HEALTH PROFESSIONS:  Occupational Therapy Assistant

Occupational Therapy Assistants are trained to provide occupational therapy treatments to assist individuals in meeting a level of independence to perform the roles necessary for productive living (occupation) within their environment. These roles include: self care tasks, work tasks, and play or leisure tasks for patients disabled by illness, accidents, developmental or psychiatric impairment.

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 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). Most states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination.

Requirements for admission to the program include: high school graduation or GED, placement into ENG 111, 2.5 GPA or better, 30 hours of observation time with an occupational therapist (OTR) or an occupational therapy assistant (COTA), and a personal interview with the Program Director. A writing sample may also be required. Transcripts from all other colleges attended must be sent to Tidewater Community College, Central Records/Office of the College Registrar, P.O. Box 9000, Norfolk, Virginia, 23509, prior to the application deadline date. These transfer credits must be evaluated before any transfer credit is granted. Applications are accepted through March 15.

Once accepted, students must have current CPR Certification, a documented medical examination, criminal record check, and must maintain a C grade point average or better to remain in good standing. Students whose academic performance is below a C grade point average will be readmitted to the program at the discretion of the director and according to space availability.

Students are wholly responsible for all transportation to and from clinical facilities and are financially responsible for clinical uniforms and laboratory clothes, and parking fees.

The Associate of Applied Science degree in Occupational Therapy Assistant requires five full-time semesters of study. All OTA students must complete Level II Fieldwork within 18 months following completion of academic preparation. All academic and fieldwork requirements must be completed before the student will be eligible to sit for the National Certification Examination.

SEMESTER 1 (BASED ON A FALL SEMESTER START)
Course Number	Course Title	Credits	Prerequisite
BIO 141	Human Anatomy and Physiology I	4
ENG 111	College Composition I	3	Placement
HLT 143	Medical Terminology I	3
OCT 100	Introduction to Occupational Therapy	3	Admission to Program
PSY 201	Introduction to Psychology I	3
SDV 101	Orientation to Health Care	1
	SEMESTER TOTAL	17

1      Eligible courses are listed on page 34 in the 2009-2010 catalog.  See your

       academic advisor or counselor to choose the appropriate course(s).

2      Due to the limited number of available clinical sites in the region, students may have to

        travel to a  distant site or stay temporarily near a facility.

Contact(s):

• Occupational Therapy Assistant
• Health Professions Division ~ 757 - 822 - 7255
• TCC Information Center