Occupational Therapy Assistant
Program Information
Program Director: Julie Bezold OTD, OTR/L
Contact the OTA Program at: (941) 752-5346 or via email bezoldj@scf.edu
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 Manatee and Sarasota counties.
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SCF COVID 19 VACCINATION STATEMENT As a student enrolled in a Nursing & Health Professions Program, you will complete program requirements in various community-based health care facilities that may expose you to environmental hazards and infectious diseases such as but not limited to Tuberculosis; Hepatitis B; Measles, Mumps & Rubella; and COVID-19. As such, clinical facilities maintain specific health requirements for students to participate in clinical rotations, fieldwork experiences, practicum, and preceptorships. While State College of Florida highly recommends that all students fully vaccinate against COVID-19, many clinical sites are mandating that their workforce, including students, be fully vaccinated to enter the work site, including to participate in clinical rotations, fieldwork experiences, practicum, and preceptorships necessary to meet degree requirements. Based upon this new information, Nursing & Health Professions students not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 may not meet the health requirements to enter clinical facilities utilized by the programs, and as such, may impact a student’s ability to complete program requirements, thus delaying progression in the program and/or result in a student being unable to complete the program. SCF is highly recommending that every Nursing & Health Professions Student be vaccinated against COVID-19 to meet these clinical requirements similar to existing vaccination requirements for other communicable diseases. Inability to complete required clinical programming due to vaccination status may impact a student’s ability to complete program requirements, thus delaying progression in the program and/or result in a student being unable to complete the program. |
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 for the implementation of occupational therapy programs, as well as supervise students during fieldwork experiences.
Degrees
Occupational Therapy Assistant A.S.
Graduation and Certification
Graduates of the program will be 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 graduate will be a certified occupational therapy assistant (COTA).
In addition, all states require licensure to practice, however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT Certification Examination or Attain State Licensure. (See Felony Conviction Statement page)
****UPDATED INFORMATION ON NEW APPLICATION PERIOD****
The application process for Fall 2022 will open on
March 1, 2022 and close on June 1, 2022.
Applicants will receive decisions via the SCF EMAIL by June 17, 2022.
Orientation is tentatively scheduled for Monday, July 11, 2022.
Please review OTA Performance Standards prior to application.
Approximate Cost of OTA Program
SCF OTA Program Student Handbook
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 6116 Executive Blvd., Suite 200, North Bethesda, Maryland 20852-4929 . AOTA's phone number is (301) 652-6611. The website for ACOTE is www.acoteonline.org 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.
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 bezoldj@scf.edu
Announcements/Workshops/Open House
Links
The American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc.
6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200
North Bethesda, Maryland 20852-4929
Phone: (301) 652-6611
(800) 729-2682
www.aota.org
www.aotaonline.org
ACOTE
Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education of The American Occupational Therapy Association
6116 Executive Boulevard
Suite 200
North Bethesda, Maryland 20852-2682
Phone: (301) 652-6611
(800) 729-2682
www.acoteonline.org
NBCOT
800 South Frederick Ave., Suite 200
Gaithersburg, MD 20877-4150
(302) 990-7979
www.nbcot.org
NBCOT Link: New graduate & pass rate data
https://secure.nbcot.org/data/schoolstats.aspx
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
Notification on Professional Licensure (USDOE Regulation 34 CFR 668.43 (a) (5) (v) and National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity (NC- SARA) : Current and prospective students for certain programs at State College of Florida (SCF) that lead to professional licensure and/or credential are hereby notified that SCF programs fulfill education requirements for specific professional licensure and/or certification required for employment in the intended occupation of the academic program, in the state of Florida. SCF has not determined whether its programs meet other states’ educational or professional requirements. Since the professional licensure and certification requirements vary from state to state and are subject to change, current and prospective students are strongly advised to determine whether courses and programs will meet the professional licensure requirements in states where they are located by contacting the appropriate licensing authority.
For concerns pertaining to the OTA Program please use the following link: OTA Program Concerns
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This page is maintained by The OTA Department Staff
