Occupational Therapy Assistant, AAS

An Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) works under the direction of an Occupational Therapist to provide rehabilitative services to persons with mental, physical, emotional or developmental impairments with the ultimate goal to improve the client’s quality of life and ability to perform daily activities.

In 2018, occupational therapy assistants held approximately 51,700 jobs. The median annual wage for occupational therapy assistants was $61,510 in May 2019. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2019.

Prerequisites

The student will need to demonstrate proficiencies in reading, English, and mathematics based on the Mandatory Placement Policy, or by taking the recommended/ required classes. Some of the courses in this curriculum have specific prerequisites.

Program Outcomes

Demonstrate an understanding of the history and philosophical base of the profession of occupational therapy.
Demonstrate an understanding of the dynamics of occupation and activity, including the interaction of areas of occupation, performance skills and patterns, activity demands, context, and client factors.
Describe models of practice and frames of reference that are used in occupational therapy.
Demonstrate a thorough knowledge of occupational therapy interventions and procedures to enhance safety, wellness, and performance in activities of daily living (ADL).
Demonstrate an understanding of the role of the occupational therapy assistant in care coordination, case management, and transition services in traditional and emerging practice environments.
Demonstrate the ability to effectively interact through written, oral, and nonverbal communication with the client, family, significant others, colleagues, other health providers, and the public in a professionally acceptable manner.
Describe the contexts of health care, education, community, and social models or systems as they relate to the practice of occupational therapy.
Identify the varied roles of the occupational therapy assistant as a practitioner, educator, and research assistant.

For More Information Contact:

Peggy Carman - OTA Program Director
785-248-2806 or pcarman@neosho.edu

Occupational Therapy Assistant AAS Prerequisites Requirements

All A & P courses must be taken within 5 years of starting OTA courses.

CURR 100 - First Year Seminar 1 Credit Hours *
ENGL 101 - English Composition I 3 Credit Hours
ALHE 105 - Medical Terminology 3 Credit Hours
CSIS 105 - Computer Literacy 1 Credit Hours
PSYC 155 - General Psychology 3 Credit Hours
BIOL 257 - Human Anatomy & Physiology 3 Credit Hours
BIOL 258 - Human Anatomy & Physiology Lab 2 Credit Hours

Total Credit Hours: 16

The above general education courses must be completed with a grade of A, B, or C prior to taking OTA courses.
*Students entering NCCC direct from high school are required to enroll in CURR 100 . Students transferring in 15 or more credits from an accredited post-secondary institution are exempt from enrolling in CURR 100 .

Occupational Therapy Assistant AAS Requirements

Spring Semester

OTA 100 - Principles & Practice of OT 3 Credit Hours
OTA 102 - Occupational Therapy Skill/Lifespan 3 Credit Hours
OTA 103 - OTA Fieldwork Level I-A 1 Credit Hours
OTA 104 - ClinicalCond&ActivityAnalysis OTA 3 Credit Hours
OTA 110 - Kinesiology for OTA 2 Credit Hours
OTA 111 - Kinesiology for OTA Lab 1 Credit Hours
PSYC 263 - Developmental Psychology 3 Credit Hours **

Total Credit Hours: 16

Summer Semester

OTA 200 - MentalHealth&PsychosocialPract OTA 2 Credit Hours
OTA 202 - Documentation for OTA 1 Credit Hours
OTA 204 - Pediatric Practice for OTA 3 Credit Hours
COMM 207 - Fundamentals Of Speech 3 Credit Hours **
or
COMM 213 - Interpersonal Communication 3 Credit Hours **

Total Credit Hours: 9

Fall Semester

**General education program requirements can be taken any time before OR during semesters of OTA coursework (excluding Fieldwork-Level II semester).

OTA 205 - OTA Fieldwork Level 1-B 1 Credit Hours
OTA 206 - Core Skills & Modalities for OTA 3 Credit Hours
OTA 208 - Adult Physiological Application OTA 3 Credit Hours
OTA 210 - Adult Neurological Applications OTA 3 Credit Hours
OTA 212 - Mgmt & Professional Development OTA 2 Credit Hours
SOSC 100 - Introduction To Sociology 3 Credit Hours **

Total Credit Hours: 15

Spring Semester (2nd Year)

OTA 214 - OTA Fieldwork Level II-A 6 Credit Hours
OTA 216 - OTA Fieldwork Level II-B 6 Credit Hours

Total Credit Hours: 12

Total Program Credits for AAS Degree: 68

The occupational therapy assistant program has full accreditation status by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 6116 Executive Blvd., Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA and the website link 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, most 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.