| Program
Information
What is an Occupational Therapy Assistant?
Program Description
Program Sequence
Program Cost
Class Size
Pre-requisites
Core Courses
Program Hours
Working Sites
Potential Salary
Accreditation Status
Certification Exam
Florida Licensure
Program Manager
Program Sequence
Prerequisites
BSC
2085C Human Anatomy & Physiology I/Lab..5 cr.
PSY
2012 General Psychology............................3 cr.
ENC
1101 College Composition..........................3 cr.
First
Year:
Credits
Spring Semester
HSC 1531 Medical Terminology..........................2
cr.
OTH
1001 Introduction to OT/Lab......................3 cr.
OTH
2300C Psychosocial OT/Lab.......................3 cr.
OTH
1520C Pediatric OT/Lab.............................3 cr.
Any
3 cr. hr. Humanities approved for general
education.......................................................3
cr.
Summer Semester
OTH
1800 Level I Psychosocial Fieldwork...........1 cr.
OTH
1802 Level I Physical Dysfunction/Lab........1 cr.
BSC
2086C Human Anatomy & Physiology II.......5 cr.
Fall Semester
OTH
2420C Physical Dysfunction/Lab...............................5
cr.
OTH
1014C Functional Anatomy & Kinesiology/Lab I.........4
cr.
HSC
2554 Principles of Human Diseases..........................3
cr.
MGF 1106 Mathematics for Liberal Arts I..........................3
cr.
(required for AS degree)
or
MTB
1103 Business Mathematics
(required for AAS degree)
Second Year
Spring Semester
OTH
2131C Activity Analysis/Lab.....................................4
cr.
OTH
2125C Therapeutic Modalities/Lab............................3
cr.
OTH 1019C Functional Anatomy & Kinesiology/Lab
I.........4 cr.
Summer Semester
*
OTH 2841 Level II Psychosocial Fieldwork.....................6
cr.
*
OTH 2840 Level II Physical Dysfunction Fieldwork........6
cr.
70 cr. hrs
*All
academic courses must be completed successfully before attempting
Level II clinical fieldworks.
Note:
All OTA students are required to complete Level II Fieldwork within
18 months, following completion of academic preparation.
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What
is an Occupational Therapy Assistant?
The Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) works under the supervision
of an occupational therapist. The OTA teaches individuals with emotional,
developmental, and/or physical disabilities new methods or techniques
to perform daily activities, and adapts the environment, and/or
tasks to maximize independent functioning. "Occupation"
(purposeful activity) is used as a means of preventing, reducing,
and/or overcoming physical, social, and emotional disabilities in
people of all ages. back to top
Program
Description
The
Occupational Therapy Assistant Program is a 70 credit hour A.S. or
A.A.S.
degree program, which trains and qualifies graduates to work in
the occupational therapy field.
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Program
Cost
Approximately $5,000 in tuition, books, and lab
fees. back
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Class
Size
Eighteen (18) applicants are admitted each year to begin course
work in the spring semester (January).
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Pre-requisites
A total of 11 credits need to be completed before starting course
work in the OTA Program. CPR and AIDS certifications need to be
completed before Level I Fieldwork in summer. back
to top
Core
Courses
Core courses consist of a total of 59 credit hours, 14 of which
are in clinical fieldwork. back to top
Program
Hours
Most courses will be offered Monday through Friday, primarily during
the day hours. The program requires full time commitment throughout
the year. back to top
Working
Sites
Typical work sites for the OTA are found in rehabilitation units/centers,
general hospitals, out-patient clinics, school system, private clinics,
nursing homes, psychiatric units, mental health agencies, forensic
facilities, developmental disabilities agencies, pediatric agencies,
education, etc. back to top
Potential
Salary
The OTA position may be salaried or hourly; usually 40 hours a week.
In Polk County, a COTA may earn an average of $21/hr if employed fulltime with benefits. back
to top
Accreditation
Status
The OTA Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational
Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association
(AOTA), located at 4720 Montgomery Lane, PO Box 31220, Bethesda,
MD 20824-1220. AOTA's phone number is (301) 652-AOTA. back
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Certification
Examination
Following completion of academic and clinical work, graduates of
the program will be able to sit for the National Certification Examination
for the Occupational Therapy Assistant, administered by the National
Board of Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT), 800 S. Frederick
Ave., Suite 200, Gaithersburg, MD 20877-4150, Phone: (301)-990-7979.
The computer-delivered examination is offered on-demand, year-long.
Cost of the exam is $525.00. After successful completion of this
exam, the graduate will be a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
(COTA).
A felony conviction may affect graduate's ability to sit for
the NBCOT certification exam. back to top
If
you Have a Felony in Your Background:
See information on
Good Moral Character Review
or e-mail
character.review@nbcot.org or call
301-990-7979. back to top
Florida
Licensure
Most states require licensure in order to practice; however, state
licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification
Examination. Graduates need to apply for Florida licensure upon
successful completion of the Certification Exam. Graduates are responsible
for requesting information from the state licensing agency and completing
requirements for licensure. The current cost for licensure is $180.00.
A felony conviction may affect graduate's ability to attain state
licensure.back to top
Program Director
Saritza Guzmán-Sardina, M.Ed.,OTR/L
Polk Community College
WRH 103
999 Avenue H, NE
Winter Haven, FL 33881
Phone:
(863) 297-1010 Ext. 5753
Email: sguzman-sardina@polk.edu
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