OTA (Occupational Therapy Assistant)

Occupational therapy is a skilled treatment that assists people of all ages participate in the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of everyday activities (occupations). Occupational therapy helps people function in all of their environments and addresses the physical, psychological and cognitive aspects of their well-being through engagement in occupations. Entry level practice requires a master’s degree for occupational therapists and an associate’s degree for occupational therapy assistants.

• American Occupational Therapy Association, 2014
• A Career in Occupational Therapy

The Occupational Therapy Assistant curriculum at Navarro College includes both classroom education and fieldwork (clinical) training in occupational therapy settings. OTA courses are offered in a hybrid format with a portion of the course completed via distance education. Upon successful completion of academic and fieldwork education, students are awarded an Associate of Applied Science degree. Graduates are eligible to sit for the national certification exam for occupational therapy assistants provided by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) to become a certified occupational therapy assistant (COTA). Additional employment requirements, such as state licensure, vary from state to state and among countries. The student is encouraged to determine the additional employment requirements of the state or nation in which he or she wishes to work.

 

Program Approval and Accreditation

The Navarro College Occupational Therapy Assistant Program has been granted Accreditation by ACOTE.

ACOTE can be contacted at:

Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education
c/o Accreditation Department
American Occupational Therapy Association
7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E

Bethesda, MD 20814
Phone: (301) 652-2682(AOTA)

www.acoteonline.org

 

See which states this program meets licensure/certification requirements »

 

NOTICE TO STUDENTS REGARDING LICENSING (HB 1508)

Effective September 1st 2017, HB 1508 amends the Texas Occupations Code Section 53 that requires education providers to notify you a potential or enrolled student that a criminal history may make you ineligible for an occupational license upon program completion. The following website provides links to information about the licensing process and requirements. www.ptot.texas.gov Should you wish to request a review of the impact of criminal history on your potential OTA License prior to or during your quest for a degree, you can visit this link and request a “Criminal History Evaluation.” https://ptot.texas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Criminal-History-Evaluation-Letter_2022.09.pdf This information is being provided to all persons who apply or enroll in the program with notice of the requirements as described above, regardless of whether or not the person has been convicted of a criminal offense. Additionally, HB 1508 authorizes licensing agencies to require reimbursements when a student fails to receive the required notice.

 

 

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CAREER DESTINATION MAP

Occupational Therapy Assistant (AAS) 

 

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

Occupational Therapy Assistant

Occupational Therapist

Recreation worker 

 

MARKETABLE SKILLS

Active listening	Reading comprehension	Therapeutic use of self
Speaking	Self-directed learning	Working in groups
Collaborating with other health professionals	Time management	Complex problem solving
Interacting with computers	Gathering information	Using evidence to make decisions
Independence	Analytical thinking	Integrity
Dependability	Creativity

 

 

TRANSFER OPPORTUNITIES

 

University of Texas at Tyler 

• Occupational Therapy Bridge Programs – OTA to MOT

 

University of Louisiana at Monroe 

• Occupational Therapy Bridge Programs – OTA to MOT

 

Belmont University 

• Occupational Therapy Bridge Programs – OTA to MSOT

 

American Occupational Therapy Association

• Educational Programs for OTAs Seeking OT Degrees 

  

 

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