Evening Occupational Therapy Assistant Program to kick off at Central Penn College
To meet the growing demand for occupational therapy, and to maximize convenience for working adults and others seeking flexible educational options, Central Penn College (CPC) in Cumberland County will add evening classes for those interested in working in this high-demand field.
The spring term begins on April 7, with applications being accepted now.
The Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program is the only one in Central Pennsylvania. With the college’s accelerated program, offering 11-week terms, students can earn an associate of applied science degree in 24 months or less. Central Penn College’s OTA instructors are acting clinicians, working in the field practicing what they teach, so the curriculum remains up-to-date, relevant and top-notch.
According to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for OTAs is very promising, with an expected 21 percent increase in growth in employment from 2023 to 2033, much faster than the average for all occupations. U.S. News and World Report also reported that a career in OTA is the 11th fastest growing profession in the U.S. in 2025. (“The Best Jobs in America in 2025,” Jan. 14, 2025)
OTAs help children and adults lead independent lives, particularly if aging, a stroke, disease, an accident, or other health challenge alters a patient’s physical and/or mental abilities.
Courses in the evenings are expected to become especially popular as the 144-year-old college adjusts to the evolving marketplace by accommodating working adults seeking a career change, building a first-time career or seeking greater convenience and flexibility.
Located just minutes from the state Capitol Complex and strategically situated at the juncture of Dauphin, Cumberland and Perry counties, Central Penn also offers a behavioral health certificate which can be laddered into the OTA degree if students studying behavioral health wish to continue their education for an associate of applied science degree.
OTA Program Director Kimberly Tanish said, “Now is a great time to become an OTA because of the growing demand for qualified healthcare providers. It’s a stable and fulfilling career choice that addresses the improvement of both physical and mental functioning and enriches the quality of life of clients.”
Tanish pointed out that Central Penn is also an attractive choice because the college offers admissions twice a year; an accelerated program that helps students earn their degree more quickly; flexible class schedules, with both a day and evening program; and small class sizes taught by caring faculty who were all practitioners themselves.
