Program Overview

Occupational Therapy Assistant, AAS-T

The mission of the OTA Associate in Applied Science Transfer Degree Program at Lake Washington Institute of Technology is to prepare students with the skill base, fund of knowledge, ethical base, understanding, and demonstration of the behaviors required to successfully assume the roles required of occupational therapy assistants in the current environments of OT Practice.

In congruence with the mission of the college at large, the focus is on successful workforce education of individuals from diverse backgrounds and life experiences, giving them the skills, knowledge, and attitudes to successfully gain employment and cope successfully with ever-changing workforce requirements. The program provides an engaging curriculum that encourages life-long learning and high standards of occupational therapy assistant practice.

The Occupational Therapy Assistant AAS-T degree prepares students to work in a variety of settings, including:

• Hospitals
• Private practices
• Outpatient clinics
• Client homes
• Long-term care facilities
• Retirement communities
• Assisted living facilities
• School systems
• Mental health centers

Occupational therapy assistants (OTAs) provide occupational therapy services with the direction and supervision of occupational therapists.

Accreditation

The Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA).

Program Outcomes

Graduates of the Program will be able to sit for the national certification examination for OTAs administered by the National Board for Certification of Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this examination, the graduate will become a certified occupational therapy assistant (COTA). Washington State requires licensure to practice as a COTA.

Occupational Therapy Assistant AAS-T degree graduates will:

• Be prepared to obtain an entry-level position in their field
• Be eligible to take the National Registration Examination for Occupational Therapy Assistants
• Teach patients or clients to manage basic activities of daily living, such as dressing and grooming
• Teach exercise and purposeful activities to increase coordination, strength, and work tolerance
• Assist the occupational therapist with assessments of patient function
• Demonstrate communication, critical thinking, cultural humility, information literacy, and teamwork skills
• Meet Humanities, Natural Science, Quantitative Reasoning, Social Science, and Written Communication general education distribution area outcomes

Prerequisites

Students must complete the following courses with a 2.0 grade or higher prior to enrolling in the Quarter 1 of the OTA program courses. In addition, the students must be at least 18 years of age before Quarter 2 of the program.

• ENGL& 101 English Composition I (5 credits)
• MATH& 146 Introduction to Statistics (5 credits)
• BIOL& 175 Human Biology with Lab (5 credits) OR BIOL& 241 Anatomy and Physiology 1 (6 credits)
• PSYC& 200 Lifespan Psychology (5 credits)
• OTA 100 Introduction to Occupational Therapy (4 credits)

Program Requirements

Required Course Sequence

• Quarter One
  • OTA 101 Conditions in Occupational Therapy (3 credits)
  • OTA 110 Foundations for Occupational Therapy Assistants (5 credits)
  • OTA 112 Functional Movement and Kinesiology I (4 credits)
• Quarter Two
  • OTA 131 Human Activity and Occupational Performance (5 credits)
  • OTA 132 Functional Movement and Kinesiology II (3 credits)
  • OTA 140 Pediatrics and Occupational Therapy (5 credits)
  • OTA 144 Fieldwork Level IA with Seminar (2 credits)
• Quarter Three
  • OTA 120 Professional Communication in Healthcare (3 credits)
  • OTA 180 Functional NeuroRehabilitation (3 credits)
  • OTA 211 Mental Health and Occupational Therapy (5 credits)
  • OTA 217 Fieldwork Level IB with Seminar (2 credits)
• Quarter Four
  • OTA 190 Assistive Technology (3 credits)
  • OTA 218 Occupational Therapy and Rehabilitation I (5 credits)
  • OTA 219 Professional Topics in Occupational Therapy (3 credits)
  • OTA 227 Occupational Therapy with Older Adults (2 credits)
• Quarter Five
  • OTA 225 Occupational Therapy and Rehabilitation II (5 credits)
  • OTA 226 Occupational Therapy Assistant Capstone (5 credits)
  • OTA 232 Fieldwork Level IC with Seminar (2 credits)
• Quarter Six
  • OTA 235 Fieldwork Level IIA (10 credits)
  • OTA 236 Seminar IIA (2 credits)
• Quarter Seven
  • OTA 240 Fieldwork Level IIB (10 credits)
  • OTA 241 Seminar IIB (2 credits)

General Education Requirements

The following courses must be completed before Term 6. It is recommended that these general education requirements be taken before the student enters the program.

• Any 200-level CMST course (5 credits)

Diversity and Social Justice Requirement

Within the degree requirements, students must complete a 3-5 credit course that meets the college’s Diversity and Social Justice (DSJ) requirement. DSJ courses are designated in the college schedule and are designed to meet other general education or technical requirements simultaneous to meeting the DSJ requirement.

Total Program Credits

Total Program Credits: 94