Occupational Therapy Assistant, A.A.A.S.

Suggested GRCC Program:

Associate in Applied Arts and Sciences

Occupational therapy assistants work under the supervision of registered occupational therapists to help rehabilitate patients who are physically or mentally disabled. They help develop and implement programs of educational, vocational and recreational activities that strengthen patients’ muscle power, increase motion and coordination, and develop self sufficiency in overcoming disabilities.

Students interested in the Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program are advised to take preparatory courses in biological and behavioral sciences, such as anatomy, physiology, and psychology. All applicants will be asked to take English and math placement tests, since good reading, writing, and math skills are essential for success as an occupational therapy assistant.

Occupational Therapy is a profession in which members are required to give care to others.

The Occupational Therapy Assistant student will need to develop the skills necessary to relate to others verbally and in writing. The student will be required to use written documentation skills to communicate with other professionals.

In the field of Occupational Therapy, therapists need to demonstrate the characteristics of self-awareness, self acceptance, awareness of others and the ability to communicate that awareness. Therapists need to cope effectively with the emotional demands of the environment and to interact effectively with a variety of people. A therapist must be capable of subordinating personal feelings and must possess sufficient emotional stamina to deal with patients who will depend on him/her for emotional and psychological support during therapy.

The student must demonstrate fundamentals of practice by adhering to code of ethics, safety regulations, use sound judgment in regards to safety of self and others.

Students will be required to perform certain physical functions in order to successfully complete the Occupational Therapy Assistant program. These functions will be performed throughout the course work and/or clinical experience. These functions are not conditions for admission to the program; they are listed to alert the prospective student to the physical and emotional functions required of an occupational therapy assistant. If a student requires accommodations, it is his/her responsibility to contact Disability Support Services at (616) 234-4140.

The necessary physical functions include:

1. Physical Strength - A therapist will assist in transferring patients to or from wheelchairs, floors, mats, toilets, cars, beds, bathtubs, and showers. Other transfers may be required. The patients may be paralyzed or have some degree of incapacity such as poor balance, strength, coordination and endurance. The therapist may also have to move equipment, patients in wheelchairs, woodworking tools and craft equipment.
2. Mobility - In the course of performing duties in occupational therapy, a therapist will be expected to stand, lift, reach, bend, stretch, provide support and stability, and perform activities on a floor mat. Sufficient independent mobility within the architectural environment is necessary. A therapist must move quickly in an emergency, may have to quickly move patients, and may also perform treatment in a standing position over a long period of time.
3. Hearing - A therapist should have the ability to hear faint sounds from a distance of 4 feet—approximately the distance between a patient seated in a wheelchair and a person in a standing position next to the wheelchair. A therapist may be required to hear sounds such as those emitted by an electric hand saw, electric drill, motorized wheelchair, and blood pressure (using a stethoscope).
4. Visual Discrimination - A therapist should have sufficient vision to differentiate movements, read markings on instruments and measuring devices, and read newspaper small print.
5. Coordination - Sufficient motor skills, eye-hand coordination skills, manipulative skills and sensory function in one upper extremity may be needed by a therapist to assist with therapeutic activities. Many other therapeutic activities require dexterity, manipulation, strength, and body flexibility to preform.
6. Manual Dexterity - A therapist should have sufficient fine motor skills to manipulative objects and people safely. Manual dexterity to fabricate splints, to assist a patient in the completion of therapeutic projects/activities, and to demonstrate fine motor movements is also required.
7. Communication Skills - A therapist must be able to communicate orally and in writing. For example, a therapist must be able to read and give directions and to record health data regarding patients.

Students are admitted to the program once a year, in the Fall semester.

Pre-Program Requirements

In order to be eligible for admission into the Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program, a student must:

1. Be a high school graduate or have passed the high school equivalency GED (General Educational Development) Test.
2. Have a high school GPA of at least 2.5.
3. Score at least 40 on the algebra or 76 on the arithmetic portion of the health math test.
4. Score at least 74 on the health reading test.
5. Have completed a one-semester course of high school computers, focusing on computer literacy, Internet skills, retrieval and management of information with a grade of at least a “C.”.
6. Submit and release findings of fingerprinting, criminal background check, and drug screen to the OTA department at GRCC.
7. Successful completion of BI 121  and BI 122  with a grade of “C-” or better.

Program Requirements:

To be eligible for graduation, an OTA student must earn a minimum of “C” (2.0) in each of the required OTA courses and a minimum cumulative GPA of “C” in the prescribed OTA curriculum. The student must earn a minimum of “C-” in BI 121  and BI 122 , EN 100 /EN 101  and EN 102 .

The OTA program prepares assistants for entry into the profession and meets the educational standards for program accreditation. The OTA program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 4720 Montgomery Lane, PO Box 31220, Bethesda, MD 20824-1220. The 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). A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or state registration. For further information on limitations, you can contact NBCOT at 800 S. Frederick Ave., Suite 200, Gaithersburg, MD 20877-4150; (301) 990-7979. After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA).

The State of Michigan requires licensure for therapists to practice.

There are several professional-level education programs directed toward providing specific career advancement for certified occupational therapy assistants. To become a registered occupational therapist, a post baccalaureate degree will be required. Assistants may apply to other professional programs, but their previous training does not automatically include a transfer of credits or eligibility.

Students in the OTA program should be prepared to pay for their own textbooks, liability insurance, name tags, OTA examination fee, supplies, transportation and parking. These costs can add about $1,000 a year to the usual tuition and fees.

OTA courses must be taken in the sequence that follows:

Pre-Program Requirements

• BI 121 - Human Anatomy and Physiology 1 (4/5) (Lecture 0 / Lab 2 / Clinic 0)**
• BI 122 - Human Anatomy and Physiology 2 (4/5) (Lecture 0 / Lab 2 / Clinic 0)**

First Year

Second Year

Total Credits: 71

* CH = Contact hours: The number of class hours of attendance required per week.

** Only these courses may be taken prior to formal admission into the Occupational Therapy Assistant program. BI 121  and BI 122  must be completed within eight years prior to OT 214 .

*** Students are encouraged to complete all non-OT classes before Fieldwork 2, OT 230 /OT 235 . OT 230  requires 16 weeks of full-time (40 hours/week) fieldwork. Level 2 Fieldwork must be completed within 20 months of the didactic course work for an OTA program.

**** WE 156  is not required if a student can document current CPR/BLS for the Professional Rescuer certification prior to the third semester. However, one WE course is required to graduate from GRCC.

Note: Students must register by August 1 for OT 220  and by December 1 for OT 230  to be placed in fieldwork assignments. If not registered by these dates, students will not be assigned the fieldwork placements necessary to complete their program. They will have to wait until the next course availability.

Transfer Opportunities:

The Transfer Guide for many bachelor’s degree majors offered at Michigan colleges and universities is available at the Counseling and Career Center and online at www.grcc.edu.