Weber State to launch bachelor’s program for occupational therapy assistants, addressing critical Utah workforce gap
OGDEN, Utah — Weber State University is expanding its reach in Utah healthcare with a new bachelor’s degree for occupational therapy assistants.
The program is designed to increase access to training in northern Utah, strengthen the state’s workforce, and elevate patient care. An initial investment of $2.5 million from the Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Foundation made this new degree offering possible.
“Programs like the occupational therapy assistant program at Weber State play a critical role in equipping students with the knowledge and skills they need to become outstanding healthcare providers,” said Gail Miller, chair of the Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Foundation and co-founder of the Larry H. Miller Company. “We are proud to provide founding support for this program and help launch what will surely become the training ground for many exceptional healthcare professionals.”
Assistant Professor Robyn Thompson, OTA program director, is currently setting a strong vision for the new program and writing curriculum. Hired as the director in 2024, she brings a breadth of experience in occupational therapy, having taught at both the University of Utah and Salt Lake Community College.
“As occupational therapy advances, industry professionals have recognized the need to move beyond traditional associate-level training,” Thompson said. “We see how this bachelor’s degree will serve students better than an associate’s degree. We’re being forward-thinking with this, creating better training and more career opportunities for our graduates.”
Weber State’s program is one of fewer than 20 bachelor’s-level programs across the U.S.
Careers in occupational therapy
Occupational therapy assistants work in hospitals, clinics, schools, community centers, and even homes. They assist patients who are recovering from illness, managing disabilities, or navigating new assistive technologies by creating and implementing individualized treatment plans.
“There’s a saying in our community that occupational therapy is where science, creativity, and compassion collide,” Thompson said. “It’s an amazing profession that draws people who want to provide healthcare and apply that care in creative ways.”
Weber State’s program will prepare students for the national exam that allows them to enter the workforce as licensed practitioners with competitive wages, typically ranging from $26 to $45 per hour.
For those looking further ahead, the bachelor’s degree serves as a “springboard into graduate school,” Thompson said. “These are credentials that can be built upon for those who are exploring advanced healthcare roles.”
Meeting national and statewide needs
The demand for occupational therapy assistants is surging, driven by an aging population and need for increased rehabilitative care. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 19% employment growth through 2034. Currently, Utah employs about 260 OTAs — a limited workforce relative to the state’s population growth and rising rehabilitation and long-term care needs.
“Weber State recognized this gap, and our faculty are experts in the training and skills it takes to work in occupational therapy,” Thompson said. “Our program will offer students hands-on experience in the classroom and in the field to meet those rising needs.”
The OTA program has already established key partnerships to facilitate these hands-on experiences, including initiatives with unhoused families, older adults, and early childhood settings.
“Our goal is to involve students with client populations from the start of the program,” said Rhonda Roth, assistant professor and the OTA program’s academic field coordinator. “This not only grows their clinical reasoning through real-life experience, but also supports the community in which our program exists.”
State-of-the-art facilities for students and the community
Later this year, Weber State will formally open its OTA Pathways Building on the university’s Ogden campus. This innovative space features hospital, clinic, and home environments, and was designed to simulate the challenging situations students will face outside the classroom.
“Our students do not just learn in a perfect, ADA-compliant world,” Roth said. “They learn how to adapt their care to the diverse, sometimes cramped, and unmodified spaces in which their future patients actually live. This hands-on immersion ensures our graduates are exceptionally prepared for the unpredictable nature of occupational therapy.”
See images of the new building.
The space will also be home to a community clinic, where students provide free services under professional supervision.
“This is a natural fit,” Roth said. “We are not just teaching students how to be practitioners in a vacuum. We are teaching them how to be clinical problem-solvers in the actual environments where our community members live and grow.”
How to apply for the OTA program
The occupational therapy assistant program applications are expected to open at the end of April. The program is currently seeking national accreditation, and an initial cohort of 24 students is expected to begin in fall 2026.
Students can expect small class sizes, specialized curriculum, and integrated clinical experiences.
“This is an exciting time for Weber State students interested in rehabilitation and occupational therapy,” Thompson said. “We’ll provide them with an option in their own community to enter a strong profession with a bachelor's degree, or to prepare for graduate school with skilled clinical and work experience.”
Those interested in the program can contact academic advisor Justin Valdez at justinvaldez@weber.edu to learn more about admission requirements. Applications will close Aug. 7.
Bryan Magaña, Marketing & Communications Executive Director
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