Occupational Therapy Assistant, A.S. Degree

Program Design

The Occupational Therapy Assistant associate degree program enables the graduate to treat patients who are impaired by a physical illness or injury, an emotional disorder, a developmental disability or the aging process. Working under the supervision of an occupational therapist, an occupational therapy assistant uses activities and modalities as treatment to help people gain optimal function in their everyday life tasks. Specific services that an occupational therapy assistant provides may include training in activities of daily living, fabrication of splints, adapting home and work environments and tools, and therapeutic use of crafts and games.

Scholastic Preparation and Admission Process

If you are a high school graduate or hold a state equivalency certificate, you may submit an official application to the Admissions office. Admission to a Health Careers Program requires a separate application. You may request this application by contacting the Admissions office or by calling 860-512-3210 or by contacting the Mathematics, Science and Health Careers division at 860-512-2703.

To qualify for admission to the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program, students must have a grade point average at or above 2.5. It is suggested that interested students meet with the Occupational Therapy Assistant program coordinator to develop a learning plan tailored to the individual needs of the student. The OTA program coordinator may be reached at 860-512-2717.

Curriculum

Because of the flexible nature of the program, students may select a full-time or part-time plan of study. Courses with an OTA designator are offered only during the day. Students with prior college credit may complete the program in a three-semester sequence. All coursework must be completed with a grade of C or better and a GPA of 2.5 must be maintained throughout the program. The clinical semester, which is offered both semesters, provides a four-month, full-time, supervised learning experience with a focus on psychosocial, physical and developmental areas of practice. Students must complete the clinical semester within 18 months of the completion of academic work. Due to standards set by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), students are advised that the health care facilities to which they are assigned for clinical rotations may require that they submit to a criminal background check before beginning their clinical experiences.  Manchester Community College cannot be responsible for finding an alternate clinical placement for a student who fails to pass the background check.  A student who is unable to complete the required clinical experience will be unable to complete the requirements for the associate degree in Occupational Therapy Assistant but may be able to apply some or all of the credits completed to an associate degree in General Studies. Students are advised to meet with an MCC Counselor to discuss degree completion requirements.

Accreditation

The Occupational Therapy Assistant program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 4720 Montgomery Lane, P.O. Box 31220, Bethesda, MD 20824-1220. AOTA’s phone number is 301-652-AOTA. Graduates of the program will be able 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). The OTA Program had 24 graduates over the past three years. Those taking the certification exam for the first time totaled 24. Those passing the certification exam totaled 23. The OTA Program pass rate on the certification exam over the past three years is 96%. When you apply to sit for the certification exam, you will be asked to answer questions related to the topic of felony convictions. For further information on these limitations, contact NBCOT. Connecticut requires a license in order to practice occupational therapy and the license is based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination.

^ Must have been taken within last ten years.
^^ Must have been taken within last five years.

These courses are recommended for students who plan to transfer to a professional level occupational therapy program:

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of all Occupational Therapy Assistant degree program requirements, graduates will

1. Sit for the National Certification Exam.
2. Demonstrate the clinical skills required for working as an Occupational Therapy Assistant.
3. Demonstrate the interpersonal skills necessary to function as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant.
4. Comprehend the scope of occupational therapy practice.
5. Apply principles in analysis and application of occupational therapy treatment in the spectrum of human occupation.

In addition, the graduate will complete the comprehensive learning outcomes identified with the General Education Component.

Source: 2008-2009 Course Catalog