Occupational Therapy is an allied health specialty that employs the use of purposeful activity for individuals who are limited by physical injury or illness, psychosocial dysfunction, developmental or learning disabilities, or the aging process, in order to maximize independence, prevent disability and maintain health. Practice encompasses evaluation, treatment and consultation.

Enrollment - 24 students

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, P.O. Box 31220, Bethesda, MD 2084-1220. AOTA's telephone number is 301-652-2682.

Licensure - Graduates of the program will be able to sit for the national certification examination for occupational therapy assistants administered by the National Board of Certification in Occupational Therapy Inc. (NBCOT). Successful completion of this exam entitles the individual to practice as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) under the supervision of a registered occupational therapist. Most states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. A felony conviction may affect a graduates ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.

Schedule - The professional courses begin each Summer term. Classes include both didactic and laboratory sessions. Classes are usually scheduled Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00AM - 5:30PM. The OTA program cannot accept part-time students.

Faculty  - The OTA faculty includes two full-time instructors, the program coordinator and the clinical coordinator. Additional part-time faculty/guest lecturers are utilized as needed.

Physical Demands - An Occupational Therapy Assistant may need to be able to perform the following in day-to-day work situations. (Not all inclusive.)

• Remain continuously on task for 3-4 hours while standing, sitting, moving, lifting and/or bending.
• Motor skills sufficient to provide safe and effective patient care.
• Lift and move loads in excess of 50 lbs.

Clinic - There may be exposure to patients with infectious diseases and those who are critically ill on clinical rotations. Open wounds, blood and body fluids may be encountered in this field.
The OTA curriculum requires that each student participate in Level I and Level II clinical or fieldwork experiences. Level I fieldwork experiences are embedded into summer term curriculum. In addition, the last two weeks of Fall semester are scheduled for Level I Fieldwork experiences. Each Level II fieldwork assignment is eight weeks in length and is scheduled during Spring semester. The student must complete Level II fieldwork within 18 months following completion of academic preparation. The OTA program affiliates with various facilities throughout the southeast. Fieldwork assignments will be made by the OTA faculty.

Due to the limited availability of sites, there is no guarantee that a given student will be able to remain in Charleston or be placed in the location of his/her choice for clinical rotations. Fieldwork placement is evaluated on an individual basis. Each student must sign a Memorandum of Understanding in reference to this policy prior to beginning classes. The student will be financially responsible for arranging housing, meals, and transportation during these assignments. 

Salary - Starting salaries for new OTA graduates vary widely based upon geographic locale and site of employment (hospital, home health, private practice, skilled nursing/assisted living facilities, or school system). Income in the more rural areas tends to be higher than in the metropolitan areas. The current state average is $23,000 to $33,000 annually.
 
Job Settings - Graduates of the OTA program work in a variety of settings including hospitals, home health agencies, private practices, skilled nursing/assisted living facilities, and the public school systems.

Student Outcomes - Reporting Period 2005-2007

·         Total number of program graduates – 36

·         Total number of first time takers of national certification exam  - 32

·         Total number of first time takers who passed the exam – 30

·         Percentage of the total number of first time takers who passed the exam  - 94%

Occupational Therapy Assistant Faculty

Jean Solomon, MHS, OTR/L

Program Coordinator

Office Location: Main Campus

Building 630/ Room 102-D

(843) 574-6900

jean.solomon@tridenttech.edu