OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSISTANT
Program Description
There have been dramatic shifts in U.S. population as a result of an increased average life span. This phenomenon, along with advances in science, technology and medicine has brought occupational therapy into the forefront of the allied health care field.
The Occupational Therapy Assistant curriculum prepares entry-level occupational therapy assistants to work in community and institutional health care programs, providing direct service to individuals.
In this program, students receive instruction in theory and develop skills relating to occupational therapy in classroom, laboratory and clinical settings. During the second year, students participate in clinical practice settings to include general physical medicine and psychiatric centers, developmental agencies, schools, nursing homes and community agencies. Through these experiences, students gain experience in teaching patients/clients methods for engagement in self care, work, play/leisure, education, social skills and home/community living skills.
Accreditation
The program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). The address is 4720 Montgomery Lane, P.O. Box 31220, Bethesda, Maryland 20824-1220. Phone number is (301) 652-AOTA. Website for AOTA: www.aota.org.
Graduates of the program will be able to sit for the national certification exam for occupational therapy assistants. The National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) is the certifying agency who administers the national certification exam. After successful completion of the exam the individual will be a certified occupational therapy assistant (COTA). NBCOT's address is NBCOT, Inc., 800 South Frederick Avenue, Suite 200, Gaithersburg, MD 208877, Phone: (301) 990-7979, http://www.nbcot.org.
A felony conviction may affect a graduate's ability to sit for the NBCOT certification exam or obtain state licensure.
Graduation/Certification/Licensure
An Associate in Applied Science degree is granted to each student who successfully completes all coursework and all fieldwork. The student must also demonstrate proficiency in algebra at the level of MT 006.
- New York State certification is required for employment in New York State. Upon graduation from the program, an individual is eligible to apply for certification. Many states in the U.S. require state licensure. Separate applications for state licensure must be filed within that state.
- New York State does not require results of the certification exam as a requirement for certification. A final official transcript indicating confirmation of an Associate in Applied Science is required.
- The total number of graduates who passed the certification exam as first time, new graduate test takers in 2009-2011 was 24 out of 30, which is a 80 percent pass rate. During that three-year time period, the program had 39 graduates.
- ECC OTA graduates interested in the practice area of psychiatric rehabilitation may meet eligibility criteria to sit for the Certification in Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner (CPRP) exam after completing post graduate paid experience working within in a psychiatric rehabilitation setting. Students interested in pursuing CPRP certification should speak with their OTA advisor. Additional information can be obtained at United States Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association (www.uspra.org).
Degree: Associate in Applied Science
Hegis: 5210
Curriculum Code: 0665
Campus Location: North
Health Sciences Division