Occupational Therapy Assistant

Semester Sequence

This is a suggested full-time schedule for a student who has completed any developmental course work and has no transfer credits. Refer to the College catalog for specific requirements in selecting General Education courses. Prerequisites and required General Education courses must be completed prior to entering the Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program.

Prerequisites - 22 Credits

• BIOL 110 - Biology I: Molecular and Cells 4 Credit(s). **
• BIOL 220 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I 4 Credit(s). **
• BIOL 221 - Human Anatomy and Physiology II 4 Credit(s).
• PSYC 101 - Introduction to Psychology 3 Credit(s).
• PSYC 103 - Principles of Human Growth and Development 3 Credit(s).
• MATH 153 - Introduction to Statistical Methods 4 Credit(s).

General Education Requirements and Electives - 12 Credits

Program Requirements and Electives - 33 Credits

Total Credits Required for Degree: 69*

Notes

*Credit students who are new to college (no successfully completed college coursework at other institutions) are required to take ACDV 101  in the first semester at CCBC. This is a 1-credit class, and it does not count towards the number of credits required for a degree or certificate. Students are required to provide an official transcript(s) to document successful completion of college coursework at another institution(s) for this requirement to be waived.

**BIOL 110  is a General Education course and is a pre-requisite for BIOL 220  and BIOL 230 . The option to challenge or receive a waiver for BIOL 110  can be requested through the Biology Department. (Different programs within the School of Health Professions have different Biology requirements; these are noted in each specific program of study.

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 phone number c/o AOTA is 301-652-AOTA and its web address is www.acoteonline.org. The program has been granted re-accreditation through the year 2017. 

Graduates of this 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 graduate will be a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA). The pass rates for graduates attempting the national certification exam within twelve (12) months of graduation from this program (irrespective of the number of attempts) can be found at secure.nbcot.org/data/schoolstats.aspx. 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.

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, immunizations, and a tuberculosis (TB) test; and submit to a criminal background check and random drug testing. Students are expected to pay the costs associated with these requirements.

Admission

Effective January 5, 2015, applications for all School of Health Professions programs, except Dental Hygiene and Physician Assistant, are processed in a new Central Application Service called CCBC CAS. The link to the CAS and the application instructions are located in the program admissions packet at the School of Health Professions website. You will need a CCBC student ID number and a CCBC student account password to complete the application. If you have questions about the CCBC CAS process, contact the School of Health Professions Admissions Office at (443) 840-1989 or read the FAQ selections at the bottom of each page inside the CAS application.

• 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 2.5.
• 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.  Students must also show proof of health insurance coverage on the day of orientation and must maintain this coverage throughout enrollment in the program. For specific information regarding admission into the OTA program, please call 443-840-4482 or visit the School of Health Professions website.

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: 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;
• Demonstrate respect for client and right to self determination;
• Aware of issues/trends affecting the profession;
• Understands importance of identifying profesional abilities and competencies related to job responsibilities;
• Initiates advocacy for client rights; and
• Demonstrates 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, written , and electronic format;
• Documents adequately to comply with standards for reimbursement required by state and federal agencies;
• Communicates effectively to client, family and healthcare team rationale for therapy and progress, taking into consideration the nonverbal cues and culture of patient/family.

ASSESSMENTS:

1. Administers selected assessments within the practice guidelines established by AOTA and the Maryland Practice Board;
2. Assists with data collection for screening/evaluation;
3. Recognizes needs for reassessment of client.

TREATMENT:

• Contributes to development of an occupational-based 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;
• Demonstrates skills to read/understand scholarly journals;
• 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;
• Knowledgeable about local resources to refer client and/or family members;
• Demonstrates group leadership/group dynamic skills;
• Adheres consistently to safety regulations; and
• Uses professional literature to make EBP decisions in collaboration with OT.