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Occupational Therapy Assistant

Information about this exciting field:

Occupational Therapy Assistants work under the direction of occupational therapists to help rehabilitate patients with injuries, illnesses, or disabilities through the therapeutic use of everyday activities (occupations).  They help patients develop, recover, and improve the skills needed for daily living and working.  Common occupational therapy interventions include helping children with disabilities to participate fully in school and social situations, helping people who are recovering from injuries to regain necessary skills, and providing support for older adults who are experiencing physical or cognitive changes.

Is this program for me?

Occupational Therapy Assistants spend much of their time on their feet setting up equipment and working with patients.  If you enjoy working directly with people, helping them to achieve and maintain their independence to the best their abilities allow, this rigorous program might be the right one for you.  Here are some qualities and skills exhibited by successful occupational therapy assistants:

  • Compassion
  • Patience
  • People skills/personable
  • Conscientious
  • Clear communication
  • Ability to follow detailed directions
  • Physical stamina

Where might I find a job?

Occupational Therapy Assistants typically work in occupational therapists’ offices, healthcare facilities, and hospitals. They may also work in schools or nursing care facilities.

Accreditation

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, Suite 200, Bethesda, MD 20814-3449. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA and its Web address is www.acoteonline.org. Graduates of the program will be eligible 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). In addition, most states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.

Salary Information

Bureau of Labor Statistics

Program Outcomes

Here is information regarding performance of the graduates of the Chattahoochee Technical College Occupational Therapy Assistant program on the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) examination.

Program Length

Occupational Therapy Assistant occupational courses will be completed in five (5) semesters.

Program Specifics

OTA Fieldwork Educator Resources

Academic Advisement

Students should contact a Health Sciences Advisor with questions about admission criteria or to schedule an advisement appointment.

Campus Locations

Program prerequisite courses are offered at multiple campuses and online.  Occupational Therapy occupational courses are offered at the Canton Campus.

Program Director

Amy Shaffer, MA, COTA/L

Degree

Occupational Therapy Assistant Degree