Occupational Therapy Assistant Technology, Associate of Applied Science

Occupational therapy practitioners help people of all ages gain skills needed to take part in meaningful work-related and daily activities, from dressing and feeding themselves, to work, school, play, leisure, and/or social participation.

This program prepares students to provide occupational therapy treatments and related tasks under the supervision of a Registered Occupational Therapist in a variety of settings, including, but not limited to: acute care, long term care, and rehabilitation facilities, school system, mental health agencies and institutions, home health care agencies, pediatric centers, and private practices. They may also be employed as activity coordinators.

The program requires five semesters of study. All OTA students must complete Level II Fieldwork within 18 months following completion of academic preparation. All academic and fieldwork requirements must be completed before the student will be eligible to sit for the National Certification Examination.

The graduates of this program are eligible to sit for the National Certification Examination for the Occupational Therapy Assistant administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc. (NBCOT). Successful completion of this exam is required to apply for licensure by the Ohio Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy and Athletic Trainers Board.

The conviction of a felony may affect a graduate's ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure. NBCOT offers an Early Determination Review to individuals who have been charged with or convicted of a felony. Further information regarding this issue can be obtained from

NBCOT
1 Bank St., Suite 300
Gaithersburg, MD 20878
301-990-7979
Website: www.nbcot.org

The OTAT program is fully accredited by The Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) located at:

ACOTE
6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200
North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929

301-652-2682 

Program contact: Learn more

Program Admission Requirements

Application may be submitted to the Health Careers Enrollment Center after meeting the following requirements:

• High School Diploma/GED
• GPA required: 2.5 admissions requirements, 2.50 overall
• 16 hours of documented shadowing/volunteer experience under the supervision of an occupational therapist or occupational therapist assistant. Paid experience as a rehab or OT aide will be accepted.  Shadowing experience hours should be documented using the job shadow/volunteer experience form. Prospective applicants have the option of taking an introductory course, OTAT-1300 Occupational Therapy Principles, prior to program admission  in lieu of shadowing/volunteer experience.  OTAT-1300 is a required course for the program, even if shadowing is completed.  If OTAT-1300 is not taken prior to admission, it must be taken during the student's first semester in the program.  Must receive a grade of B or higher in OTAT-1300.  OTAT-1300 may be repeated only once.  A W counts as an attempt.
• Sufficient score on Biology Placement Test to enroll in BIO-2331 Anatomy and Physiology I pr completion of BIO-1100 Introduction to Biological Chemistry with a grade of "C" or higher.
• Complete the following courses with grade of “C” or higher.

¹

BIO-2330 and BIO-2340 together will be accepted in place of BIO-2331 Anatomy and Physiology I and BIO-2341 Anatomy and Physiology II.

²

MA-1020 Medical Terminology I will be accepted in place of MA-1010 Introduction to Medical Terminology

Other Information

• 24 students accepted per year.
• All science courses must have been completed within seven years of application submission, and may only be repeated once to improve a grade.
• English and science courses may be repeated only one time to earn a grade of “C”.
• Pass/No Pass grade options may not be used for prerequisite requirements.
• Paid work experience as a Rehab Aide/OT Aide will be considered in lieu of shadowing/volunteer experience.
• Non-native English speaking applicants:  Admission into Cuyahoga Community College is premised on a complete and accurate initial application to the College, including, if applicable, proof of English Language Proficiency Requirements for admission as indicated on the English Language Proficiency Requirements for Admissions to the College, and available on the web at: http://www.tri-c.edu/get-started/international-students/english-language-proficiency-requirements-for-admission.html
  To be accepted into any selective admission programs, students must successfully complete English as a Second Language (ESL) course/s, as referenced above,  if deemed necessary by the College at the time of enrollment.  Admission is conditioned upon achieving the necessary grade point average (GPA), English language proficiency requirements and any specific pre-requisite courses, and by meeting program accreditation or licensing requirements as evidenced in the Program Handbook for the specific program.
• Criminal background check required.

Program Learning Outcomes

This program is designed to prepare students to demonstrate the following learning outcomes: 

1. Use knowledge of anatomy/physiology, human development and mental/physical conditions to the application of occupational therapy principles and safely administer effective treatment intervention to achieve expected outcomes as related to occupation.
2. Understand the distinct roles and responsibilities of the occupational therapist and occupational therapy assistant in the supervisory process.
3. Employ state licensure laws and regulations in all situations that include clinical & professional decision making.
4. Listen, speak, and contribute using interpersonal skills with clinical team members, clients, family and other relevant support persons within context of occupational therapy settings.
5. Use professional and appropriate medical terminology in all verbal, written, and electronic communication that is relevant to practitioners, family and clients in occupational therapy settings and follows guidelines and specific documentation formats required by state practice acts, practice settings, and other regulatory agencies.
6. Apply effective principles of time management, clinical reasoning, problem solving, safety awareness, and cultural sensitivity to clients and situations in occupational therapy settings.
7. Act professionally and ethically by upholding the ethical standards, values and attitudes of the occupational therapy profession.
8. Achieve entry-level competence by successfully completing academic and fieldwork education requirements and passing the certification examination.

Suggested Semester Sequence

¹

BIO-2330 and BIO-2340 together will be accepted in place of BIO-2331 Anatomy and Physiology I and BIO-2341 Anatomy and Physiology II.

²

MA-1020 Medical Terminology I will be accepted in place of MA-1010 Introduction to Medical Terminology

³

16 hours of documented shadowing experience with an OT Practitioner may be used in place of OTAT-1300 for admission to the program. OTAT-1300 must still be taken as a requirement of the program during the first semester if students are admitted based on shadowing hours. 

⁴

PSY-1010/101H is not required for program admission, but must be taken prior to the second semester coursework.

⁵

MATH-1100 Mathematical Explorations or MATH-1240 Contemporary Mathematics taken prior to Fall 2024 will be accepted to meet mathematics requirement for this program.

MATH-1140, MATH-1141, MATH-1200, MATH-1270, and MATH-1280 can no longer count towards fulfilling the college-level mathematics requirement.  These courses were re-classified as developmental mathematics by the state of Ohio in 2016.  Tri-C established a 5-year transitioning window for students who had completed these courses prior to 2016 to apply them towards meeting graduation requirements, which expired in Summer 2021. It is highly recommended to see a counselor to determine the appropriate math required for your current major.