is OTA school in North Carolina?
Most OTA associate programs take about two years including fieldwork, and every accredited OTA program includes at least 16 weeks of full-time Level II fieldwork. Check the length we confirmed for each program in the table above; some schools also require prerequisite courses before you start.
How much do OTAs make in North Carolina?
The median annual wage for occupational therapy assistants in North Carolina was $69,390 (BLS, May 2025).
How do I become a COTA in North Carolina?
Graduate from an ACOTE-accredited OTA program, pass the NBCOT COTA exam, then apply for a license from the North Carolina occupational therapy licensing board. See how licensing works.
Can I become an occupational therapist later?
Yes. Many OTAs later complete an OTA-to-OT bridge program. North Carolina has 13 OT programs; see OT schools in North Carolina and bridge programs.
Sources: ACOTE school directory (retrieved October 9, 2026); each program’s website; BLS OEWS (May 2025). Found an error? Tell us.