Occupational Therapy Assistant

Description

Occupational therapy is the art and science of helping people gain skills needed to become independent in daily living activities. Students learn the therapeutic use of occupations which include self-care, work and play/leisure activities in order to maximize independent function, enhance development, prevent disability and maintain health. Intervention strategies may include adaptations to a task or environment or compensatory approaches in order to facilitate clients’ achievement of maximum independence.

Objectives

The following objectives are designed to meet Southeastern College’s mission and its goals. Graduates of the program are prepared as entry-level occupational therapy assistants by:

• Demonstrating professional behaviors reflective of an ethical, competent therapist, inclusive of critical thinking, communication skills and commitment to lifelong learning required of healthcare professionals.
• Practicing emergent clinical skills in treatment techniques, methodology and rationale for implementation, including clinical documentation and reasoning skills as an entry-level professional.

Demonstrating an academic foundation that clearly evidences occupational therapy’s unique focus on daily living activities and interventions that promote clients’ participation within a social/cultural context.

Admission Requirements

• Have a high school diploma or G.E.D.
• Pass the entrance examination
• Background check and drug screening where applicable
• Completion of general education courses with a minimum grade of “C” for each course
• Cumulative grade average of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale

Occupational Therapy Assistant Associate in Applied Science Degree

Occupational Therapy Assistant Graduates

Graduates of the program will be eligible to take the national certification examination for occupational therapy assistants administered by the National Board of Certification in Occupational Therapy Inc. (NBCOT). Successful completion of this exam entitles the individual to practice as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) under the supervision of a registered occupational therapist. Most states require licensure to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. A felony conviction may affect a graduate's ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.

A direct link to information regarding the OTA program’s pass rates for graduates attempting the national certification examination is made available by NBCOT at https://www.nbcot.org/Educators-Folder/SchoolPerformance

Accreditation

The occupational therapy assistant program at Southeastern College-Columbia Campus, Columbia, South Carolina, was placed on Continuing Accreditation-Probationary effective March 24, 2024, because the monitoring report revealed the program was not in compliance with 2018 OTA Standard C.1.5. (sufficient fieldwork agreements). The program has been requested to submit a Plan of Correction to return the program to full compliance with the Standard within the mandated time period for correction.

The Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) is located at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814. ACOTE’s telephone number, c/o AOTA is 301-652-AOTA and its web address is www.acoteonline.org.

For information on student debt levels, and other disclosures, visit https://www.sec.edu/about/consumer-information/

Program Disclosures

• AAS Occupational Therapy Disclosure Form 2024
• Occupational Therapy Assistant Program