Occupational Therapy Assistant, A.A.S. (A45500)

This program has selective admission requirements. Contact the Counseling Office for information and application deadlines.

The Occupational Therapy Assistant curriculum prepares individuals to work under the supervision of a registered/licensed occupational therapist in screening, assessing, planning, and implementing treatment and documenting progress for clients receiving occupational therapy services.

Course work includes human growth and development, conditions which interfere with activities of daily living, theory and process of occupational therapy, individual/group treatment activities, therapeutic use of self, activity analysis, and grading/adapting activities and environments.

Graduates may be eligible to take the national certification examination for practice as a certified occupational therapy assistant. Employment opportunities include hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, long-term/extended care facilities, sheltered workshops, schools, home health programs, and community programs. Successful completion of the program is required for certification and licensure.

The National Board of Certification in Occupational Therapy administers the national certification examination. The NBCOT is the certifying body for occupational therapy practitioners.

General Education Course

General Education

BIO 169 - Anatomy and Physiology II Credits: 4
ENG 111 - Writing and Inquiry Credits: 3
PSY 150 - General Psychology Credits: 3

English

(Take 3 credits)

ENG 112 - Writing/Research in the Disc Credits: 3
ENG 114 - Prof Research & Reporting Credits: 3

Communications

(Take 3 credits)

COM 110 - Introduction to Communication Credits: 3
COM 120 - Intro Interpersonal Com Credits: 3

Humanities/Fine Arts Electives

(Take 3 credits)

ART 111 - Art Appreciation Credits: 3
ART 114 - Art History Survey I Credits: 3
ART 115 - Art History Survey II Credits: 3
ART 117 - Non-Western Art History Credits: 3
ART 131 - Drawing I Credits: 3
DRA 111 - Theatre Appreciation Credits: 3
DRA 112 - Literature of the Theatre Credits: 3
DRA 122 - Oral Interpretation Credits: 3
DRA 211 - Theatre History I Credits: 3
DRA 212 - Theatre History II Credits: 3
ENG 131 - Introduction to Literature Credits: 3
ENG 251 - Western World Literature I Credits: 3
ENG 252 - Western World Literature II Credits: 3
HUM 160 - Introduction to Film Credits: 3
MUS 110 - Music Appreciation Credits: 3
MUS 112 - Introduction to Jazz Credits: 3
MUS 113 - American Music Credits: 3
PHI 215 - Philosophical Issues Credits: 3
PHI 240 - Introduction to Ethics Credits: 3
REL 111 - Eastern Religions Credits: 3
REL 112 - Western Religions Credits: 3
REL 211 - Intro to Old Testament Credits: 3
REL 212 - Intro to New Testament Credits: 3
REL 221 - Religion in America Credits: 3

Major Requirements

BIO 168 - Anatomy and Physiology I Credits: 4
OTA 110 - Fundamentals of OT Credits: 3
OTA 120 - OT Media I Credits: 2
OTA 130 - Assessment Skills Credits: 3
OTA 140 - Professional Skills I Credits: 1
OTA 150 - Peds Concepts & Interventions Credits: 3
OTA 161 - Fieldwork I-Placement 1 Credits: 1
OTA 162 - Fieldwork I-Placement 2 Credits: 1
OTA 163 - Fieldwork I-Placement 3 Credits: 1
OTA 170 - Physical Conditions Credits: 3
OTA 180 - Psychosocial Conditions Credits: 3
OTA 220 - OT Media II Credits: 3
OTA 240 - Professional Skills II Credits: 1
OTA 250 - Adult Concepts & Interventions Credits: 3
OTA 260 - Level II Fieldwork Placement 1 Credits: 6
OTA 261 - Level II Fieldwork Placement 2 Credits: 6
PSY 241 - Developmental Psych Credits: 3
PSY 281 - Abnormal Psychology Credits: 3

Computer Literacy

(Take 2-3 credits)

CIS 110 - Introduction to Computers Credits: 3
CIS 111 - Basic PC Literacy Credits: 2

Occupational Therapy Assistant Electives

(Take 3 credits)

BUS 230 - Small Business Management Credits: 3
PSY 265 - Behavioral Modification Credits: 3
SOC 210 - Introduction to Sociology Credits: 3
SOC 213 - Sociology of the Family Credits: 3
SOC 220 - Social Problems Credits: 3
SOC 240 - Social Psychology Credits: 3

Total Credits: 74/75

The associate-degree-level occupational therapy assistant program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA and its Web address is www.acoteonline.org. Graduates of the program will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapy assistant administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT).

After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA). In addition, all states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.

Note:

Students in the OTA program must achieve a “C” or higher in each course within the curriculum in order to fulfill graduation requirements. OTA core courses cannot be taken out of sequence.

Level II fieldwork placements must be completed within 12 months of completion of the didactic course work.

Occupational Therapy Assistant, A.A.S. (A45500)

General Education Course

General Education

English

Communications

Humanities/Fine Arts Electives

Major Requirements

Computer Literacy

Occupational Therapy Assistant Electives

Total Credits: 74/75

Fall Semester I

Spring Semester I

Summer Semester I

Fall Semester II

Spring Semester II

Note: