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 Credit(s): 4
ENG 111 - Writing and Inquiry Credit(s): 3
PSY 150 - General Psychology Credit(s): 3

English

(Take 3 credits)

ENG 112 - Writing/Research in the Disc Credit(s): 3
ENG 114 - Prof Research & Reporting Credit(s): 3

Communications

(Take 3 credits)

COM 110 - Introduction to Communication Credit(s): 3
COM 120 - Intro Interpersonal Com Credit(s): 3

Humanities/Fine Arts Electives

(Take 3 credits)

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

Major Requirements

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

Computer Literacy

(Take 2-3 credits)

CIS 110 - Introduction to Computers Credit(s): 3
CIS 111 - Basic PC Literacy Credit(s): 2

Occupational Therapy Assistant Electives

(Take 3 credits)

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