Roane State Community College

The Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) is a health professional who uses purposeful activity to enhance functional abilities of individuals limited by physical injury or illness, psychosocial dysfunction, developmental or learning disabilities, poverty and cultural differences, or the aging process. The OTA works under the supervision of a occupational therapist (OT) and collaborates with others to maximize independence, prevent disability, and maintain the health of individuals who require services. Students are educated in the skills and techniques necessary to participate in assessment and treatment in accordance with the occupational therapy plan of care.

Admission Policies for Allied Health Sciences A.A.S. Degrees

The OTA curriculum includes a blend of onlineand hybrid courses coupled with face-to-face labs. All students are required to travel to the Oak Ridge campus one day per week for labs. Level I and Level II fieldwork experiences are completed in community-based practice settings. Placement decisions are based on factors such a site availability, alignment with program philosophy, and geographic proximity to the student.

Additional Admission Criteria:

In addition to meeting the general requirements for the college and the Allied Health Sciences programs, applicants to the Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program must:

1. Obtain a minimum GPA of 2.5 in the general education courses included in the OTA degree plan.  Required science courses older than 5 years at time of program admission will not be considered. 
2. Complete the required general education courses with a grade of "C" or higher for both admission and progression.
3. Complete the required observation assignment and submit the completd form (either Option 1 or Option 2)
   1. Option 1 - complete 8 hours of OT observation. Observations may be either in-person/face-to-face OT treatment OR observations of OT services delivered through telehealth technology.
   2. Option 2 - Review the informational video approved by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and the information page on the AOTA website. Summarize what you have learned in less than 750 words. See instructions in the Admissions Packet documnt located under the Admission Requirements tab on the OTA webpage.
4. Submit Recommendation Form completed by two professionals in the community. See the Admission Packet document located under the Admission Requirements tab on the OTA webpage for details
5. Ensure that all application materials are received by the March 31 application deadline.
6. If selected, participate in an interview with OTA program representatives. Students will receive notification of the interview through their RaiderNet email.

Progression:
OTA students must achieve a "C" or higher in all required courses in the OTA program and satisfactorily complete clinical courses to be eligible to progress.

NOTE:  All OTA students must complete Level II Fieldwork within 18 months following completion of academic preparation.

Graduates of the program will be able to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapy assistant administered by the National Board for Certification of Occupational Therapy (NBCOT).  After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA).  Initial certification is a requirement for licensure in all states.

NOTE:  A felony conviction may affect a graduate's ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination.

Roane State Community College's OTA Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA and its web address is www.acoteonline.org. 

1st Fall			Hours
ENGL	1010	Composition I	3
BIOL	2010	Human Anatomy and Physiology I	4
PSYC	2130	Lifespan Development Psychology	3
		TERM TOTAL	10
Action Items
	Oct	Meet with Success Coach or Advisor Attend OTA Group Advising Complete FAFSA for upcoming fall term
	Nov	Register for next term Apply to OTA Program through Raidernet
	Dec	Schedule OTA Observations
1st Spring			Hours
BIOL	2020	Human Anatomy and Physiology II	4
PSYC	2230	Abnormal Psychology	3
PHIL	1040	Introduction to Ethics (Recommended) OR Humanities Elective	3
		TERM TOTAL	10
Action Items
	Feb	Submit recommendation forms before OTA deadline
	Mar	Meet with Success Coach or Advisor
	April	Register for next term
1st Summer			Hours
OTAP	1110	OTA Program Orientation (required for those accepted to the program)	1
		TERM TOTAL	1
Action Items
	June	Must take this online course in summer session IF admitted to OTA Program
	Aug	Attend on-campus New OTA Student Orientation
2nd Fall			Hours
ALHS	1211	Terminology for Medical Communication1	2
OTAP	1210	Foundations of OT	2
OTAP	1320	Exploring Occupations	3
OTAP	1220	OT Documentation w/Level 1A	2
OTAP	1340	Human Movement for Occupation	3
		TERM TOTAL	12
Action Items
	Oct	Complete FAFSA for upcoming fall term
	Nov	Register for next term
2nd Spring			Hours
OTAP	1520	Theory and Treatment: Psych	5
OTAP	1240	OT Documentation w/Level 1B	2
OTAP	1510	Neurological Theory and Treatment	5
		TERM TOTAL	12
Action Items
	April	Register for next term
3rd Fall			Hours
OTAP	2510	Physical Dysfunction	5
OTAP	2220	Practice Management	2
OTAP	2520	Pediatrics	5
OTAP	2110	Level I C	1
		TERM TOTAL	13
Action Items
	Sept	Complete Application for Graduation
3rd Spring			Hours
OTAP	2610	Level II A	6
OTAP	2620	Level II B	6
		TERM TOTAL	12
Action Items
	Feb	Take Exit Exam (ETS Proficiency Profile)
	May	Begin job search using RaiderRecruit  Register for NBCOT exam to take certification exam  Apply for state licensure
		TOTAL HOURS	70

Applicants are advised to complete general education requirements prior to seeking admission to the OTA program.

¹Students who are required to take 12 credit hours for federal financial aid are advised to take ALH 118 in the first semester of the first year in the OTA program.  Note:  Completion of ALH 118 prior to admission does NOT influence admission points.

Program Application Deadline: March 31

This program is designed for students who plan to enter the workforce upon graduation.  It is not intended as a transfer pathway into an occupational therapy program.  Students who intend to transfer to a four-year institution should follow the TN Transfer Pathway in Pre-Occupational Therapy

http://www.roanestate.edu/?5979-Occupational-Therapy-Assistant