Changes to the OTA Program Admission Procedure 
Prior to May 2012 the OTA Program accepted applications from students at any time once they had completed the 4 prerequisite classes.  Using this system the program developed a 3.5 year wait list, which was disheartening to students who wanted to apply to the program.  To resolve this problem the OTA program stopped taking applications in May 2012 and has developed some changes to the admissions process.  Please note that these changes will take place once all of the students currently on the wait list have been admitted to the program.  Based on the current wait list the target date to begin accepting applications will be in June to September 2014 for starting the program in the spring semester of 2015.  Although there are currently students on the wait list for that semester, it expected that there will be room for additional students. 
After re-opening the application process in June 2014, the OTA program will have two periods of time when applications will be accepted.  These are January to April for the subsequent fall semester and June to September for the subsequent spring semester.  Students who apply to the program will need to complete the following:
1.	The four prerequisite classes will remain the same – English (freshman composition), Speech (interpersonal communication or public speaking), General Psychology, and Anatomy & Physiology.  The only difference is that the 5 year recency requirement for Anatomy & Physiology will be increased to 10 years. 
2.	Students will be required to take the Health Occupations Basic Entrance Test (HOBET) and submit the results with the application.  
a.	The cost of this test is approximately $35 and will be paid by the applicant. 
3.	The reading placement test must be taken at SAC and turned in with the application unless the student has a Bachelor’s degree from a United States college.
4.	The math placement test must be taken at SAC and turned in with the application unless the math requirement of intermediate algebra has been met or the student has a Bachelor’s degree from a United States college. 
Application must include official transcripts for the prerequisite classes and the scores from the HOBET, reading and math tests in order to be accepted. 
Once an application has been accepted the student will be scheduled to take an in-class writing assignment.  This will be a 20 minute writing assignment that will be completed in the OTA classroom.  
Once all applications and writing assignments have been completed, potential students will be ranked according to a point system.  Points will be assigned based on the following:
•	Grades on prerequisite classes
•	Scores on HOBET test
•	Scores in-class writing assignment 

The 33 students with the highest number of points will be accepted into the program for the following semester.  An additional 6 students will be placed on an alternate list.  Students who are not accepted have the opportunity to improve their HOBET scores and apply during the next application period.