Occupational Therapy Assistant, A.A.A.S

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Academic Program Code: 340

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 the Occupational Therapy code of ethics and safety regulations, and use sound judgment in regards to safety of self and others.

The OTA program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E Bethesda, MD 20814. The phone number is (301) 652-AOTA. www.acoteonline.org. 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 One Bank Street, Suite 300, Gaitherburg, MD 20878; (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.

Program Admissions Requirements

Students are admitted to the program once a year, in the Fall semester. In order to be eligible for admission into the Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program, a student must:
Be a high school graduate or have passed the high school equivalency GED (General Educational Development) Test.
Have a high school GPA of at least 2.5.
Must demonstrate math, reading and writing competency all must be within the last five years. Dependent on demonstrated competencies, a reduce timeframe may apply (for specific details/scores visit the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program Requirements).
Pass a preliminary criminal background check.
Successful completion of BI 121 and BI 122 within two attempts with a grade of C or Higher. If it has been more than five years since the most recent attempt, one additional opportunity will be allowed. Successful completion of OT 102 with a grade of C or Higher within 2 attempts. A withdrawal is consider an attempt for each of these courses.

General Education Courses

Select a minimum of 15 credit hours of course work from the General Education Course list. Course work must be selected as directed from the areas below.

English Composition and Communications

EN 101 - English Composition I Credit Hours: 3
Select one (1) course from the list below.
EN 102 - English Composition II Credit Hours: 3
COM 131 - Fundamentals of Public Speaking Credit Hours: 3
COM 135 - Interpersonal Communication Credit Hours: 3

Humanities

Select one (1) Humanities General Education Elective.

Humanities General Education - Elective Credit Hours: varies by course

Social Sciences

PY 201 - General Psychology Credit Hours: 3

Natural Sciences and Mathematics

BI 121 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I Credit Hours: 4

General Education Total Credit Hours

15 (minimum)

Program Courses

BI 122 - Human Anatomy and Physiology II Credit Hours: 4
EDU 118 - Human Growth and Development I Credit Hours: 4
EDU 120 - Adult Development Credit Hours: 3
GH 110 - Medical Terminology I Credit Hours: 2
GH 120 - Therapeutic Relationships Credit Hours: 3
PY 231 - Abnormal Psychology Credit Hours: 3
OT 102 - Introduction to Occupational Therapy Credit Hours: 3
OT 105 - Documentation in Occupational Therapy Credit Hours: 1
OT 108 - Therapeutic Intervention I Credit Hours: 3
OT 109 - Therapeutic Intervention II Credit Hours: 3
OT 110 - Disabling Conditions Credit Hours: 4
OT 208 - Therapeutic Interventions III Credit Hours: 3
OT 214 - Kinesiology in Occupational Therapy Credit Hours: 3
OT 215 - Supplemental Practice Skills for Occupational Therapy Credit Hours: 1
OT 220 - Fieldwork I Credit Hours: 1
OT 224 - Fieldwork Integration I Credit Hours: 1
OT 230 - Fieldwork II Credit Hours: 10
OT 235 - Fieldwork Integration II Credit Hours: 2

Total Credit Hours

Program Notes

Only the following courses may be taken prior to formal admission into the Occupational Therapy Assistant program: BI 121 , BI 122 , PY 201 , PY 231 , EDU 118 , EN 101 , EN 102 , GH 110 , GH 120 , EDU 120 , OT 102 .

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.

The student must provide current documentation of CPR/BLS for the Professional Rescuer certification prior to the third semester of the program. CPR/BLS certification will be obtained upon completion of EXS 156 .

Students must register by August 1 for OT 220 and by December 1 for OT 230 to be place 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.

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 grade of “C” or Higher in EN 101 , EN 102 , GH 120 , EDU 118 , and EDU 120 . The OTA program prepares assistants for entry into the profession and meets the educational standards for program accreditation.

The GRCC OTA program is delivered in a combination of on campus, online, and hybrid courses each semester with students being required to come to campus 1-2 days each week of the term before completing full time fieldwork in the final semester.

Essential Abilities/Technical Standards

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:

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.

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.

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).

Visual Discrimination - A therapist should have sufficient vision to differentiate movements, read markings on instruments and measuring devices, and read newspaper small print.

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 perform.

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.

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.