Occupational Therapy Assistant

Program Description

Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants (COTAs) are health care practitioners who work with individuals, populations, and organizations to address limitations impacting a person’s ability to participate in meaningful life activities and experiences (occupations). Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants work alongside of and under the direct supervision of Registered Occupational Therapists (OTRs). Their role is to assist in the occupational therapy process, which involves assessing individual and community occupation-related needs, determining therapeutic interventions, planning and implementing treatment activities, communicating with individuals, families, and health and human service providers, and documenting progress toward the achievement of individual and community identified and centered goals.

Note: Program available at the Grand Island Campus only

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 20824-1220, (301) 652-AOTA, www.acoteonline.org

Student Learning Outcomes

Students are prepared to:

Provide quality occupational therapy services in a variety of practice environments.
Meet the demands of current and future practice.
Demonstrate ethical reasoning, practice professional Code of Ethics, and professional integrity.

Admissions Information

Applicants to the Occupational Therapy Assistant program are required to have a high school diploma, GED, home school transcript, or equivalent documentation of educational preparatory coursework. Enrollment to the program is limited to 23 students annually. All students meeting academic eligibility and completing all OTA application requirements will be accepted into the program on a first come-first served basis. See the OTA program web page for the most current program information and admission requirements (http://www.cccneb.edu/ota). For more detailed information about admissions requirements, contact the Occupational Therapy Department.

Notes:

Students are responsible for the cost of student-in-practicum insurance. Fees to cover this expenses will be added to each student’s tuition.

Course, laboratory, field study, and fieldwork practicum supplies, materials, fees, including transportation and accommodation expenses, are payable out-of-pocket.
Students must have current CPR certification at the health care provider level and maintain certification throughout the program.
Student membership in AOTA with continued active membership throughout the program is mandatory.
Immunizations are required, see program director for the specific immunizations needed.
Students are responsible for the cost of sitting for the NBCOT examination and for State Licensure.
Required to earn a C or above for all courses needed for graduation including general education courses.
Students are required to complete a background check and drug testing (at student’s expense). Admission to the program is contingent on the results of the check.
Preqequisites: BIOS 2250 - General Anatomy & Physiology I AND BIOS 2260 - General Anatomy & Physiology II with a “B” or higher.

Programs

Associate of Applied Science

• Occupational Therapy Assistant AAS Degree