Majors at ECC: Allied Health Division

imageOCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSISTANT

Program Description

There have been dramatic shifts in U.S. population as a result of an increased average life span. This phenomenon, along with advances in science, technology, and medicine has brought occupational therapy into the forefront of the Allied Health care field.

The Occupational Therapy Assistant curriculum prepares entry-level occupational therapy assistants to work in community and institutional health care programs, providing direct service to individuals.

In this program, students receive instruction in theory and develop skills relating to occupational therapy in classroom, laboratory, and clinical settings. During the second year, students participate in clinical practice settings to include general physical medicine and psychiatric centers, developmental agencies, schools, nursing homes, and community agencies. Through these experiences, students gain experience in teaching patients/clients methods for engagement in self care, work, play/leisure, education, social skills, and home/community living skills.

Accreditation

The program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). The address is 4720 Montgomery Lane, P.O. Box 31220, Bethesda, Maryland 20824-1220. Phone number is (301) 652-AOTA. Website for AOTA: www.aota.org.

Graduates of the program will be able to sit for the national certification exam for Occupational Therapy Assistants. The National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) is the certifying agency who administers the national certification exam. After a successful completion of the exam the individual will be a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA). NBCOT’s address is: NBCOT, Inc., 800 South Frederick Avenue, Suite 200, Gaithersburg, MD 20877, Phone: 301-990-7979, HTTP:/WWW.NBCOT.ORG

A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification exam or obtain state licensure.

Graduation/Certification/Licensure

  • An associates degree in applied science is granted to each student who successfully completes all coursework and all fieldwork. The student must also demonstrate proficiency in algebra at the level of MT 006
  • NYS "Certification" is required for employment in New York State. Upon graduation from the program, an individual is eligible to apply for "Certification". Many states in the U.S. require State Licensure. Separate applications for State Licensure must be filed within that state
  • NYS does not require results of the certification exam as a requirement for "Certification". A final official transcript indicating confirmation of an Associate in Applied Science is required.
  • The total number of graduates who passed the certification exam as first time, new graduate test takers in 2005-2007 was 18 out of 20, which is a 86% pass rate. During that three-year time period, the program had 32 graduates.

Degree: Associate in Applied Science
Hegis: 5210
Curriculum Code: 0665
Total Degree Credits: 70.5
Campus Location: North
Allied Health Division