I am looking for some answers about occupational therapist istant education..?

Can you get a job with the education provided from online colleges> They consider it a diploma verses an ociates degree? Would I be better off just getting the A.S. I plan on going to college to become an occupational therapist. I just thought it would be nice to be an COTA while going to school I seen where you can get your diploma and sit for state exam within 6 months.