Occupational Therapy Assistant Program
What is an Occupational Therapy Assistant?
Occupational therapy assistants help people of all ages develop, regain or master everyday skills in order to live life to its fullest. By focusing on the physical, psychological and social needs of its clients, occupational therapy helps people function at the highest possible level by concentrating on what is important to them to rebuild their health, independence and self-esteem.
An occupational therapy assistant is a skilled licensed/certified health care worker who carries out treatment plans under the guidance and supervision of an occupational therapist. These specially trained and credentialed professionals rely on evidence-based best practices and science-driven data to constantly improve patient outcomes.
Occupational therapy assistants provide treatment interventions to infants, children, adults and geriatric patients in settings such as public schools, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, mental health centers, nursing homes and other community settings.
Associate Degree Program
Through Pima's Occupational Therapy Assistant program, you'll acquire the necessary skills for a solid entry-level position as an occupational therapy assistant. Our coursework focuses on medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, growth and development, kinesiology and occupational therapy for mental and physical health.
Courses:
| Course # | Course | Theory | Lab | Extern | Credits | |||
| CMT 105 | Medical Terminology | 16 | 1.0 | |||||
| CSK 101 | Study Skills | 16 | 1.0 | |||||
| BIO 105 | Anatomy & Physiology I | 48 | 32 | 4.0 | ||||
| OTA 102 | Introduction to Occupational Therapy | 48 | 3.0 | |||||
| MTH 125 | Math and Statistics | 16 | 1.0 | |||||
| CCM 105 | Communications for the Health Professions | 16 | 1.0 | |||||
| CCB 105 | Computer Basics | 16 | 1.0 | |||||
| PSY 130 | Psychology | 48 | 3.0 | |||||
| Semester I Total | 224 | 32 | 15.0 | |||||
| Course # | Course | Theory | Lab | Extern | Credits | |||
| BIO 106 | Anatomy & Physiology II | 48 | 32 | 4.0 | ||||
| OTA 130 | Occupational Analysis | 32 | 2.0 | |||||
| OTA 110 | Fundamentals of Occupational Therapy | 32 | 2.0 | |||||
| OTA 108 | Growth & Development | 48 | 3.0 | |||||
| OTA 115 | Principles of OT in Mental Health | 48 | 16 | 3.5 | ||||
| Semester II Total | 208 | 48 | 14.5 | |||||
| Course # | Course | Theory | Lab | Extern | Credits | |||
| OTA 125 | Kinesiology | 32 | 16 | 2.5 | ||||
| OTA 201 | Documentation for the OTA | 32 | 2.0 | |||||
| OTA 206 | Human Occupations I | 48 | 32 | 4.0 | ||||
| OTA 215 | Principles of OT in Physical Health | 48 | 16 | 3.5 | ||||
| OTA 220 | Fieldwork I | 80 | 1.5 | |||||
| Semester III Total | 160 | 64 | 80 | 13.5 | ||||
| Course # | Course | Theory | Lab | Extern | Credits | |||
| OTA 208 | Human Occupations II | 48 | 32 | 4.0 | ||||
| OTA 230 | Administrative Procedures | 32 | 2.0 | |||||
| OTA 240 | Pediatric Practice for the OTA | 32 | 32 | 3.0 | ||||
| OTA 250 | Specific Populations for the OTA | 32 | 16 | 2.5 | ||||
| OTA 225 | OTA Seminar | 32 | 2.0 | |||||
| Semester IV Total | 176 | 80 | 13.5 | |||||
| Course # | Course | Theory | Lab | Extern | Credits | |||
| OTA 221 | Fieldwork II A | 320 | 7.0 | |||||
| OTA 222 | Fieldwork II B | 320 | 7.0 | |||||
| Semester V Total | 640 | 14.0 | ||||||
| PROGRAM TOTALS | 768 | 224 | 720 | 70.5 | ||||
Job Outlook
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects demand for occupational therapist assistants and aids will grow 43 percent nationally through 2020, thanks to an aging population who is particularly vulnerable to chronic and debilitation conditions that require therapeutic services.*
Licensure and Certification
Graduates of an accredited Occupational Therapy Assistant program will be eligible to take the national certification examination for the occupational therapy assistant. This exam is administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of the exam, the individual will be a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA).
The occupational therapy assistant programs at the Denver, Tucson, Renton and Mesa campuses are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 4720 Montgomery Lane, Suite 200, Bethesda, MD 20814-3449. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA (2682). Graduates of an accredited 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 (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA). In addition, most states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or obtain state licensure.
Program Length
Day Classes: Approximately 1 year, 8 months
For more detailed information on Pima's Occupational Therapy Assistant program specifics and financial aid eligibility, please visit your local campus below.
Denver, Colorado Mesa, Arizona Renton, Washington Tucson, Arizona
*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-13 Edition, Occupational Therapy Assistants and Aides, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/occupational-therapy-assistants-and-aides.htm
