Tennessee · 2027 admissions
Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) Schools in Tennessee
By Deepam Pawar, OT · Updated October 9, 2026 · Sources: ACOTE directory + each program’s own website
Tennessee has 6 occupational therapy assistant programs listed by ACOTE (6 associate, 0 bachelor's). Graduates take the NBCOT COTA exam and then apply for a state license. OTAs in Tennessee earn a median $62,420 a year.
Compare OTA programs in Tennessee
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South College-Knoxville Campus Knoxville | Associate | 100% | — | — | — |
| Walters State Community College-Niswonger Campus Greeneville | Associate | — | — | — | — |
| Concorde Career College-Memphis Memphis | Associate | 94% | As few as 20 months | — | — |
| Roane State Community College Oak Ridge | Associate | 94% | — | $16,321* | — |
| Nashville State Community College Nashville | Associate | 68% | 2 years | — | — |
| South College-Nashville Campus Nashville | Associate | 67% | — | — | — |
— = 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 Tennessee
| Program | City | Length | Format | NBCOT | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Concorde Career College-Memphis Associate of Applied Science (AAS) | Memphis | As few as 20 months | See program | 94% ’25 | Accredited |
| Nashville State Community College Associate of Applied Science (AAS) | Nashville | 2 years | See program | 68% ’25 | Accredited |
| Roane State Community College Associate of Applied Science (AAS) | Oak Ridge | 3 academic semesters + 1 fieldwork semester | Online/hybrid courses + face-to-face labs | 94% ’25 | Accredited |
| South College-Knoxville Campus Associate of Science (AS) | Knoxville | See program | Hybrid | 100% ’25 | Accredited |
| South College-Nashville Campus Associate of Science (AS) | Nashville | See program | Hybrid | 67% ’25 | Accredited (probationary) |
| Walters State Community College-Niswonger Campus OTA associate degree | Greeneville | See program | See program | 100% ’22 | Accredited |
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 Tennessee
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 Tennessee programs offer the most flexibility, based on the school’s own description or ACOTE’s distance-education figure:
- Roane State Community College (Oak Ridge) — format: Online/hybrid courses + face-to-face labs — ACOTE: 50-74% delivered by distance education
- South College-Knoxville Campus (Knoxville) — format: Hybrid
- South College-Nashville Campus (Nashville) — format: Hybrid
Pay in Tennessee
U.S. median for occupational therapy assistants: $72,300. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025 (SOC 31-2011). Compare all states.
OTAs in Tennessee are licensed by the Tennessee Board of Occupational Therapy (Department of Health). How to get licensed in Tennessee → · How to become an OTA · OTA salary by state
Frequently asked questions
How many OTA programs are in Tennessee?
ACOTE lists 6 occupational therapy assistant programs at 6 schools in Tennessee: 6 associate-degree and 0 bachelor's-degree.
How long is OTA school in Tennessee?
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 Tennessee?
The median annual wage for occupational therapy assistants in Tennessee was $62,420 (BLS, May 2025).
How do I become a COTA in Tennessee?
Graduate from an ACOTE-accredited OTA program, pass the NBCOT COTA exam, then apply for a license from the Tennessee 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. Tennessee has 12 OT programs; see OT schools in Tennessee and bridge programs.
Sources: ACOTE school directory (retrieved October 9, 2026); each program’s website; BLS OEWS (May 2025). Found an error? Tell us.