Program Description:
This program is designed to prepare students to work as occupational therapy assistants. Occupational therapy assistants work with patients of all ages whose lives have been affected by impairment or disease. Occupational therapy assistants under the supervision of a registered occupational therapist assist people in overcoming, adapting to, and/or preventing physical and psychosocial problems caused by disease, substance abuse, mental illness, amputation, spinal cord injury, stroke, arthritis and birth defects, to name a few. Occupational therapy assistants help people obtain or regain skills in the areas of self-care, school, work, play and leisure. Jobs may be found in a variety of places such as hospitals, schools, long-term care facilities, rehabilitation centers, home health, and community based centers.
Graduates of the Occupational Therapy Assistant program should demonstrate entry-level skills of an occupational therapy assistant; critical thinking skills; practice skills within the standards and ethics established by this profession; are responsible for lifelong learning, and will obtain a general education background sufficient to transfer to a four-year college.
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, Suite 200, Bethesda, MD 20814-3449. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is 301-652-AOTA and its web address is www.acoteonline.org. The program has been granted reaccreditation through the year 2017.
Graduates of this program will be eligible to sit for the occupational therapy assistant examination 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 such as Maryland require licensure in order to practice. This licensure is based upon the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Students enrolled in the OTA program should be aware that a prior felony conviction may affect the graduate’s ability to sit for the National Certification Examination and/or attain state licensure. For further clarification, contact NBCOT at 301-990-7979 or the Maryland State Board of Occupational Therapy Practice at 410-402-8560.
Admission:
Admission to this program is a separate process from admission to the college. Admission to the School of Health Professions programs is competitive and selective and is based on published criteria. Information about admissions processes for the programs in the School of Health Professions and the Selective Admissions Application form can be found online at: http://www.ccbcmd.edu/allied_health/index.html.
Admission to the Occupational Therapy Assistant program, which culminates in an A.A.S. degree, is separate from admission to the college. Admission to CCBC must be completed prior to being considered for admission into the Occupational Therapy Assistant program. Information and the application for entrance into the OTA program may be found at http://www.ccbcmd.edu/allied_health/octa/index.html. Only students admitted to the OTA program are eligible to enroll in OTA courses. The admission criteria are:
- Completion of General Education Requirements, General Education Electives, and Program Prerequisites with a grade of “C” or better. Students must have completed these courses by the application deadline of June 1 with a minimum G.P.A. of 2.4.
- Completion of BIOL 220 and BIOL 221 within five years of application to the OTA program
- Proof of health insurance coverage which must be maintained during enrollment in program
In order for the OTA selection committee to identify eligible OTA students, all candidates must complete an application and forward official college transcripts for review. For specific information regarding admission into the OTA program, please call 443-840-4482 or visit http://www.ccbcmd.edu/allied_health/octa/index.html.
This program is designed to prepare students to work as occupational therapy assistants upon graduation and certification. Students wishing to transfer to the professional level occupational therapy program may not receive credit for OTA courses.
The OTA courses are offered in a specific sequence and must be completed as such. There is a readmission policy for students who interrupt this sequence. There is a policy regarding transfer students from other OTA programs. Please call 443-840-4482.
NOTE: All students must complete Level II fieldwork within eighteen (18) months of completion of the academic portion of this program.
Program Outcomes:
Students who successfully complete the requirements for the Occupational Therapy Assistant A.A.S. Degree will:
PROFESSIONALISM:
- Conforms to behaviors consistent with AOTA Standards of Practice, Code of Ethics and Maryland licensure;
- Identifies functions of local, state and national professional organizations;
- Demonstrate respect for client and right to self determination;
- Be aware of issues/trends affecting the profession;
- Accepts responsibility for learning;
- Initiates advocacy for client rights; and
- Demonstrate a commitment to the profession via participation in AOTA, MOTA, etc.
TERMINOLOGY:
- Demonstrate working knowledge of psychiatric and physical dysfunction diagnoses and medications;
- Demonstrate the ability to use medical terms and abbreviations appropriately;
- Demonstrate working knowledge of Practice Framework; and
- Demonstrate working knowledge of terminology found in health promotion and wellness programs.
COMMUNICATION:
- Documents accurate treatment information in oral or written format;
- Documents adequately to comply with various reimbursement mechanisms;
- Communicates effectively to client, family and healthcare team rationale for therapy and progress;
- Displays cultural sensitivity with client/family; and
- Responds to non-verbal communication cues.
ASSESSMENTS:
- Administers selected assessments within the practice guidelines established by AOTA and the Maryland Practice Board;
- Assists with data collection for screening/evaluation;
- Adapts assessments to client’s level of function; and
- Recognizes needs for reassessment of client.
TREATMENT:
- Contributes to development of treatment program;
- Displays strong observational skills;
- Prioritizes treatment goals;
- Describes to client/others reasoning behind treatment program;
- Demonstrates use of the activity analysis for development of treatment program;
- Anchors treatment program in evidence based practice;
- Selects, adapts, and sequences treatment activities to maximize participation and independence in client;
- Implements a planned treatment program which promotes independence in performance areas of occupation;
- Uses modalities and assistive technology when indicated to promote functional independence in living skills;
- Uses self therapeutically in the treatment process;
- Collaborates with other team members/caregivers when implementing treatment program;
- Be knowledgeable about local resources to refer client and/or family members;
- Demonstrates group leadership/group dynamic skills;
- Adheres consistently to safety regulations; and
- Displays emerging skills to contribute to the research of evidence based practice.
School of Health Professions Policies:
Students in the School of Health Professions are expected to conduct themselves according to an honor code, exhibit professional behavior, communicate effectively in English, provide proof of health insurance and immunizations, and must submit to a criminal background check and random urine drug testing. Students are expected to incur costs associated with these requirements.
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