Overview
Offered at the Piedmont Summerville Site.
| Entrance Dates: |
Fall |
| Length of Program: |
Six Terms |
| Credit Hours Required for Graduation: |
73 |
Admissions: Occupational Therapy Assistant is a competitive program. Students who meet the College criteria for admission will be admitted to the College to take prerequisite courses. Prerequisite courses (ALHS 1090, ENGL 1101, MATH 1111, Humanities/Fine Arts Area IV, SPCH 1101, PSYC 1101, BIOL 2113, BIOL 2113L, BIOL 2114, and BIOL 2114L) must be completed with a minimum GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale by the designated deadlines to be evaluated for program admission. Students are REQUIRED to attend an informational session during the ranking cycle prior to consideration for acceptance into competitive admission programs. Instructors will hold recruitment fairs/informational sessions on a rolling basis throughout the admissions cycle, January - May.
The academic ranking order for admission to the program is determined using the most recent grade for BIOL 2113, BIOL 2113L, BIOL 2114, BIOL 2114L, and ENGL 1101. Students can retake a class to earn a higher grade. Students who are not selected for admission may consider another program or resubmit a new admission application and a new Competitive Ranking Application by the next ranking cycle deadline. A high school diploma or GED is required for admission to the program. For additional information regarding this process, please contact the Admissions Office at (706) 771-4028. Refer to program related deadlines.
Program Description: The Occupational Therapy Program is designed to train students to implement treatment plans and interventions for clients with limitations in occupational performance under the supervision of an occupational therapist per the standards of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and state regulations. Other occupational therapy assistant responsibilities include assisting with clinical management and client evaluations as appropriate. The Occupational Therapy Assistant program meets the accreditation requirements of the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE). Program graduates are eligible to seek certification by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). This certification is required for state licensure. The program provides learning opportunities to introduce, develop, and reinforce academic and occupational knowledge, skills and work ethics required for job acquisition, retention and advancement. Program graduates receive an Associate of Applied Science degree.
The program includes off-campus fieldwork in health care facilities (may include out-of-town assignments).
The associate-degree-level occupational therapy assistant 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.
Program Cost: Tuition, fees, and other related costs of attendance can be found on the Augusta Technical College Competitive Health Science Programs website next to Occupational Therapy in the criteria section.
Employment Opportunities: Occupational therapy assistants work in inpatient and outpatient hospitals and rehabilitation centers, transitional care facilities, prisons, home health care, nursing homes, industry, halfway houses, group homes, assisted living facilities, schools, sheltered workshops, community mental health centers, day care or early intervention centers, hospice programs, and wellness/fitness centers.
Credentialing (Required): 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 in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA). In addition, most states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination.
Guided Pathway
You may click on any course below to view the course description and prerequisite information.
Students who do not follow the Course Sequence listed below may not be able to complete the program in the number of semesters shown.
Piedmont Summerville Day Program
PROGRAM NAME: Occupational Therapy Assistant
AWARD: Associate of Applied Science Degree
CAMPUS: Piedmont Summerville Day Program
Year 1 Fall Semester
Year 1 Spring Semester
| BIOL 2114 | ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY II | 3 |
| BIOL 2114L | ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY LAB II | 1 |
| PSYC 1101 | INTRODUCTORY PSYCHOLOGY | 3 |
| ALHS 1090 | MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY FOR ALLIED HEALTH SCIENCES | 2 |
| XXXX XXXX | HUMANITIES/FINE ARTS AREA IV* | 3 |
Year 1 Summer Semester
Students are ranked for admission to the program during the summer semester.
Year 2 Fall Semester
Year 2 Spring Semester
| OCTA 2040 | PEDIATRIC ISSUES AND TREATMENT METHODS | 4 |
| OCTA 2060 | PHYSICAL DYSFUNCTION AND TREATMENT METHODS | 6 |
| OCTA 2130 | THERAPEUTIC ADAPTATIONS | 3 |
Year 2 Summer Semester
| OCTA 2010 | MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND TREATMENT METHODS | 6 |
| OCTA 2090 | GERIATRIC ISSUES AND TREATMENT METHODS | 3 |
| OCTA 2120 | OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY TRENDS AND ISSUES | 2 |
Year 3 Fall Semester