Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA)

Overview

The Application Deadline Has Been Extended to June 1st:

Applications to the OTA Program at Marion Technical College must be completed and submitted to Marion Technical College by June 1st in order to begin the program the following fall.

If required, college foundation courses are available to help you meet any specialized program admission requirements. A complete listing of all requirements is available at www.ohioalliedhealth.com

To get started in this Medical Sciences Program, contact the MTC Office of Admissions for an appointment, by e-mail at enroll@mtc.edu or by phone at (740) 389-4582.

**Please Note: A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure. Applicants are encouraged to contact NBCOT for an early determination review.

About the program

Occupational Therapy Assistants treat clients of any age using purposeful activities and meaningful occupations to regain skills needed for independent, satisfactory and productive living. Under the supervision of an Occupational Therapist, an OTA can treat clients with cognitive, physical, emotional and/or developmental disabilities in a variety of settings.

Program format(s)

Students enrolled in this program will take traditional, 16-week classes each semester.

Degree option

Two-year, full-time degree schedule; mixture of core technical courses along with science, psychology, computer, and general education classes; required clinical experiences provide professional development in the workplace.

Occupational Certification Opportunities

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.

Program Accreditation

The Marion Technical College Occupational Therapy Assistant Program is accredited by the:

Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE)
COTE, c/o Accreditation Department
American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)
4720 Montgomery Lane, Suite 200
Bethesda, MD 20814-3449
(301) 652-2682
e-mail: accred@aota.org
website: www.acoteonline.org

The MTC OTA Program has been ACOTE accredited since 2011

Learning Outcomes

Demonstrate basic clinical, problem solving and critical thinking skills essential to client-centered occupational therapy practice.
Internalize the importance of fundamental skills and knowledge in the field and the entry-level competencies crucial to the occupational therapy assistant upon completion of the program.
Learn the philosophy of occupational therapy and that occupation is a powerful medium that is an organizing force in human life and can also be used to promote health and well-being.
Examine performance of occupations in the areas of activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, education, work, play, leisure and social participation.
Select and apply appropriate occupational therapy theories and frames of reference as a foundation for assessment and intervention processes in classroom and fieldwork settings.
Select and apply appropriate concepts of occupational therapy to enhance client participation in a variety of contexts through the adaptation of the environment, the modification of the task, or the treatment of the person.
Internalize the occupational therapy processes necessary to provide effective intervention strategies and quality services to a diverse population across the span of practice settings for an occupational therapy assistant.
Demonstrate the ability to use screening tools and to use appropriate occupations, tasks and activities to promote and restore health in a wide variety of service delivery systems in classroom and fieldwork settings.
Internalize the distinct roles and responsibilities of the occupational therapist and the occupational therapy assistant in the supervisory process.
Internalize the standards, ethics and professional behaviors of an occupational therapy assistant upon completion of the program.
Internalize the value of lifelong learning, professional development and research to continuously improve the skill set of the individual and best practices within the occupational therapy profession.

Career Opportunities

Occupational Therapy Assistants
Occupational Therapy Aides

Application Requirements - Limited Enrollment

Completion of all MTC general admission requirements, including Application for Admission and nonrefundable application fee.
Successful completion of four years of high school, or a standard equivalency test, or certification of equivalent education by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Demonstrate college-readiness by successfully completing a placement test or satisfying other measures including but not limited to high school coursework, previous college coursework, samples of work, etc. Any college foundation courses recommended by placement guidelines are also required.
American College Test (ACT) composite score of 17 or higher or equivalent SAT composite score; or, an associate degree or higher in lieu of the ACT score.
A minimum overall 2.75 grade point average (GPA).
A 40-hour documented observation experience with an occupational therapist or an occupational therapy assistant.
A personal essay describing your strategies for balance between life and education, and career, goals as you begin a career as an occupational therapy assistant.
Submission of the OTA Program Application.
In order to graduate the program in two calendar years, it is necessary to either place into the college courses required for the degree or to take their prerequisite courses prior to entering the program.

After Admission to the Program

Students admitted into the program are required to obtain CPR for Healthcare Providers, which must be maintained until graduation from the program.
Students admitted into the program are required to submit to a criminal background check facilitated by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Identification. Students with certain felony, misdemeanor, or drug-related arrests as specified in ORC 4755.11 will be ineligible for admission into the program.