How to Become an Occupational Therapy Assistant in Tennessee (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Tennessee employs about 1,300 occupational therapy assistants earning a median $62,420 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as an Occupational Therapy Assistant here means completing an ACOTE-accredited OTA program, the NBCOT COTA exam, and state OTA licensure. Confirm credential rules with the program and employer.

Compare Occupational Therapy Assistant Schools in Tennessee

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Tuition is the published annual figure for the latest reported year and excludes room, board, books and fees. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#SchoolBOC Score (0–100)Tuition (published, per year)Median grad earnings (all majors)Graduation rateOnlineDistance
163.0$3,420 in-state / $5,820 out-of-state$41,84950%Yes*120 mi
255.9$4,728 in-state / $6,432 out-of-state$54,48549%Yes*112 mi
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352.6$5,220 in-state / $9,090 out-of-state$50,27651%Yes*119 mi
439.5$4,730 in-state / $17,714 out-of-state$48,59218%Yes*36 mi
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531.3$4,740 in-state / $17,724 out-of-state$48,31326%—84 mi
629.4Contact school for pricing$34,40561%—76 mi
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Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

Tennessee employs approximately 1,300 occupational therapy assistants according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $62,420 1. The state’s concentration of occupational therapy assistant jobs is 1.20x the national average, indicating strong demand. Nationally, occupational therapy assistant employment is projected to grow 19.2% from 2024 to 2034, with about 7,200 openings per year 2. This page covers how to become an Occupational Therapy Assistant in Tennessee, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

  • Training paths: ACOTE-accredited occupational therapy assistant program (find programs)
  • Typical timeline: an ACOTE-accredited OTA program, the NBCOT COTA exam, and state OTA licensure
  • Exam: NBCOT COTA
  • Median wage (Tennessee): $62,420 per year 1

Quick Answers About How to Become an Occupational Therapy Assistant in Tennessee

How to become an Occupational Therapy Assistant in Tennessee? Complete an ACOTE-accredited OTA program, the NBCOT COTA exam, and state OTA licensure. Apply through the program and employer.

How long does it take? Most people finish an ACOTE-accredited OTA program, the NBCOT COTA exam, and state OTA licensure. Confirm current hour totals with the program and the program and employer.

Do I need a license in Tennessee? Yes. Tennessee typically registers this role through the program and employer. See the licensing section below.

What do occupational therapy assistants earn in Tennessee? The median annual wage for occupational therapy assistants in Tennessee is $62,420 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $23,910 and experienced professionals can earn $78,950 or more 1.

How to Become an Occupational Therapy Assistant in Tennessee

  1. Meet program entry rules. OTA programs typically require a high school diploma or GED and prerequisites.
  2. Complete an ACOTE-accredited OTA program. Finish an associate-level ACOTE-accredited program in Tennessee. This is not a registered apprenticeship.
  3. Pass NBCOT COTA. Pass the NBCOT Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant exam.
  4. Apply for state OTA licensure. Apply to the program and employer. Do not treat occupational therapist rows as the assistant path.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Occupational Therapy Assistant License Requirements in Tennessee

Occupational therapy assistants complete an ACOTE-accredited program, pass NBCOT COTA, and apply to the program and employer.

Typical path

  1. Complete an ACOTE-accredited OTA program.

  2. Pass NBCOT COTA.

  3. Apply to the program and employer for OTA licensure.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with the program and employer before you enroll.

Occupational Therapy Assistant Wages by Metro Area in Tennessee

Occupational Therapy Assistants Wages by Metro Area in Tennessee

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), occupational therapy assistants wages in Tennessee vary by metro area.

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin270$65,380$64,830$25,580$81,870
Chattanooga210$61,360$52,830$23,710$75,910
Knoxville210$59,930$49,960$23,910$74,830
Memphis150$64,010$67,710$55,490$85,920
Kingsport-Bristol60$64,040$66,950$53,010$80,560
Clarksville50$60,520$61,830$49,910$80,130
Johnson City40$64,810$66,750$49,510$86,760

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for occupational therapy assistants in Tennessee? Tennessee currently employs approximately 1,300 occupational therapy assistants 1. Nationally, occupational therapy assistant employment is projected to grow 19.2% from 2024 to 2034 2.

Can I work as an occupational therapy assistant in Tennessee with an out-of-state license? Contact the program and employer for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

What training programs are available in Tennessee? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Tennessee.

How much do occupational therapy assistants earn in Tennessee compared to the national average? The median annual wage for occupational therapy assistants in Tennessee is $62,420, which is $5,920 below the national median of $68,340 according to BLS data 1.

In Tennessee

Top local programs

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Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

  1. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  2. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

DataProviderVintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsMay 2025
Employment ProjectionsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data SystemNational Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirementsCareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programsCareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)