Occupational Therapy Assistant

Program Description:

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS: View Selective Admission for detailed information.

The Occupational Therapy Assistant program is designed to prepare students for certification as Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants (COTA). Occupational Therapy Assistant and General Education courses are reinforced by supervised clinical fieldwork experiences. The Level II clinical fieldwork must be completed within 18 months of the didactic course work.

The Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant works under the supervision of an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR) to provide skilled intervention that assists individuals of all ages with physical, developmental, or psychosocial dysfunction and wellness to achieve their optimal performance in daily life skills.

Graduates of the program are prepared to sit for the national certification examination for the Occupational Therapy Assistant administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). The National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) may deny certification and credentialing to Occupational Therapy Assistant graduates in violation of ethical and legal standards, including felony convictions.

After successful completion of the NBCOT exam, the individual will be a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA). All states require licensure in order to practice, including Michigan; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination.

Program Outcomes:

Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to:

1. Integrate the foundational content and basic tenets of occupational therapy to articulate the meaning and role of occupation across the lifespan and to diverse populations.

2. Integrate occupational therapy theories, models and frames of reference as it applies to the practice of occupation therapy in order to meet the needs of a diversity of clients.

3. Perform screening, evaluation and assessments in determining clients’ occupational performance needs, under supervision and in collaboration with the occupational therapist.

4. Apply best practice intervention methods to facilitate safe occupational performance of clients while utilizing clinical reasoning.

5. Describe the practice of occupational therapy and its role in the promotion of health and wellness in a variety of contexts.

6. Clearly and effectively communicate the unique nature and contribution of occupational therapy, its philosophy and role in client-centered care.

7. Use scholarly, professional literature to make best practice decisions as it relates to occupation therapy practice.

8. Adhere to the professional ethics, values, and responsibilities outlined in the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and apply them in ethical decision making and professional accountability.

9.  Apply communications, clinical reasoning, best practice methods, and professional accountability to successfully pass the NBCOT certification exam.

Requirements & Specific Information:

Additional expenses to be met by students before entering the first clinical fieldwork experience are (1) a health history and physical examination including testing for tuberculosis and other communicable diseases, (2) uniforms, (3) hospitalization insurance as neither the clinical agencies nor the college insures the student against accidents or illnesses, and (4) criminal background checks and drug testing.

Students must achieve grade “C” or better, or grade “Pass” (if the course is a Pass/Fail course) for all the Core and the General Education courses which are prerequisites and/or considered a part of this program.  Other General Education courses which are not part of the program, but are required for the degree, require only a passing grade.

Accreditation:

The Occupational Therapy Assistant program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) c/o Accreditation Department, American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), 4720 Montgomery Lane, Suite 200, Bethesda, MD 20814‑3449. AOTA’s phone number is 301.652.AOTA. 

www.acoteonline.org

Career Opportunities:

Occupational Therapy Assistant-Associate of Applied Science: Job titles such as Occupational Therapy Assistant are attainable upon completion of this course of study, successful passing of the NBCOT exam, and obtaining state licensure. To learn more from a career specialist, visit the Office of Career Services at either campus or explore online at www.onetonline.org.

Transfer Pathways:

Students intending to transfer and complete a bachelor’s degree in a related field, or a master’s degree required for an occupational therapist, registered, need to make early decisions concerning an academic major and a transfer destination. Statistics show that students who make these decisions early are more likely to persist to graduation than their undecided counterparts. Students planning to transfer credits earned at Macomb are strongly urged to see a counselor or academic advisor as early as possible in their college careers.

• Transfer Resource Guide
• Transfer Plan Database

Programs

• Occupational Therapy Assistant, AAS (full-time)