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Occupational Therapy Assistant

A Career with Results and Rewards
A career that helps people live life to the fullest! Occupational therapy focuses on a person's ability to participate in all chosen occupations -- all the things that an individual wants and needs to do every day.  An OTA, working under supervision of an occupational therapist, assists with evaluation and intervention for individuals whose ability to handle daily living tasks is impaired by injury, disease, aging, developmental deficits, or psychosocial dysfunction. If assisting people in regaining control of their lives and bodies one step at a time is something that sounds fulfilling to you, ACM's OTA program may be right for you.
Questions?
OTA Administrative Associate
301-784-5538
Location: ALLIED HEALTH (AH) 234
What will you learn?
  •  The Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program prepares graduates to work with individuals, groups, and populations who are limited by physical injury or illness, mental health challenges, developmental or learning disabilities, or the aging process. The student learns to utilize purposeful activities, exercises, adaptive devices, daily living tasks, and leisure activities to assist clients to achieve their highest level of independence. 
  • The OTA participates in patient care by assisting the Occupational Therapist (OT) in assessing client needs, determining therapeutic goals, and treatment planning activities. Under the direction of the OT, the OTA is responsible for carrying out treatment sessions, communicating with clients and health care providers, documenting client progress, and maintaining clinical environments.
What will you do?
  • Assist individuals in achieving independence through meaningful engagement and participation in their chosen occupation which can include, but not limited to:
    • Self care
    • School
    • Work
    • Play-Leasure skills
  • Occupational Therapy Assistant program graduates enjoy enriching and rewarding careers in a variety of places:
    • Hospitals
    • Home health care
    • Hospices
    • Long-term Care facilities
    • Mental Health facilities
    • Outpatient facilities
    • Rehabilitation facilities
    • Day Care Centers
    • Public and Private Schools
    • Private Homes
    • Industry/Ergonomics
    • Accessible Housing Consultant
  • Job Outlook: Occupational therapy is one of the top healthcare fields in the United States. The OTA is in high demand and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) anticipates that employment for the profession will grow by 29% between 2016 and 2026. Additionally, the U.S. News & World Report ranked OTA as the #7 healthcare support role in 2024.

Why ACM?

Discover what others are saying about ACM's Occupational Therapy Assistant program - click an image below. 


Helpful Videos

 


Admissions Criteria

Program Details

Phase II of the program includes occupational therapy assistant courses, as well as fieldwork opportunities in a variety of settings. As you work towards earning your Associate of Applied Science degree in Occupational Therapy Assistant, you'll also be required to join the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) to gain access to their website for valuable learning resources, as well as discounts on textbooks and educational workshops.

As an Occupational Therapy Assistant program student, you'll expand your knowledge and gain career training through a variety of challenging courses, including:

    Introduction to Occupational Therapy
    Diversity and Health Determinants
    Intervention Techniques I
    Dynamics of Human Motion
    Intervention in Physical Rehabilitation
    Mental Health Concepts and Techniques
    Domain of Occupational Therapy
    Intervention Techniques II
    Intervention with Children and Adolescents
    Occupational Therapy Specialty Skills Development
    Intervention with the Geriatric Population
    Occupational Therapy Program Development
    Physical Agent Modalities
    Clinical Internship I & II


A full listing of program courses and their descriptions can be found in the credit catalog


The OTA Program is comprised of both classroom education and clinical experience.  Upon completion of the program students will have accumulated over 500 hours of clinical training. The program is affiliated with over 50 facilities such as Western Maryland Health System, Washington County Hospital Association, WVU Hospitals, UPMC Hospitals.  OTA also has several corporate contracts.

National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) pass rates for Allegany College graduates are available on their website at https://www.nbcot.org/Educators-Folder/SchoolPerformance.

Allegany College graduates NBCOT Pass Rates:

2019 94%
2020 100%
2021 89%
2022 100%

 

OT educator's all-inclusive resource on everything NBCOT, including the program director portal, educator resources, and exam prep.

www.nbcot.org

 

OTA Graduation Rates:

Year

Total Enrolled

Total Graduated

Withdraw Personal

Withdraw Academic

Percentage

2023

11

8

2

1

73%

2022

7

6

 

1

86%

2021

8

7

1

88%

2020

15

13

1

1

87%

2019

18

17

1

94%

Total

59

51

5

3

86%

 

Transfer Information 

Students should recognize that this program is primarily designed to prepare students to work as Occupational Therapy Assistants after graduation and certification. 

Students transferring to some four-year colleges and universities may not receive credit for OTA courses taken at Allegany College of Maryland. 

Occupational Therapy Assistants have the opportunity to continue their education by receiving a Master's degree in OT. There are many Occupational Therapy programs designed to prepare Occupational Therapy Assistants to become Registered Occupational Therapists. A list of such programs is available through the American Occupational Therapy Association by calling 1(800) 729-2682 or www.aota.org. Admission requirements for these programs vary from one program to another and making contact with a specific program is the best way to ensure admission. 

 

The ACM Occupational Therapy Assistant program is designated as a Health Manpower Shortage Program by the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC). Maryland residents from counties other than Allegany County who register in this eligible program will be charged the out-of-county tuition rate. However, these students may be eligible to receive reimbursement for a portion of the cost difference between the in-county and out-of-county tuition rates. Funding availability for this program is based on funding from the state of Maryland and is thus subject to change each semester. Some restrictions apply. Please contact the Admissions Office  for more information. 


Discover more...

Accreditation

Accredited (August 2014) by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE), 6116 Executive Boulevard, Ste 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929, (301) 652-2682 or https://acoteonline.org.  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), One Bank Street, Suite 300, Gaithersburg, MD 20878, (301) 990-7979 or https://secure.nbcot.org/data/schoolstats.aspx.  After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be a Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA) and can obtain licensure in whatever state he/she chooses to be employed.

ACOTE® accredited occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant educational programs satisfy the states’ educational requirements in all states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Students graduating from an ACOTE® accredited occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant educational program are eligible to take the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) certification exam and apply for licensure in all states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. For more information regarding state qualifications and licensure requirements, please refer to the AOTA State Licensure webpage.

 


Program Goals & Learning Outcomes
Program Goals
  • The OTA graduate will demonstrate entry-level clinical competency within the context of the occupational therapy assistant's role to support successful achievement of the national certification exam and licensure.
  • The OTA graduate will demonstrate commitment to best evidence-based practice and professional development to 
    meet the needs of a diverse treatment population and future employers.
  • The OTA graduate will demonstrate value in promoting the health and well-being of persons and populations within 
    the scope of occupational therapy's core values and standards.
Learning Outcomes
  • The OTA graduate will demonstrate theoretical knowledge and skills competency in delivering client-centered and occupation-based interventions to support successful completion of the national certification examination and licensure to practice as a certified Occupational Therapy Assistant.
  • The OTA graduate will demonstrate therapeutic use of self to promote occupational engagement across the  function-dysfunction continuum.
  • The OTA graduate will demonstrate skills in integrating occupational therapy's core values and practice principles  within the OTA roles of direct service provider, educator, manager, leader, and advocate for the profession and consumer.
  • The OTA graduate will demonstrate skills in creative and flexible clinical reasoning to facilitate maximum functional  performance in occupations among individuals, groups, and populations.
  • The OTA graduate will demonstrate competency in promoting quality patient outcomes through the pursuit of innovation and evidence-based clinical practice.
  • The OTA graduate will demonstrate a commitment to life-long learning through the integration of art and science  to foster professional growth.
  • The OTA graduate will demonstrate effective communication skills and professionalism to efficiently meet the needs of individuals, groups, and populations.
  • The OTA graduate will demonstrate competency in translating, applying, and adapting occupational therapy's  professional value appropriately to meet regional and cultural needs of individuals, groups, and populations.
  • The OTA graduate will demonstrate skills in improving the health and well-being of individuals, groups, and populations  through the active role of community engagement in traditional and emerging practice areas.
  • The OTA graduate will demonstrate skills in advocating and promoting the value of the occupational therapy profession  in alignment with evolving professional and ethical standards.

Meet the Faculty

Our experienced, knowledgeable faculty and staff are excited to share their expertise with you and prepare you to succeed in the diverse, dynamic field of Occupational Therapy.

Jamie Andres 
jandres@allegany.edu
Administrative Associate

301-784-5538
Allied Health 234

A.A., Allegany College of Maryland

C. Alex Grimm, BS, COTA/L 
cgrimm@allegany.edu
OTA Faculty

301-784-5538
Allied Health 234

A.A.S., Allegany College of Maryland
B.S., University of Cincinnati

Stephanie “Nikki” Haynes, COTA/L 
shaynes4@allegany.edu
Adjunct Faculty

301-784-5538
Allied Health 234

A.A.S., Allegany College of Maryland
B.F.A., Frostburg State University

Jeff Hopkins, MS, OTR/L 
jhopkins@allegany.edu
Program Director

301-784-5536
Allied Health 234D

B.S., University of Maryland, College Park
MS, University of Puget Sound

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