Occupational Therapy Assistant
Degrees
Occupational Therapy Assistant A.A.S
Occupational Therapy Assistant A.S.
Program Information
Program Director: Debra A. Chasanoff, M.Ed., OTR/L
Contact the OTA Program at: (941) 752-5346
The Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) Program prepares graduates to function as members of the health care team. Working under the supervision of a registered occupational therapist, the OTA assists individuals of all age groups to acquire, improve or regain independent living skills. Program graduates will be responsible for assisting with evaluations and setting of treatment goals, implementation of treatment plans, evaluation of treatment effectiveness, maintenance of client records and assisting with service management. The OTA is able to work in a variety of practice areas including, but not limited to, pediatrics, physical disabilities and mental health.
The program combines coursework at SCF with selected clinical experiences in both Manatee and Sarasota counties.
What is Occupational Therapy?
Occupational therapy is a health care profession that uses occupations as treatment to assist individuals of all ages and abilities to engage in activities that are meaningful to their lives and foster independence, equality, participation, security health and well being. Occupational therapy can be beneficial to individuals across the lifespan who have developmental or physical disabilities, emotional or mental illness, or disabilities related to the aging process. Occupational therapy practitioners are employed in a variety of work environments including hospitals, rehabilitation & developmental centers, schools, home health, and hospice agencies, community mental health facilities, assisted living and extended care facilities.
What Does an Occupational Therapy Assistant Do?
Certified occupational therapy assistants (COTA) are skilled health care providers who work under the supervision of a registered occupational therapist (OTR). The COTA assists in the evaluation of a client's physical, intellectual, perceptual and psychosocial skills and needs. Other duties include evaluating the client's ability to carry out the activities of daily living and designing a specific treatment program for the individual. COTAs also instruct and supervise clients and their families in the use of occupations/activities to develop, prevent deterioration in or restore self-care, work and leisure performance capabilities.
Additional responsibilities include recording observations and the client's progress toward meeting individual goals and reporting information to supervisors and other health team members. COTAs also assist in ordering and maintaining supplies and equipment needed fo the implementation of occupational therapy programs, as well as supervise students during fieldwork experiences.
OTA Application Information
OTA Program will be accepting applications for Fall 2013 from November 1, 2012 to March 1, 2013. The link to the application for Fall 2013 will be made available here on November 1, 2012.
Approximate Cost of OTA Program
OTA Curriculum
The Occupational Therapy Assistant Program, a two-year Associate in Science degree program, is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 4720 Montgomery Lane, PO Box 31220, Bethesda, Maryland 20824-1220. AOTA's phone number is (301) 652-AOTA. Graduates of the program will be eligible to take the national certification examination of the occupational therapy assistant 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). Most states also 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 attain state licensure.
Announcements/Workshops/Open House
Program brochures are available at the OTA Program office, Health Science Division Office and student services at the Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch and Venice campus.
For more information about the program, please contact the OTA Program at 941-752-5346 or email chasand@scf.edu
The American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc.
PO Box 31220
Bethesda, Maryland 20824-1220
(301) 652-AOTA
www.aota.org
NBCOT
800 South Frederick Ave., Suite 200
Gaithersburg, MD 20877-4150
(302) 990-7979
www.nbcot.org
Florida Department of Health Board of Occupational Therapy Practice
2020 Capital Circle SE, BIN #C05
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3255
(850) 487-2098
Florida Occupational Therapy Association
P. O. Box 5606
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 3310
(954) 840-FOTA (3682)
www.fota.org
This page is maintained by The OTA Department Staff
