Occupational Therapy Assistant

Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant practitioners work in variety of settings, such as hospitals, rehabilitation centers, skilled nursing facilities, home health settings, school-based settings, psychiatric hospitals, outpatient clinics, private-practice settings, and emerging areas of practice (e.g. jails, recreational/leisure, or community benefit organizations).

The Associate in Science Degree in Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program is designed to prepare each student for competent entry-level practice, be prepared to take and successfully pass the national certification examination and become a licensed as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA). Students completing the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program will develop an understanding of the scope of practice for COTA’s under the practice framework of Occupational Therapy, in order to develop, restore or maintain, physical, cognitive, developmental and/or psychosocial aspects of functioning that impact participation in activities of daily living.

The 16-month OTA program is designed as a cohort model, with one cohort admitted annually to begin with the start of the Spring semester. Students advance through program coursework progressing in a designated sequence. Students are required to complete supervised clinical fieldwork experiences as a corequisite to academic courses, that are integrated throughout the program. Program and fieldwork requirements include completion of fingerprinting, background check^*, drug screening, physical examination, providing documented proof of immunizations, TB test clearance, and current a CPR certification for health personnel; Uniforms are required for didactic and fieldwork courses.

Level I fieldwork experience is integrated to complement core coursework, totals 100 hours, and is supported with seminar sessions for applied learning.

Level II fieldwork is completed in the final semester. Level II fieldwork requires the completion of two, full-time experiences totaling 640 hours (320 hours each) in conjunction with supplementary seminars designed to support the application of knowledge and skills. Fieldwork experiences are unpaid and complement the required coursework (ACOTE standard C.1.10).

Success on the national certification exam is dependent upon timely program completion. To ensure that students complete all graduation and fieldwork requirements in a timely manner, Associate of Science in Occupational Therapy Assistant students must complete the required minimum of 16 weeks, full-time Level II fieldwork within 18 months following the completion of the didactic portion of the program.

The Clovis Community College associate-degree-level occupational therapy assistant (OTA) program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. 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, all 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.

*IMPORTANT NOTE: Individuals considering entering the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program who have been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony crime will be unable to complete course and program objectives. Applicants with a history of any matters that may flag a background check and/or drug screening should contact the OTA program director for confidential advisement and planning prior to applying to the program.

CORE COURSEWORK: Occupational Therapy Assistant core courses range from OTA-1 through OTA-51. All OTA courses must be completed with a “C” grade or better per OTA program grading guidelines. All core coursework must be successfully completed before a student advances to Fieldwork, Level II courses, OTA-50 and OTA-51. 

Please Note: Fieldwork Level II courses (OTA-50 and OTA-51) are full-time, offered over an 18-week semester. Students MUST complete the Level II fieldwork course in order to successfully complete the Associate in Science degree and be eligible to take the national certification examination.

A complete description of the OTA program core curriculum coursework is detailed in the following pages of the catalogue.

Prior to beginning the OTA Program, students must have completed ALL pre-requisite coursework in addition to general education courses; this allows the student to be eligible to complete the Associate of Occupational Therapy Assistant Degree and sit for the NBCOT exam.

Each cohort will start in the Spring semester – Year 1.  Core OTA program courses will be completed during Spring  semester – Year 1, Summer semester – Year 1, and Fall  semester – Year 1.  Fieldwork Level I experiences are integrated throughout the program.  Fieldwork level II will be completed during Spring semester – Year 2.  Students will graduate at the end of Spring semester – Year 2.  The planned annual cohort size will be up to 25 students.

Based upon the United States Department of Labor – Bureau of Labor Statistics, in California, Occupational Therapy Assistants’ employment outlook is expected to grow by 32% by 2022, earning $59,010 annually ($28-$29 an hour).  In Fresno, California, Occupational Therapy Assistants’ annual wages is higher than the California median wage, earning $70,040 annually ($33-34 an hour) [refer to “OTA Employment DATA 2012-2022,” page 2-3]

Program Goals:

Upon completion of the program, students will be able to

• Demonstrate skills appropriate to employment as a competent, socially responsive entry level occupational therapy assistant who serves the complex and culturally diverse population of Clovis and its surrounding communities. 
• Demonstrate understanding of human beings and their physical, cognitive, developmental, psychosocial problems that prevent them from participating independently in activities of daily living. 
• Demonstrate skills appropriate to work as a generalist in a wide variety of settings including, but not limited to hospitals, rehabilitation centers, skilled nursing facilities, home health agencies, school systems, psychiatric hospitals, private practice outpatient clinics, as well as innovative emerging areas of practice.
• Work in collaboration with an Occupational Therapist.

Program Learning Outcomes:

Students demonstrate ability to respond and react appropriately in various Occupational Therapy practice environments where Occupational Therapy could be utilized, to prepare them to obtain an entry-level position as an Occupational Therapy Assistant.

Students will demonstrate ability to utilize preparatory, purposeful, and occupation-based activities to maximize independence for all age groups, disabilities and occupational roles.

Student will be eligible to take the National Certification Examination for Occupational Therapy Assistants.

The Associate of Science in Occupational Therapy Assistant program is classified as “Other – Designed to Meet Community Needs.”  The Associate of Science in Occupational Therapy Assistant program is classified under Career and Technical Education (CTE), whose programs goals and objectives are to prepare students for workforce preparation.  The vocational TOP code is classified under 1218.00 – Occupational Therapy Technology.   This certificate is designed to meet community needs in accordance with the community college mission. 

Creating Opportunities – One Student at a Time:

1. We honor diversity and serve all students of the community;

The Associate of Science in Occupational Therapy Assistant program is designed to train students to become occupational therapy assistants who are employed in facilities that serve the complex and culturally diverse population in the Central Valley. .

2. We promote opportunities for success and wellness through full access to programs and services, and we provide comprehensive student support to achieve equity.
3. We foster critical, creative, and engaged thinking through education based on integrity, generosity, and accountability.
4. We support student success along pathways to certificates, degrees, and transfer programs, preparing students for thriving futures.

The Associate of Science in Occupational Therapy Assistant program is designed for students to acquire the knowledge and skills required to complete the ASOTA degree, pass the National Board for the Certification of Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) OTA certification exam, and obtain employment as a certified occupational therapy assistant.

5. The Associate of Science in Occupational Therapy Assistant program is part of the CTE program offerings.  The OTA is separate from but complementary to the offering of the Rehabilitation Aide Certificate. Students may initially gain experience and employment in rehabilitation and obtain an understanding of the field of Occupational Therapy by completing the Certificate of Achievement in Rehabilitation Aide, in which graduates could be employed as an occupational therapy aide.  After completing the Associate of Science in Occupational Therapy Assistant degree, a student may choose to continue their educational journey and pursue a bachelor’s degree with additional requirements for application to a doctoral program for Occupational Therapy.
6. We build community partnerships to enhance student learning and success thereby advancing economic vitality in the community.

• The Associate of Science in Occupational Therapy Assistant program includes a fieldwork component, required by the Accreditation Council on Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE), providing students  the opportunity to apply new learning, knowledge and skills   within a practical context in community and clinical settings [refer to “ACOTE2018-Standards-and-Interpretive-Guide,” pages 33-38].  Our community partnerships allow our students to  complete required fieldwork experiences and support professional development of our students.  These  partnerships  will serve to develop employment  opportunities  for our students.

7. We engage in reflective, research and innovation focused on learning and student success .

As a CTE program at Clovis Community College, the Associate of Science in Occupational Therapy Assistant program also fits into the State Center Community College District’s (SCCCD) Mission and Strategic Planning [refer to “SCCCD_Strategic_Plan_2017-2020”].

DISTRICT VISION: Empowering through Educational Excellence

DISTRICT MISSION: State Center Community College District is committed to empowering our colleges in their efforts to promote exemplary educational opportunities and to provide safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environments leading to student success and global competitiveness which will transform our region.

As part of the Clovis Community College program inventory, the Associate of Science in Occupational Therapy Assistant program provides educational opportunities for our students to learn in an inclusive and supportive environment, earning an associate degree that will allow them entry into our regional workforce, and opportunities to expand and be competitive in the healthcare arena.

MASTER STRATEGIC PLAN – OVERARCHING GOALS:

• Excellence in Education: SCCCD is committed to empowering our colleges to cultivate excellence in educational programs and student support services.

The Associate of Science in Occupational Therapy Assistant program was initiated by college leaders to create CTE programs that would be based upon the employment needs of the community and provide academic excellence for our students.

• Institutional Effectiveness: SCCCD is committed to data-informed but people-driven continuous quality improvement of processes and resources.

The Associate of Science in Occupational Therapy Assistant program was developed based upon data-informed and people-driven input of local industry business leaders to determine the curriculum design.

• Leader in Higher Education and Community Collaboration: SCCCD is committed to being a force for positive change by expanding partnerships in education and workforce development

The Associate of Science in Occupational Therapy Assistant program incorporated a fieldwork component to the program to expand upon partnerships within the community and mold the educational learning of our students.

The Associate of Science in Occupational Therapy Assistant program embodies a pattern of learning experiences that are focused on specific capabilities or knowledge areas.  Student learning outcomes are developed from input by the Occupational Therapy Assistant advisory board members, who in part, are current industry professionals who know of specific capabilities and knowledge areas needed to be employed as an Occupational Therapy Assistant specific to the Central Valley area.  Also, the fieldwork component of this program allows students to practice current skills under the supervision of industry professionals.

Clovis Community College is developing more CTE programs to meet the needs of the community and businesses in the Central Valley of California.  The Associate of Science in Occupational Therapy Assistant program will be the second health related CTE program at Clovis Community College, building upon the college’s existing program inventory of program offerings that focus on community building, diversity, equity, and innovation.

See table below.