Program Description

The Occupational Therapy Assistant program prepares students for entry-level practice in the field of occupational therapy.  Occupational Therapy Assistants (OTA) are helpers, healers, and a core member of the care team.  Occupational therapy assistants help people of all ages from 0-110 years of age to function in ALL of their environments including community, home, school and work.  OTA’s help people learn or regain their independence to live life to the fullest through the use of therapeutic everyday activities. 

Greenville Technical College’s nationally accredited occupational therapy program will get you moving toward a rewarding career that addresses the physical, psychological and cognitive aspects of all ages.  Occupational therapy is both an art and a science.  Being an occupational therapy assistant allows you to treat patients “outside the box” while applying science in order to meet the patient’s needs. 

Mission Statement

The mission of the Occupational Therapy Assistant program, in conjunction with Greenville Technical College’s mission, is to transform students’ lives and help our community thrive by providing high-quality, affordable education to students and building an educated, engaged workforce committed to life-long learning.

We are committed to assisting students from diverse backgrounds in the achievement of the essential skills, leadership, community service actions, and professional behaviors necessary for successful employment as an occupational therapy assistant in diverse settings.  We provide hands-on learning, the use of evidence-based practice, and access to emerging practices and technology to ensure our students are equipped to enter the profession successfully. 

Greenville Technical College’s OTA program strives to graduate competent individuals who are able to perform as entry-level, state-licensed, and nationally Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants while upholding the ethical standards and values of the profession, as well as graduates who continue to contribute to the profession by providing meaningful feedback, mentorship/fieldwork training, networking, and referrals.

Entrance Requirements

High school diploma or GED

See “Program Requirements” Section for additional requirements.

Type of Program

This program is designed as a One-Plus-One program. Phase I includes all general education and related coursework that may be completed at Greenville Technical College or any articulating college. Students who anticipate completing all Phase I courses with the appropriate grades and technical GPA are eligible to submit Weighted Admissions Form for entry into Phase II.

Phase I: Day, evening or weekend; full-time or part-time for academic course work

Phase II: Full-time or part-time day for academic coursework and full-time day for fieldwork affiliations.

Location

Phase II of the OTA program is only available at Greenville Tech’s Benson Campus.

• Students from articulating colleges must be able to travel to and/or locate accommodations near the Benson Campus.
• Fieldwork course assignments during Phase II must be completed within 18 months of completion of academic preparation and may require students to travel and arrange temporary accommodations away from home.

Employment Opportunities

Hospitals, clinics, rehabilitation centers, schools, pediatric clinics, home health care, mental health facilities, long-term care facilities, private practice, industrial consulting and research

Professional Credentials

Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) (subject to passing national exam)

• Graduates 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). Most states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination.

Program Accreditation

Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE)
c/o Accreditation Department, American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)
6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200
North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929
https://www.acoteonline.org/ or https://www.aota.org/ or https://www.aota.org/Education-Careers/Accreditation.aspx
email: accred@aota.org
(301) 652-6611 Ext. 2042   FAX: (240) 762-5140

 
Visit our web page at https://www.gvltec.edu/ota/.

Phase I Admission Requirements

• Complete Greenville Tech application.
• Submit all high school transcripts or GED and official college transcripts, if applicable.
• Strongly recommend that students meet with a School of Health Sciences advisor to plan course progression.

Upon successful completion of all Phase I courses, qualified students are eligible to apply to Phase II, the final five (full-time enrollment) or seven (part-time enrollment) of academic and clinical occupational therapy assistant coursework.

Phase II Admission Requirements

• Attend a Career Talk session for the OTA program within 2 years of admission to Phase II
• Meet all of the requirements for Phase I.
• Attain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50 for all Phase I courses and have passed all Phase I courses with a minimum grade of “C” or higher on the first or second attempt.
• OTA program applicants are required to complete the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) prior to submitting a weighted admissions form for program admission. Scores from the TEAS test will be used in the point calculations on the Weighted Admissions form.
• Students are selected for OTA Program Phase II admission based upon weighted admissions score. Students who complete all general education courses with the appropriate grade by the end of the fall term will be considered first. Students who complete the general education courses during the spring will be seated only when space is available. Students with the highest weighted admission score are accepted into Phase II based on space availability. Weighted admission criteria can be obtained at Career Talk session and at https://www.gvltec.edu/ota/.

After acceptance into Phase II of the OTA program

Students will be required to:

• Attend in-person OTA Program new student orientation.
• Have a negative 10-panel drug screen.
• Complete the online SC Passport when assigned by Administrative Assistant.
• Submit documentation of current Healthcare Provider CPR certification.
• Have an acceptable criminal background report. Students may be subject to more than one background check during the program based on affiliate requirements.
• Submit documentation of current physical exam and required immunizations.
• Be able to attend all fieldwork affiliations on a full-time basis during scheduled fieldwork affiliation dates. 

Listed below is the ideal grouping of courses in order by semester. This plan assumes a full-time schedule. Note, however, that many variables can affect this plan, and not every course is offered every semester. Please see your advisor to map out your own personalized progression toward graduation.

Course List

Course	Title	Hours
Phase I
First Semester
AHS 102	Medical Terminology	3
ENG 101	English Composition I	3
PSY 201	General Psychology	3
BIO 210	Anatomy & Physiology I	4
Second Semester
BIO 211	Anatomy & Physiology II	4
PSY 203	Human Growth and Development	3
Third Semester
PSY 212	Abnormal Psychology	3
Select one of the following:		3
MAT 109	College Algebra With Modeling 1
MAT 110	College Algebra
MAT 120	Probability and Statistics 1
Higher College Transferable Math
SPC 205	Public Speaking	3
or SPC 209	Interpersonal Communication
Humanities elective		3
Phase II
Summer
OTA 103	Introduction to Occupational Therapy	2
OTA 163	Psycho-Social Aspects of Occup Therapy	2
OTA 200	Introduction to Kinesiology	3
Fall
OTA 130	Therapeutic Media I	1
OTA 131	Occupational Performance I	3
OTA 153	Clinical Applications I	5
OTA 203	Kinesiology for Occupational Therapy	3
Spring
OTA 135	Therapeutic Media II	1
OTA 136	Occupational Performance II	3
OTA 140	Clinical Introduction	1
OTA 245	Occupational Therapy Dept Management	2
OTA 253	Clinical Applications II	5
Summer
OTA 262	OTA Clinical Application I	7
Fall
OTA 268	Clinical VI	7
Total Required Credit Hours		77