Occupational Therapy Assistant (AOTA)

The Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) is a health professional who uses purposeful activity to enhance functional abilities of individuals limited by physical injury or illness, psychosocial dysfunction, developmental or learning disabilities, poverty and cultural differences, or the aging process. The OTA works under the supervision of a occupational therapist (OT) and collaborates with others to maximize independence, prevent disability, and maintain the health of individuals who require services. Students are educated in the skills and techniques necessary to participate in assessment and treatment in accordance with the occupational therapy plan of care.

Admission Policies for Allied Health Sciences A.A.S. Degrees

The OTA curriculum includes a blend of onlineand hybrid courses coupled with face-to-face labs. All students are required to travel to the Oak Ridge campus one day per week for labs. Level I and Level II fieldwork experiences are completed in community-based practice settings. Placement decisions are based on factors such a site availability, alignment with program philosophy, and geographic proximity to the student.

Additional Admission Criteria:

In addition to meeting the general requirements for the college and the Allied Health Sciences programs, applicants to the Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program must:

1. Obtain a minimum GPA of 2.5 in the general education courses included in the OTA degree plan.  Required science courses older than 5 years at time of program admission will not be considered. 
2. Complete the required general education courses with a grade of "C" or higher for both admission and progression.
3. Complete the required observation assignment and submit the completd form (either Option 1 or Option 2)
   1. Option 1 - complete 8 hours of OT observation. Observations may be either in-person/face-to-face OT treatment OR observations of OT services delivered through telehealth technology.
   2. Option 2 - Review the informational video approved by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and the information page on the AOTA website. Summarize what you have learned in less than 750 words. See instructions in the Admissions Packet documnt located under the Admission Requirements tab on the OTA webpage.
4. Submit Recommendation Form completed by two professionals in the community. See the Admission Packet document located under the Admission Requirements tab on the OTA webpage for details
5. Ensure that all application materials are received by the March 31 application deadline.
6. If selected, participate in an interview with OTA program representatives. Students will receive notification of the interview through their RaiderNet email.

Progression:
OTA students must achieve a "C" or higher in all required courses in the OTA program and satisfactorily complete clinical courses to be eligible to progress.

NOTE:  All OTA students must complete Level II Fieldwork within 18 months following completion of academic preparation.

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 of Occupational Therapy (NBCOT).  After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA).  Initial certification is a requirement for licensure in all states.

NOTE:  A felony conviction may affect a graduate's ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination.

Roane State Community College's 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. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-6611 and its web address is www.acoteonline.org. 

Applicants are advised to complete general education requirements prior to seeking admission to the OTA program.

¹Students who are required to take 12 credit hours for federal financial aid are advised to take ALH 118 in the first semester of the first year in the OTA program.  Note:  Completion of ALH 118 prior to admission does NOT influence admission points.

Program Application Deadline: March 31

This program is designed for students who plan to enter the workforce upon graduation.  It is not intended as a transfer pathway into an occupational therapy program.  Students who intend to transfer to a four-year institution should follow the TN Transfer Pathway in Pre-Occupational Therapy

http://www.roanestate.edu/?5979-Occupational-Therapy-Assistant