Occupational Therapy Assistant

Associate in Health Science
Credit Requirements: 73 Semester Credit Hours

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.

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 telephone number is 301.652.2682. Graduates of the program will be able to sit for the national certification examination for occupational therapy assistants administered by the National Board for 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.

Program Admission and Course Progression Requirements
Applicants will be admitted to this program on a first-qualified, first-admitted basis. Applicants are considered to be qualified for admission to the next available class when they meet all TTC and OTA program requirements. Classes begin Summer Term of each year.

APPLICANTS MUST COMPLETE ALL OF THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS
I. General College Admission Requirements
Achieve admission to TTC by meeting the College's requirements for associate degree programs. See College admission prodedures. Please note that applicants not achieving appropriate test scores will be required to complete courses indicated by placement test scores.

II. Program Progression Requirements 
Applicants should ensure that each of the following progression requirements is on file in the Admissions office as soon as it is completed. Information may be submitted in person or by mail to:

 Trident Technical College
 Admissions Office, AM-M
 (Student Center, Building 410, Room 110)
 P.O. Box 118067
 Charleston, SC  29423-806

Phase I Provisional Acceptance for Fall Term

1. Achieve qualifying scores on the College's placement test, SAT or ACT. Contact an academic advisor and complete all courses indicated by placement test scores.
2. Complete the Allied Health application for the Occupational Therapy Assistant program. (NOTE:  When the number of applicants qualifying for progression at the same time exceeds the number of spaces available in this program, admission will be prioritized according to the date and time that the Allied health application was received in the Admissions office.) 
3. Provide proof of high school graduation or equivalent by submitting a copy of your high school transcript, diploma or GED.
4. Complete PSY 201 and BIO 210 with a minimum grade of C. Laboratory sciences must have been taken within five years of admission date.
5. Submit official copies of all college transcripts, other than TTC transcripts, to the Admissions office.
6. Maintain a minimum cumulative 2.0 GPA and not be on academic or disciplinary suspension at the time of admission and date of entry into OTA- prefixed courses.
   
   Phase II Acceptance for Summer Term
   
7. In order to progress in the Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program and be able to enroll in OTA-prefix classes for Summer Term, you must have the following completed by the end of Spring semester. Applicants who meet college and program requirements will be considered qualified and will be admitted on a “first qualified-first admitted” basis in the next available class.

   ·         Courses with a minimum grade of “C” or better: ENG 101, CPT 101, SPC 205 or SPC 209, PSY 203, MAT 120 or MAT 110, BIO 211 and Humanities Elective.  Laboratory sciences must have been taken within five years of admission date. If you have any questions regarding these courses, please contact your academic advisor.

   ·         Submit proof of minimum of 40 hours of observation/volunteer work performed in two separate occupational therapy facilities. The applicant is responsible for arranging the observation/volunteer time.

   ·         Attend an official open advising session and obtain a signed statement from an Occupational Therapy Assistant program faculty member verifying attendance.  (Advising session schedules are posted on the bulletin board located on the second floor of Bldg 630, Room 206).

   ·         Maintain a minimum cumulative 2.0 GPA and not be on academic or disciplinary suspension at the time of admission and date of entry into the OTA-prefix courses.
   

8. At the time of entry to the program, show evidence of completion of the crimial background check required by the College.  Drug screening will be conducted randomly but prior to clinical rotation.

III.  General Admission Procedures for the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program

Prior to admission to the program, provide the TTC program coordinator with a completed, current Allied Health-Student Health Record.  Applicants who meet College and program requirements will be considered qualified and will be admitted on a first-qualified, first admitted basis.  Qualified applicants will receive a letter indicating the year and semester that they have been admitted. 

Note: Falsification of any information submitted will make a student ineligible for admission to or continuation in the
Occupational Therapy Assistant program.

Readmission to a Program
Students who receive a W, D or F in a professional course may request consideration for readmission to the Occupational Therapy Assistant program. Readmission to the program is not automatic. See the Allied Health Sciences home page.

Course Progression
To progress to the next Occupational Therapy Assistant course, the student must complete all Occupational Therapy Assistant courses with a grade of C or better. The student must earn a grade of satisfactory on the final professional development evaluation each semester of the program.

Note: Students are responsible for transportation, meals and housing expenses during field work.

Recommended Sequence of Courses