Associate of Science in Occupational Therapy Assistant
2 years
Asheville, Knoxville, Nashville
In the Occupational Therapy (OT) Assistant program, students will have access to hands-on opportunities where they can utilize equipment and supplies being used in current practice. They will also be integrated into didactic learning experiences that provide exposure and guided practice in a variety of settings such as schools, community settings and clinical environments.
Following the base coursework, Occupational Therapy Assistant students are provided a full-time learning experience practicing under the supervision of an OT practitioner to hone the skills necessary for their career.
According to the Bureau for Labor Statistics, the job outlook for occupational therapy is expected to increase by an astounding 40% from 2014 to 2024, which is significantly faster than the average for all occupations.
Occupational Therapy Assistants are generally responsible for:
Students enrolled in the Associate of Applied Science in Occupational Therapy Assistant program can expect to gain knowledge in a various areas relevant to their healthcare discipline including:
The South College Occupational Therapy Assistant program offered at the Asheville campus is 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, www.acoteonline.org. ACOTE’s telephone number is (301) 652- AOTA. Accreditation was granted in April 2014 for 7 years with the next site visit to be scheduled during the 2020/2021 academic year.
The South College Occupational Therapy Assistant – Knoxville campus program is 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 and its Web address is www.acoteonline.org. Graduates of the program will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapy assistant administered by the ACCREDITATION COUNCIL FOR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY EDUCATION ACCREDITATION MANUAL VI.E. Revised July 2019 Section VI – Page 19 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, all 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 attain state licensure.
The South College Occupational Therapy Assistant program offered at the Nashville campus has applied for accreditation and has been granted Candidacy Status 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 and its web address is www.acoteonline.org. The program must have a preaccreditation review, complete an on-site evaluation, and be granted Accreditation Status before its graduates 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 individual will be a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA). In addition, all states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. The program is scheduled to submit a full Report of Self-Study on March 2, 2020 and is scheduled for an initial on-site in the October-November timeframe.
The faculty at South College is committed to teach, mentor and guide those enrolled in the program. They come from all backgrounds and experiences to bring you the best education.