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COTA® Prep Courses
Find a COTA® Prep Course near you
TherapyEd’s one-day Prep Class creates a social learning atmosphere that is individual, responsive, immediate and dynamic. Our expert instructors motivate students to prepare for the COTA® exam and provide the best tools and resources to implement an efficient and successful study plan.
#1
OTA Exam Prep Provider
| DATE | VENUE | LOCATION | FORMAT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
November 3
2026
|
Cossatot Community College (Central Time Zone)
COTA® EXAM
|
Online Course | Online | |
|
December 3
2026
|
Delgado Community College
COTA® EXAM
|
New Orleans, Louisiana | On-Campus | |
|
December 11
2026
|
University of Southern Indiana
COTA® EXAM
|
Evansville, Indiana | On-Campus | |
|
December 12
2026
|
Penn State – Berks
COTA® EXAM
|
Reading, Pennsylvania | On-Campus | |
|
December 15
2026
|
St. Charles Community College (Central Time Zone)
COTA® EXAM
|
Online Course | Online | |
|
January 15
2027
|
PIMA Medical Institute-Tucson (Mountain Time Zone)
COTA® EXAM
|
Online Course | Online | |
|
February 18
2027
|
American Career College (CLOSED)
COTA® EXAM
|
Anaheim, California | On-Campus | |
|
February 23
2027
|
Indiana University (Eastern Time Zone)
COTA® EXAM
|
Online Course | Online | |
|
February 27
2027
|
State College of Florida
COTA® EXAM
|
Sarasota, Florida | On-Campus | |
|
February 27
2027
|
Fox College
COTA® EXAM
|
Tinley Park, Illinois | On-Campus | |
|
April 27
2027
|
PIMA Medical Institute – Houston
COTA® EXAM
|
Houston, Texas | On-Campus |
📅 One-Day Format
Designed to fit around your busy schedule.
📘 Study Guide Included
Tuition is $230.00. Includes the Review & Study Guide — shipped when you register. Already own it? Register at the discounted $160.00 course-without-Guide price.
🔄 Pass Guarantee
If you take our course and don’t pass, you can retake it anywhere, anytime — for free.
🏛️ Host a Class
Interested in hosting a TherapyEd course at your university? Contact us to learn more →
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Course Agenda
What to expect over one day.
A structured, intensive prep course covering content tested on the COTA® exam — plus critical reasoning and test-taking strategy.
Schedule may vary depending on course questions. We are committed to answering all questions, which may extend the schedule.
Our Instructors
Taught by leaders in the profession.
TherapyEd instructors are Program Directors, Professors, Clinicians, and Fellows — consistently rated “Excellent” by course participants nationwide.
Amy E. Bryant
M.Ed., OTR/L
Amy E. Bryant
M.Ed., OTR/L
Amy Bryant is an Instructor for TherapyEd and has been an occupational therapist for 32 years. She has served as the OTA program director at Keiser University in Pembroke Pines, FL and at Middle Georgia State University in Cochran, GA. She received her Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy from the University of New England in 1990, and her Master’s in Adult Education from the University of Georgia in 2007. She has completed one year of the Ed.D program at the University of St Augustine. She has spent the majority of her career in OTA education serving as a faculty member, academic fieldwork coordinator, and as a program director. She is passionate about assisting students in their preparation for the certification exam, both in regards to content and for issues related to test taking skills and test anxiety. Currently she remains active in OT/OTA education through consulting and guest lectures, and uses all her OT skills while teaching ESL classes to adults.
Donna M. Costa
DHS, OTR/L, FAOTA
Donna M. Costa
DHS, OTR/L, FAOTA
Dr. Costa is an Instructor for TherapyEd and formerly an Associate Professor and Program Director at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Donna was also formerly the Chair of the Occupational Therapy Program at Stony Brook University in New York and also served on the faculty of the University of Utah. She earned a doctorate from the University of Indianapolis in Occupational Therapy, as well as a Master’s degree in Health Care Administration from the New School of Social Research in NY, and dual baccalaureate degrees in Occupational Therapy and Psychology from the University of Buffalo. Dr. Costa is a Fellow of the American Occupational Therapy Association and has served on the AOTA’s Board of Directors. She is the author of three books on fieldwork education published by AOTA Press, as well as numerous articles which have appeared in OT Practice. Donna serves on the editorial review boards of the American Journal of Occupational Therapy and Occupational Therapy in Health Care.
Heather Panczykowski
D.H. Sc., OTR/L
Heather Panczykowski
D.H. Sc., OTR/L
Dr. Panczykowski is an Instructor for TherapyEd and an Associate Professor and Program Director at Jamestown Community College, SUNY in Jamestown, NY. She received her doctorate in Health Sciences from Nova Southeastern University, her Master’s from the State University of New York at Buffalo and her Bachelor’s in Occupational Therapy from Keuka College. She serves as the Vice-Chairperson of the Academic Leadership Council of the AOTA, and has worked in a variety of health-care settings including in-patient rehabilitation, school systems, early intervention, and in-home health. She continues her clinical practice while teaching, believing that to be a good teacher she needs to continue to be in the practice environment.
Jeanine Stancanelli
OTD, MPH, OTR/L
Jeanine Stancanelli
OTD, MPH, OTR/L
Jeanine Stancanelli is an Instructor for TherapyEd and an Associate Professor in the Graduate Occupational Therapy Program at Mercy College in New York. She received her B.S. in Occupational Therapy from Quinnipiac University, her Master’s of Public Health from Southern Connecticut State University, and her Doctor of Occupational Therapy degree from the University of St. Augustine. She has over 21 years of clinical experience and has been teaching in higher education for almost 15 years. She has worked in all facets of adult physical rehabilitation including acute and sub acute rehabilitation, acute care, home health care, and outpatient rehabilitation. Her teaching focuses on adult rehabilitation, geriatrics, and neuroscience and her research is related to healthy aging, health promotion, and driving.
Paula Carey
OTD, OTR/L
Paula Carey
OTD, OTR/L
Dr. Paula D. Carey, OTD, OTR/L has been an instructor for TherapyEd for over 18 years and has been an occupational therapy educator for over 30 years at Utica College. She served as the weekend coordinator and as the program director for occupational therapy at Utica College, but has now retired from full-time teaching. She earned her Post-Professional Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from Chatham University, Master of Science in Adult Education from Syracuse University, Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy from Utica College, and Associate degree in Occupational Therapy Assistant from Herkimer College. She is invested in facilitating exam candidates’ successful preparation for the occupational therapy and the occupational therapy assistant certification examinations. Her primary research interests relate to occupational therapy education and productive aging in the areas of driving and stress management and coping.
Regina M. Lehman
M.S., OT/L
Regina M. Lehman
M.S., OT/L
Regina Lehman is an Instructor for TherapyEd and a Professor and Program Director at LaGuardia Community College, CUNY in New York. She earned her Masters of Science degree in occupational therapy at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. In addition to directing and teaching in the OTA Program, Ms. Lehman is the Faculty Co-Director of Assessment and Institutional Learning for LAGCC. She is a contributor to TherapyEd’s National OTA Certification Exam Review & Study Guide with expertise in Cardiovascular and Pulmonary System Disorders. Ms. Lehman has been an occupational therapist for over 35 years and an occupational therapy educator in both OT and OTA programs for over 30 years. Her areas of expertise include adult, geriatric, and pediatric rehabilitation; health care and rehabilitation administration; outcomes assessment; and education. Prior to joining the faculty at LAGCC as the OTA Program Director, she was an Assistant Vice President and Director of Rehabilitation at St. Barnabas Hospital in New York City. Ms. Lehman is a long-standing advocate of occupational therapy assistant education and practice. She serves on the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Task Force to examine barriers to practice for OTAs. She has published multiple scholarly works in journals and occupational therapy texts.
Thomas Fisher
PhD, OTR/L, CCM, FAOTA
Thomas Fisher
PhD, OTR/L, CCM, FAOTA
Dr. Fisher is an Instructor for TherapyEd and Dean Emeritus and Professor Emeritus of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences at Indiana University. He received his PhD in Education Psychology and his EdS in Educational & Counseling Psychology at the University of Kentucky, his MS in Education from Purdue University, and his BS in Occupational Therapy at the Indiana University School of Medicine. He is a Fellow of the American Occupational Therapy Association and was honored with the AOTA Award of Merit in 2016 to recognize him for his notable contributions to the profession. He was also named “One of the 100 most influential people in OT.” Dr. Fisher’s research agenda has two lines of inquiry: (1) professional issues in occupational therapy and rehabilitation and (2) assessments and interventions for neuro-musculoskeletal injuries, including strains/sprains and traumatic brain injuries, especially as they relate to return to work and independent living.
Toni Thompson
DrOT, OTR/L, C/NDT
Toni Thompson
DrOT, OTR/L, C/NDT
Dr. Thompson received her undergraduate degree in Occupational Therapy at the University of Illinois and earned her DrOT from Nova Southeastern University. She also earned a Master’s degree in Business Administration and Management from Webster University in St. Louis. Dr. Thompson was formerly a Team Leader of Occupational Therapy and Speech Pathology at the Shriners Hospital for Children of Tampa, FL and her work experience includes service with the Peace Corps in Ecuador and Venezuela. She has significant experience in SI and NDT-Pediatrics, and has written numerous articles for a variety of Occupational Therapy and Orthopedic publications. Her areas of concentration include health care programs for Hispanic populations and the role of occupational therapy in human trafficking. She has been an instructor for TherapyEd for over 25 years and has provided individual tutoring to students as well. In 1995 she received the Award of Excellence from the Florida Occupational Therapy Association.
About the Course
One day that focuses your entire study plan.
TherapyEd’s one-day Prep Class creates a social learning atmosphere that is individual, responsive, immediate and dynamic. Updated every year and offered both live online and on-campus, the course works for first-time and repeat test takers alike. Question based learning provides immediate feedback and creates an even more dynamic Prep Class.
Your Path to Success
- Create a study plan that works for you
- Analyze practice questions to understand the reasoning behind correct answers
- Assess your strengths and weaknesses across exam domains
- Demonstrate improved critical reasoning and confidence on the COTA® exam
All students are welcome to register for any course unless indicated as “closed.” After the course, keep the momentum going with our free weekly Online Office Hours — a benefit of taking the TherapyEd preparation course.
What’s included
The OTA Review & Study Guide — the best-selling guide with three full practice exams, shipped as soon as you register.
The OTA Course Manual, handed out on the first day of the course — study tips, test-taking strategies, and content review unique to the class.
- Extensive study tips and strategies
- COTA® exam Content Outline
- Self-assessment guides and study plan forms
- Multiple choice and multi-select practice questions and exam procedures
- Online exam strategies
The Course Manual is unique to the class and is not sold separately.
TherapyEd Guarantee
Take the course again — anywhere, anytime — for free.
Our goal at TherapyEd — our mission — is to help students pass their certification exam the first time. Unfortunately, although almost everyone who takes our course passes the COTA® exam the first time, sometimes life intervenes and a student does not pass. We know this is difficult, disappointing, disheartening — and expensive!
If you take our course and do not pass the COTA® exam, you can take the course again, anywhere, anytime, for free. Just look at the schedule of upcoming courses, pick one out, contact us, and we will register you for the course at no charge.
With our course guarantee, our Online Office Hours, the best-selling Review & Study Guide, and rigorous practice questions, our commitment is to help students pass the exam and begin their professional careers. We hope all this will give you the confidence of our experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
What to know before starting COTA® exam prep.
From choosing the right exam prep program to
understanding practice tests, study tools, and the AI Learning Assistant, these answers help students begin with confidence.
The PT and OT courses are each two full days. The PTA and OTA courses are one full day.
We recommend that students register at least 2 weeks prior to the course date for both In Person and Online courses. This allows us to better estimate the number of Course Manuals to provide for distribution at class or to ship to your home. If necessary, you can register up to the day or two before the course, however we cannot guarantee there will be enough Course Manuals available; in this case, we’ll ship the manual to your home address and you’ll receive it after the course.
Yes, because you have already bought the Review & Study Guide you can register for the course at the less expensive “Course without Guide” price. This way you do not end up buying the book twice when you take the course.
Because the FSBPT and NBCOT (the licensing and certification bodies) do not release the exams there is no way to precisely correlate the TherapyEd practice exams to the actual exams. Regardless of your score on the first practice test, the goal of these tests is to improve your score with each take. We give you the tools to learn test-taking skills and identify your areas of weakness, to best prepare you for exam day.
E-Books can be accessed through the TherapyEd website by clicking on the “E-Book” link at the top of the page, next to the shopping cart. You’ll be using the award-winning RedShelf eReader with built-in study tools including highlighting, definitions, text-to-speech, flashcards, note-sharing, and more. Your E-Book can be accessed with a computer, tablet, or phone.
We post all current courses on the website and we are always adding new courses as they are confirmed. If you cannot find an on-campus course near you, then you can take one of our live ONLINE courses. These courses appear on our course listing page. In addition, if you would like to set up an on-campus course, you can email us at info@TherapyEd.com and we can work to organize one near you.
Still deciding which prep is right?
Our exam-specific programs are built to help students focus their time, track progress, and prepare with trusted TherapyEd materials.
Student Success Stories
What COTA® candidates say
“Just wanted to let you know how pleased we were with the results of the OTA exam prep course last year. NBCOT® scores…”
“We have used TherapyEd for their review courses for the last several years for our OTA Program and we have had a…”
“I believe the effectiveness of the OTA Exam Review Course is in teaching students how to look at the stem of the exam…”
Ready to pass your exam?