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Degree:
Upon successful completion of the program, students will earn an Associate of Science
degree and will be academically eligible for licensure by examination.
Accreditation:
The Occupational Therapy Assistant program is accredited by the Accreditation
Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy
Association (AOTA), located at 4720 Montgomery Lane, Suite 200, Bethesda, MD 20814-3449.
AOTA’s telephone number, C/O AOTA, is (301) 652-AOTA and the web address is
www.acoteonline.org .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 examination, the individual will be a
Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA). Most states require licensure in order to practice;
however, state licenses are usually based on results of the NBCOT Certification Examination.
Individuals who have been convicted of a felony may not be eligible for licensure. If convicted of a
felony, it is recommended that you contact the Occupational Therapy Board in the state where you
plan to seek licensure to verify your eligibility for licensure. All students will be required to complete
a national criminal background check prior to placement in clinical externships. Some clinical
facilities may also require a drug screen prior to placement (students may be responsible for payment).
The clinical affiliate determines whether a student can participate in the clinical rotation based upon
the results of the background check and drug screen.
Additional OTA Program Requirements:
1.
The OTA program requires a full-time commitment from the student. Generally, classes
will be scheduled Monday through Friday from 8:00am-5:00pm with some evening and/or
weekend time commitments as needed.
2.
Since clinical education is a critical component of the program, all clinical practicums must
be passed. Traveling out of town will be necessary. Students are responsible for their own
transportation, food and lodging during the practicums unless other arrangements are made
by the clinical site or student.
3.
Students must provide evidence of the following prior to the first clinical practicum:
a.
Health insurance (available through Darton State College).
b.
Completed health form, including evidence of initiation of the Hepatitis B
Vaccine series.
c.
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification – American Heart
Association BLS Health Care Provider course must be maintained throughout
the program.
d.
Malpractice insurance (available through Darton State College).
e.
Signed letter of confidentiality and honor code.
4.
The student is expected to assume responsibility for his/her own health in the event of
illness, accident, or exposure to communicable disease.
5.
A minimum grade of “C” is required in all OTA courses to advance in the program.
6.
Fieldwork must be passed to graduate. In the event of unsatisfactory performance, a
practicum may be repeated one time within 18 months of completion of didactic course
work.
7.
Once enrolled in the program, failure to satisfactorily complete the course work in the
scheduled sequence will result in the student being withdrawn from the program. The
student must re-apply, be re-accepted and repeat ALL determined course work.
8.
Students must follow all policies and procedures relevant to Darton State College, the OTA
Program and the fieldwork sites.
9.
Membership in state and national professional organizations is encouraged to enhance
professional development.