Birmingham, AL – Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) programs, essential to rehabilitation and pediatric therapy services, are preparing for substantial financial aid changes as new federal student loan and grant rules take effect in 2026. While most OTA programs operate as accredited associate-degree pathways, the reforms still impact certification-level training, borrowing limits, and performance accountability.
According to federal guidance, OTA certificate and bridge programs that are unaccredited, non-credit, or below 150 instructional hours cannot receive Title IV funding. Programs between 150 and 600 hours must qualify under Workforce Pell, which requires a 70% completion rate, 70% job placement rate, and tuition aligned with graduates’ verified value-added earnings measured three years after completion.
Beginning July 1, 2026, certificate-level OTA programs must also pass the federal “low earnings outcomes” test. Under this rule, a program loses Direct Loan eligibility if its graduates earn the same or less than adults with only a high school diploma for two out of three measured years. Although OTA salaries are generally higher than many allied health certificates, regional wage variations—particularly in rural therapy settings—could still challenge some programs.
OTA students will also face new federal loan caps that limit both annual and lifetime borrowing.
