USA Scholarships
Partial Funding Professional the USA

NorthCoast Medical Scholarship 2027 - $5,000 OTA

Deadline Spring 2027 (portal opens mid-January) 193 days left · Hosted by American Occupational Therapy Foundation · Published

The NorthCoast Medical Scholarship is a $5,000 award administered by the American Occupational Therapy Foundation for occupational therapy assistant students approaching graduation. NorthCoast Medical, an occupational therapy products company, sponsors the fund, but every student completes AOTF''s unified online application to be considered. For the 2026-2027 cycle, AOTF plans to open the portal in mid-January 2027 after moving its launch from August to January so applicants align with academic calendars. OTA candidates must study full time in an AOTA-accredited or developing OTA program, complete at least one year of OT-specific coursework, and be in their final year when they apply. You will upload a resume, answer essay questions, and secure three references: an academic reference, a character reference, and your program director. Missing any reference by the deadline disqualifies the application. Expect award notifications around May 2027 per AOTF''s updated timeline.

One OTA recipient
$5,000
AOTA-accredited program
Final-year OTA
Closes in spring 2027
Jan 2027 open
Full-time enrollment
Nationwide
How to apply Am I eligible? Official website

What is the NorthCoast Medical Scholarship?

NorthCoast Medical supplies therapy products used in clinics and schools, and the company endows this $5,000 scholarship so an occupational therapy assistant nearing graduation gets a financial boost before entering the workforce. You never apply to NorthCoast directly. The American Occupational Therapy Foundation runs one portal, and qualified OTA files are routed to the NorthCoast fund automatically.

AOTF reshaped its calendar so applications open in January instead of August, which gives you time during winter term to polish essays and chase references. That shift also means you should ignore outdated October deadlines on old aggregator sites and follow aotf.org instead.

If you are in your final OTA year, treat the three references as seriously as fieldwork hours. Directors are busy, and AOTF will not review a file that is missing the program director statement when the clock runs out. Start the conversation with faculty in the fall of 2026 so January 2027 is about uploading, not scrambling.

Who can apply

Eligibility

Your progress 0 / 5
  • ✓
    Full-time OTA student in final year
    You must be enrolled full time in an AOTA-accredited or developing occupational therapy assistant program and be in your final year of the OTA track when you apply.
  • ✓
    At least one year of OT coursework completed
    AOTF requires at least one year of occupational therapy-specific coursework before you submit. First-semester students should wait for a later cycle.
  • ✓
    Strong academic and professional record
    Scholarship committees look for sustained scholastic achievement, leadership, and commitment to occupational therapy practice.
  • ✓
    Three references submitted on time
    Applications need an academic reference, a character reference, and a program director reference completed inside the AOTF portal before the deadline.
  • ✓
    Complete AOTF membership information if required
    Some AOTF awards expect appropriate professional association membership details. Enter accurate membership data in the contact section of the application.
What you get

Benefits

  • Award amount $5,000
  • Recipients per year One OTA student
  • Combined AOTF application Considered with other AOTF funds
  • Notification timing Around May after January launch
  • Living expenses beyond tuition Use per AOTF award rules
  • Guaranteed renewal Single-year scholarship
What to prepare

Document checklist

Documents gathered 0 / 6
  • ✓
    AOTF unified online application
    Apply through aotf.org/educational-scholarships when the 2027 portal opens. One submission considers you for NorthCoast Medical and every other fund you qualify for.
  • ✓
    Resume with service and clinical highlights
    Include fieldwork, volunteer roles, honors, and work experience that show readiness for OTA practice.
  • ✓
    Essay responses inside the portal
    Answer AOTF essay prompts carefully. Reviewers use them to judge professional commitment and communication skills.
  • ✓
    Academic reference form
    Invite a faculty member or advisor who can speak to your academic ability. They receive an automated email from AOTF.
  • ✓
    Character reference form
    Choose someone who knows your integrity and work ethic outside your family if possible.
  • ✓
    Program director reference
    Your OT program director must complete the director form. Remind them early because incomplete director statements disqualify the file.
Step by step

How to apply

AOTF moved its launch to January so you have winter break to gather materials. Check aotf.org for the exact open date.
Talk with your program director now so you know you will meet the final-year requirement when the portal opens.
Send resumes and deadline reminders to your academic, character, and program director references before they receive AOTF system emails.
Write responses in a document first, then paste them into the portal to avoid losing work if the session times out.
Upload your resume, membership details, and signature certification. Partial saves do not count as submitted applications.
Log back into the application during the final week to confirm all three references and the program director statement show as complete.
David Robertson at [email protected] or 240-292-1077 can help when reference emails bounce or forms error out.
When

Deadline and timeline

Application deadline
Spring 2027 (portal opens mid-January)
193 days left
Mid-January 2027
AOTF scholarship portal opens for the 2026-2027 funding cycle.
Jan - Mar 2027
Applicants complete forms and chase reference submissions.
Spring 2027
Application closes on the date AOTF publishes for the cycle (watch aotf.org).
May 2027
AOTF notifies scholarship recipients per the updated annual schedule.
After award
Recipient works with AOTF on publicity and disbursement steps.
Questions

FAQ

What is the NorthCoast Medical Scholarship?

It is a $5,000 occupational therapy assistant scholarship sponsored by NorthCoast Medical and administered by the American Occupational Therapy Foundation. One OTA student receives the award each year when funded.

How much is the NorthCoast Medical Scholarship?

The scholarship pays $5,000 to one recipient. Amounts come from the endowed NorthCoast Medical fund within AOTF.

Who can apply for the NorthCoast Medical Scholarship?

Full-time OTA students in their final year at an AOTA-accredited or developing program who have completed at least one year of OT-specific coursework may qualify through the AOTF application.

When does the NorthCoast Medical Scholarship application open?

AOTF opens its unified scholarship portal in mid-January 2027 for the upcoming cycle after shifting away from an August launch.

Do I need a separate form for NorthCoast Medical?

No. You complete one AOTF online application and the system matches you to NorthCoast Medical and other eligible funds automatically.

How many references does AOTF require?

Three references are mandatory: academic, character, and program director. Applications missing any reference by the deadline are disqualified.

When are NorthCoast Medical Scholarship winners notified?

AOTF plans to notify scholarship recipients in May following the January application launch.

Can master's OT students use the NorthCoast Medical Scholarship?

CareerOneStop describes this fund for OTA students in their final year. Master's or OTD applicants should rely on other AOTF funds within the same application if they meet those criteria.

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