Cabarrus College of Health Sciences offers a two year associate degree in Occupational
Therapy Assistant.
Occupational Therapy Assistant’s help adapt work and physical environments to promote independence; analyze and
train in daily living and homemaking skills; fabricate and apply splints and orthotic devices; and use activities, therapeutic
exercise, and crafts to promote independence and wellness.
OTA’s have many work environment opportunities that include acute care hospitals, rehabilitation centers, long term
care facilities, out patient clinics, school districts, industry, well baby clinics and day care centers.
Occupational therapy assistants work with people of all ages who, because of illness, injury, and developmental or
psychological impairment, need specialized assistance in learning skills to enable them to lead independent, productive and
satisfying lives. Services that a COTA may provide include: analysis and training in activities of daily living skills (ADL’s)
and homemaking tasks, fabrication and application of splints and other orthotic devices, use of therapeutic crafts, activities,
exercises, and physical agent modalities combined with meaningful occupation, training for productive work, adaptation of
physical environments and architectural barriers for the physically challenged, and application of group processes.
Cabarrus College of Health Sciences offers a state of the art student learning centered environment that is focused on
student success in the health sciences. The average class size is 20 students allowing for one-on-one interaction with
instructors in the classroom and in hands-on skills lab instruction.
Program Outcomes for the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program
The program outcomes of the Occupational Therapy Assistant program at Cabarrus College of Health Sciences are that
graduates will:
1. Secure employment in an entry level occupational therapy assistant position.
2. Create a personal professional development plan for lifelong learning to maintain licensure, board
certification and ongoing competence.
3. Apply the college level core concepts of critical thinking, communication, collaboration and contemporary
issues as evidenced by positive evaluations from students, graduates and employers.
4. Meet appropriate criteria to sit for certification and to obtain licensure for occupational therapy assistant.
Educational Goals for the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program
The educational goals of the Occupational Therapy Assistant program at Cabarrus College of Health Sciences are that
graduates will:
1 Demonstrate skills sets and competencies required of a generalist in an entry level occupational therapy
assistant position.
2. Use critical thinking skills integrating evidence based research and knowledge from the sciences, arts and
the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework Domain and Process into holistic and client centered occupational therapy
assistant practice.
3. Document and report appropriate information for multiple clients in an organized and concise manner.
4. Demonstrate an understanding of the Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics and legal responsibilities
appropriate for safe entry level occupational therapy assistant practice.
5. Identify and articulate the role of the occupational therapy assistant and occupational therapist roles in the
screening and evaluation process, and in the delivery of service.
6. Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to incorporate available technology and resources to support
maximal client outcomes.
Curriculum Design
The content and scope of the OTA program curriculum design is multidimensional including:
- Accreditation Standards for an Occupational Therapy Assistant as outlined by the Accreditation Council for Occupational
Therapy Education (ACOTE) 2006,
- Mission, goals and vision of the Cabarrus College of Health Sciences,
- Cabarrus College of Health Sciences Occupational Therapy Assistant Strategic Plan,
- North Carolina Occupational Therapy Practice Act Article 18D,
- North Carolina Rules and Regulations and
- Occupational Therapy Practice Framework Domain and Process (AOTA, 2002)
- Guidelines for Supervision, Roles and Responsibilities During the Delivery of Occupational Therapy Services (AOTA, 2005b
The common threads of the College’s and OTA program’s mission, philosophy, program and learning outcomes
have resulted in an eclectic base for the design of the curriculum, its rationale, sequencing of courses and progression.
The conceptual framework for the organization and progression of the curriculum consists of the following themes:
- The Occupational Therapy Practice Framework Domain and Process
- Holistic, Client Centered, Occupational & Evidence Based Interventions
- Professional Behaviors for Occupational therapy Practice
- OTR and COTA Role Delineation
- Clinical Reasoning and Problem Solving
- Documentation and Quality Assurance
- Active and Life-long Learning Processes
The concepts listed above are interwoven throughout the design of the curriculum in a progressive nature through which
students gain new knowledge, skills and attitudes that promote and encourage new behaviors and develop clinical reasoning
skills.
| OTA 101** |
Introduction to OT (Level I Fieldwork #1) |
3 |
| OTA 102** |
Activity Analysis/Application Through Therapeutic Media |
3 |
| BIO 210* |
Anatomy and Physiology I |
4 |
| CAS 190 |
Computers for Healthcare Information Systems |
3 |
| ENG 101 |
English |
3 |
| BIO 100* |
Medical Terminology |
1 |
| TOTAL |
17 |
| OTA 112** |
Fundamentals of Occupations/Activity |
3 |
| OTA 114** |
Physical Dysfunction (Level I Fieldwork#2) |
7 |
| BIO 220* |
Anatomy & Physiology II |
4 |
| PSY 150 |
Human Growth and Development |
3 |
| TOTAL |
17 |
| OTA 116** |
Kinesiology |
3 |
| PSY 101* |
General Psychology |
3 |
| TOTAL |
6 |
| OTA 201** |
Therapeutic Group Applications |
3 |
| OTA 202** |
Mental Health Concepts & Techniques for the OTA (Level I Fieldwork #3) |
3 |
| OTA 203** |
Assessment/Treatment Planning |
2 |
| HUM 200 |
Leadership Development Studies |
3 |
| PSY 210* |
Abnormal Psychology |
3 |
| #### ### |
Elective |
3 |
| TOTAL |
17 |
| OTA 206** |
Level II Fieldwork #1 |
6 |
| OTA 208** |
Level II Fieldwork #2 |
6 |
| TOTAL |
12 |
| |
| *Program requirement -
**Major requirement |
A minimum of 69 semester hours are required to earn an Associate of Science Degree in the Occupational Therapy Assistant
Program.
All occupational therapy students must complete Level II fieldwork within one year of the required academic course work.
Accreditation Note:
The Occupational Therapy Assistant program is accredited by The Accreditation Council for Occupational
Therapy Education (ACOTE), located at The American Occupational Therapy Association, 4720 Montgomery Lane, PO Box 31220,
Bethesda, MD 20824-1220, Phone (301) 652-AOTA (2682).
Admission Requirements
For admission into the Occupational Therapy Assistant Associate of Science Degree program, applicants must meet the
admission criteria to the College AND must submit:
- an official transcript showing evidence of completion of either high school or college level algebra I, algebra II, and either
geometry or a math with algebra II as a pre-requisite, chemistry and biology with a preferred minimum grade of “C”;
- two references which speak to academic ability or work ethic;
- acceptable scores on either the ASSET test (42 - writing, 42 -reading and 36 - numerical), the SAT I ( 480-critical reading
(verbal) and 440-math ) OR the ACT (composite score of 19);
- students must submit evidence of current Heartsaver AED CPR;
- a minimum of 25 hours of observation in an OT setting.
CABARRUS COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSISTANT PROGRAM
STUDENT GRADUATE AND CERTIFICATION DATA |
| |
|
The following graduate and certification information is compiled from the Cabarrus College of Health Sciences and the
National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy. |
| |
|
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
| Total number of graduates |
11 graduates |
22 graduates |
11 graduates |
| |
| Total number of first time test takers |
9 students took the examination |
21 students took the examination |
13 students took the examination |
| |
| Total number of first time test takers who passed the exam during that period |
8 passed the examination |
21 passed the examination |
12 passed the examination* |
| |
|
Percentage of the total number of first time test takers who passed the exam during that period |
88.89% |
100% |
92.31% |
| |
|
Graduates are allowed to take the National Certification Examination in Occupational Therapy Assistant whenever they so
choose. |