ISU Occupational Therapy Assistant Program Earns 10-Year Accreditation

Idaho State University’s College of Technology is excited to announce that the Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program has been granted a 10-year accreditation, the longest term available. The program has successfully met all standards set by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE).

“Getting a 10-year accreditation is the highest possible so it ensures students that there is a sound, consistent program in East Idaho,” said Joanne Trammel, the Program Coordinator. “It matches our vision which is to be at the forefront of scholarship, leadership, service, and practice.”

The ACOTE found the program to be in complete compliance, with no areas voted upon as out of compliance. As a result, the OTA program is now positioned to focus on a decade of educational excellence.

The program was initially launched with the help of a grant in 2016 and first received ACOTE accreditation for a five-year term in February 2018. This April marked the end of that term, triggering the need for reaccreditation.

"Joanne has really come into her own as a Program Coordinator” said Darin Jernigan, Co-Chair for the ISU College of Technology’s Health Occupations Department. “Her command of the ACOTE accreditation process sets a high bar for other directors in the Health Occupations department to follow. Anna Alexander, Brittany Peterson and Kaden Stimpson have created a very strong team of educators to guide the evolution of the program with Joanne at the helm. ISU is lucky to have such a dynamic team of professionals preparing Occupational Therapy Assistant program graduates for real-world experiences."