OT Assistant Program Information

Program Information: An Associate in Science Degree is required for the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program. The Degree includes Occupational Therapy Assistant courses (39.5 units), Allied Health courses (6 units), and specific general education and science courses required for the program (18/25 units). Students must also take additional courses to meet graduation requirements of the College. The Allied Health and OTA courses are offered in the evening and on Saturdays, and are scheduled sequentially for four semesters and one summer session. The shortest time to complete all requirements of the program would be two years and two summer sessions after being admitted. The program requires two nine-week, full-time fieldwork experiences which take place during the students final semester. In addition to college enrollment fees, other costs include: books and supplies ($700.00); physical examinations and immunizations ($175.00); malpractice insurance ($30.00); and fee for certification test ($325.00). Students must also plan for travel costs to and from the clinical facilities, many of which are outside the Sacramento area. Some students may need to arrange for housing during the full time fieldwork.

Accreditation/Certification: The Occupational Therapy Assistant Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 4720 Montgomery Lane, P.O. Box 31220, Bethesda, MD 20824-1220. AOTA's 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). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA). Most states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination.

Enrollment Eligibility:
  • Completion of OTA 50, 51, and AH 54 with grades of "C" or better and a cumulative GPA of 2.5 in these three (3) courses.
  • Completion of Biology 60, Anatomy/Physiology, or Biology 25 and 26, or equivalent courses within ten (10) years with a GPA of 3.0 or better.
  • Completion of English 71 or eligibility for English 4 as determined by the reading assessment process for all applicants who do not have an AA Degree or higher.

    • Enrollment Process:
    1. Students applying with courses in progress must indicate so on the application and enrollment in the program will be dependent upon submission of transcripts verifying completion of prerequisite courses.
    2. All applications for enrollment and official transcripts must be submitted to the Allied Health Division by October 15th to be considered for enrollment for the Spring semester.
    3. Completion of the enrollment eligibility requirements places the applicant in the random selection pool. Each year one-third of the class will be randomly selected from the previous year's alternates who have reapplied. Two-thirds of the class will be randomly selected from all eligible applicants. Eligible students who are not enrolled will be considered alternates.

    Sequence of Courses

     

    General Education and Prerequisite Courses Required for OTA Program

     Student should consult with their counselor to plan a schedule for completing these courses. Counseling is also available to assist students in determining which additional courses and competency in basic skills are necessary to meet graduation requirements. It is advisable to take these courses prior to the program, or during the first year.

     General Education Courses

    Units

    Prerequisite Courses

    Units

     Speech 1

    3

     BIO 60 or BIO 25 & 26

    3 - 5

     Psych 1 or 7

    3

     OTA 50

    1

     Soc 1A

    3

     OTA 51

    3

     Eng 1A or 57

    3

     AH 54

    3

     FCS 10

    3

    * Students who do not plan to enter a B.S. program may elect to take BIO 60 to meet program requirements

     Progression of Courses upon acceptance to the OTA Program

     Semester

     Course

    Hours/week

     Units

     Spring
    		 OTA 52 - Functional Biomechanics for the OTA 3 lecture

    3
    OTA 52L - Functional Biomechanics Lab 3 lab

    1
    AH 51 - Communication for Allied Health Careers (May be taken prior to enrollment 3 lecture X 12 weeks

    2
    AH 52 - Professional Ethics of Health Team Members (May be taken prior to enrollment) 3 lecture X 6 weeks

    1

     Summer
    		 OTA 53 - Fundamentals of OTA Practice 6 lec x 6 weeks

    2

     Fall
    		 OTA 54 - Theoretical Foundations of Psychosocial Dysfunction 3 lec

    3
    OTA 55 - Occupational Therapy Process in Psychosocial Dysfunction 1 lec & 3 lab

    5

     Spring
    		 OTA 56 - Theoretical Foundations of Physical Dysfunction 3 lec

     3
    OTA 57 - Occupational Therapy Process in Physical Dysfunction 1 lec & 3 lab

     5

     Summer
    		 OTA 58 - OT Process and Practice in Developmental Disabilities and Pediatric Conditions 2.25 lec x 8 weeks & 3.3 lab x 8 weeks

    3

     Fall
    		 OTA 98A - Fieldwork Level II 40 lec/sem & 40 lab/week x 8weeks

     6
    OTA 98B - Fieldwork Level II 40 lec/sem & 40 lab/week x 8 weeks

     3

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