Occupational Therapy Assistant (Limited Access Program), A.S. Degree

Program Information

A.S. Degree - Code 221500 - Catalog 2023/2024

Sabrina Abbondanza, Assistant Chair, 386-506-3624, Sabrina.Abbondanza@daytonastate.edu 

Melissa Brown, Academic Advisor, 386-506-3052, Melissa.Brown-Mack@daytonastate.edu

Program Mission, Description, and Outcomes

Mission:

Our mission is to train occupational therapy assistant generalists, who come from diverse backgrounds and experience, to successfully become competent entry-level practitioners and meet the needs of their community, using occupation to promote health and participation in daily life.

  • We seek to maximize student success (opportunity, mastery of skills, and satisfaction) through excellent, innovative learning practices and up-to-date technologies and evidence.
  • We provide both academic and clinical experiences to provide a strong professional foundation.
  • We strive to develop effective, responsible, and contributing practitioners who can continue life-long learning.

Description:

The program trains and qualifies graduates to work in occupational therapy. Occupational therapy is a health and rehabilitation profession that provides services to individuals who are physically, psychologically or developmentally disabled or are at risk for these. Occupational therapy aims to help clients achieve a maximum level of participation and function in their daily activities (occupations).

Job title: Occupational Therapy Assistant.

Program Accreditation: The Occupational Therapy Assistant program is currently accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. ACOTE's phone number is 301-652-6611 and Web address is http://www.acoteonline.org/. Graduates of the program will be able to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapy assistant administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc. (NBCOT). (Their phone number is 301-990-7979 or http://www.nbcot.org/.) After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA). Most states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination.

College Accreditation: Daytona State College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associates and bachelor’s degrees. Degree-granting institutions also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of Daytona State College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).

Outcomes:

Graduates of the program will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate the professional ethics, values, and responsibilities consistent with practice in occupational therapy (OT) in the role of an occupational therapy assistant (OTA).

  2. Use skills in various occupational therapy applications/situations based on foundational concepts learned about communication, clinical reasoning, human body structures and functions, development, pathology, and behavior, and sociocultural conditions and health.

  3. Explain how occupation is inherent to human health and participation in life, and is a foundation for OT knowledge and service delivery.

  4. Apply the most appropriate occupational therapy theories, evaluation methods, intervention rationales and approaches, and expected outcomes in the process of client care.

  5. Establish a client-centered, evidence-based approach to service delivery.

  6. Apply the concepts of occupational therapy to a variety of delivery models and systems where OT is both currently practiced and emerging.

  7. Participate in clinical fieldwork and OT advocacy and awareness events

Financial Aid

This program is eligible for federal financial aid and state Bright Futures Scholarship Program.

Financing Options: All students are encouraged to apply for federal and state student financial assistance by completing the FAFSA at studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa. For more information on grant, loans, and work program available please see the Office of Financial Aid webpage at daytonastate.edu/finaid. Students are also encouraged to apply for one of the many Daytona State College Foundation scholarships offered each semester. For more information see: daytonastate.edu/scholarships/.

Approximate Additional Costs

Lab Fees (Including liability insurance):  $435.49 - $498.49  
 Textbook Estimate: $1,000
 Licensure Fees: $700
 FDLE/FBI Background Screening: $180

Additional Admission Requirements

  • This is a limited access program. Continuing enrollment approval will be required to enroll in the program specific courses based on a selection process after completing the General Education classes required.

  • Completion of the following courses with a grade of 'C' or better is required before being considered for admission into the program: BSC1085C (Human Anatomy & Physiology I and Lab), ENC1101 (Introduction to Composition), PSY1012 (General Psychology), and OTH1001 (Introduction to Occupational Therapy). All math requirements through MAT1033 should be completed before entering into the program. 

  • Students must have a standard high school diploma (or GED) and be at least 18 years of age to enroll.

  • Applicants starting in a Florida Public high school in 2003 or after and graduating from a Florida public high school with a standard high school diploma and active duty military are exempt from any placement testing. Those applicants that have successfully completed college level English and/or Math may be exempt from placement testing. All other applicants are required to take the Postsecondary Education Readiness Test (PERT) and be at the 10th grade level for reading, language and arithmetic.

  • Admissions into the program will be contingent on the satisfactory completion of both a drug screen and a background check consisting of a fingerprint check of state and federal criminal history information conducted through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

  • Basic Cardiac Life Support for Health Care Provider and AED through American Heart Association or American Red Cross.

  • A pre-admission consultation with the assistant chair is recommended.

  • Program specific courses and general education courses must be completed with a grade 'C' or better.

  • Students will be held accountable for the policies and procedures of the Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program as outlined in the OTA student handbook, as well as the College Student handbook.

  • A felony conviction may affect admission into the program and graduate's ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.

Additional Completion Requirements

  • Submit completed application for continuing enrollment to the School of Health Careers.

  • Applications for continuing enrollment are accepted January 1st through April 30th.

  • Selection is made once per year. Applicants for continuing enrollment that have a prerequisite GPA of 3.0 or better and have successfully completed the corequisite courses will be ranked higher for program consideration.

  • All OTA students must complete Level II Fieldwork within 18 months following completion of academic course preparation.

 

General Education Courses

General Education Core - 23 Credits

General Education courses must be completed with a grade 'C' or better.

Communication Core (3 credits)

ENC1101Introduction to Composition

3

 

Mathematics Core (3 credits)

 
MGF2130Mathematical Thinking

3

 

Natural Sciences Core (8 credits)

BSC1085CHuman Anatomy and Physiology I and Lab

4

BSC1086CHuman Anatomy & Physiology II and Lab

4

 

Humanities Core (3 credits)

Choose One Course

ARH1000Art Appreciation

3

HUM2020Introduction to Humanities

3

LIT2000Literature and Culture

3

PHI2010Introduction of Philosophy

3

MUL1010Music Appreciation

3

THE1000Theatre Appreciation

3

 

Social Sciences Core (6 credits)

AMH2010United States History to 1877

3

OR

POS2041American Federal Government

3

OR

AMH2020United States History 1865 to Present

3

PSY1012General Psychology

3

POS2041, AMH2020, AMH2010: These courses satisfy the Civic Literacy Competency graduation requirement. 

Note: Prior to enrollment in college-level English or math courses, some students may be advised to complete college preparatory/developmental course work. See an Academic Advisor to determine developmental course requirements.

 

Program Specific Courses

Program specific courses must be completed with a grade 'C' or better.

OTH1001Introduction to Occupational Therapy

3

OTH1003Human Occupation Across the Lifespan

3

OTH1006Documentation Through the Occupational Therapy Process

2

OTH1014CAnalysis of Human Movement and Lab

3

OTH1114COccupational Therapy Skills and Techniques I and Lab

2

OTH1800Occupational Therapy Practicum I

1

OTH1802Occupational Therapy Practicum II

2

OTH2261COccupational Therapy Skills and Techniques II and Lab

3

OTH2264COccupational Therapy Skills and Techniques III and Lab

3

OTH2300Psychosocial Occupational Therapy

4

OTH2410Conditions in Occupational Therapy

3

OTH2420COccupational Therapy for Physical Dysfunction and Lab

4

OTH2520CDevelopmental Issues and Lab

3

OTH2704CAdvanced Practice and Professionalism for OTA

4

OTH2840O.T. Supervised Clinical Practice I

5

OTH2841O.T. Supervised Clinical Practice II

5

OTH2933O.T. Seminar for Clinical Practice

1

 

Sample Program of Study

Prerequisite Courses

ENC1101Introduction to Composition

3

BSC1085CHuman Anatomy and Physiology I and Lab

4

OTH1001Introduction to Occupational Therapy

3

PSY1012General Psychology

3

 

Year 1

1st Semester

Mathematics Core

3

BSC1086CHuman Anatomy & Physiology II and Lab

4

OTH1003Human Occupation Across the Lifespan

3

OTH1114COccupational Therapy Skills and Techniques I and Lab

2

OTH2410Conditions in Occupational Therapy

3

 

2nd Semester

OTH1006Documentation Through the Occupational Therapy Process

2

OTH1014CAnalysis of Human Movement and Lab

3

OTH1800Occupational Therapy Practicum I

1

OTH2300Psychosocial Occupational Therapy

4

OTH2261COccupational Therapy Skills and Techniques II and Lab

3

 

Summer Semester

OTH2420COccupational Therapy for Physical Dysfunction and Lab

4

Social Sciences Core - Civic Literacy (AMH2010, AMH2020 or POS2041)

3

POS2041, AMH2020, AMH2010: These courses satisfy the Civic Literacy Competency graduation requirement. 

 

Year 2

1st Semester

OTH1802Occupational Therapy Practicum II

2

OTH2264COccupational Therapy Skills and Techniques III and Lab

3

OTH2520CDevelopmental Issues and Lab

3

OTH2704CAdvanced Practice and Professionalism for OTA

4

 

2nd Semester

Humanities Core

3

OTH2840O.T. Supervised Clinical Practice I

5

OTH2841O.T. Supervised Clinical Practice II

5

OTH2933O.T. Seminar for Clinical Practice

1

Note: Sequence of courses may vary. Check catalog course descriptions for requisite requirements.

 

Total Credit Hours: 74