乌鸦传媒

Program Mission and Goals

OTA Program Vision

The Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) Program will be recognized as a leader in OTA education, using innovative teaching methods and strong community partnerships to support students from diverse backgrounds. We will graduate ethical, skilled practitioners with strong clinical reasoning abilities who serve as leaders in their practice environments and advance the occupational therapy profession.

Program Mission

The mission of the Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program advances the mission of the 乌鸦传媒 Institute of Technology and the College of Health Sciences. Students with diverse backgrounds are enrolled in an accelerated associate degree program that prepares them to become Occupational Therapy Assistants working in collaboration with the Occupational Therapist. Through a combination of didactic, laboratory, simulation, and fieldwork experiences, the program emphasizes the application of theoretical knowledge and clinical reasoning to the provision of client-centered, occupation-based services. The OTA program aims to empower persons, groups, and populations to achieve meaningful and fulfilling lives.

Program Goals

1. The Occupational Therapy Assistant program will provide appropriate learning opportunities for students to acquire and apply theoretical knowledge, clinical reasoning, and professionalism necessary to provide client-centered, occupation-based services as an entry-level occupational therapy assistant.
2. The Occupational Therapy Assistant program will prepare students to successfully pass the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy Assistant (NBCOT庐) examination.
3. The Occupational Therapy Assistant program will foster students’ commitment to the Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice.

OTA Program Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Respect all people and cultures and render occupational therapy services to clients in various environments; for persons, groups, and populations seeking services.
2. Function as an advocate for the profession and collaborator in intra and interdisciplinary healthcare teams, including developing professional relationships with recipients of service, professionals, and non-professional caregivers.
3. Communicate through various methods all material, information, services, and documentation required as directed by the Occupational Therapy Scope of Practice, Standards of Practice guidelines, and the law.
4. Act in an ethically responsible way regarding legal obligations applicable in all practice settings while adhering to the core values of occupational therapy practice.
5. Follow and select all activities pertinent to meeting the objectives of the plan of care and recognize the need for continuation or modification of the plan within the recognized role delineation of the occupational therapy assistant.
6. Use the most current evidence-based research to practice occupational therapy to ensure the highest quality of care.
   

Accreditation Status

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 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E Bethesda, MD 20814. ACOTE鈥檚 telephone number, c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA and the website is (See .)

Program Cost

Occupational Therapy Assistant Courses

Courses in the occupational therapy assistant program offer each student all the requisite tools needed to become a competent, successful, and certified occupational therapy assistant. The class structure ensures that graduates acquire the knowledge and skills to assist a registered occupational therapist.

Courses include the following:

• Adult Practice for Occupational Therapy
• Anatomy and Physiology and Anatomy and Physiology Labs
• Development of Human Occupation Across the Lifespan
• Foundations of Occupational Therapy Assistant Practice and Foundations of Occupational Therapy Assistant Practice Lab
• Functional Kinesiology
• Gerontology Practice for Occupational Therapy
• Healthcare Communications
• Medical Terminology
• Mental Health Populations and Practice for Occupational Therapy
• Pediatric Practice for Occupational Therapy
• Practice Issues for the Occupational Therapy Assistant

Q&A and Technical Standards

Questions & Answers

1. When do my classes meet?
   Day Classes: Technical classes normally meet for four hours a day five days a week. Classes normally begin in the early morning (7:45 a.m.), late morning (usually 11:25 a.m.), or mid-afternoon. The time slot for your program may vary from term to term.In addition, to achieve your associate degree, you will take a total of approximately eight liberal arts courses, which will be scheduled around your technical schedule over the course of your entire program. Each liberal arts course meets approximately four hours per week. Liberal arts courses are offered days, evenings, and Saturdays.At the beginning of each term you will receive a detailed schedule giving the exact time and location of all your classes. The university requires that all students be prepared to take classes and receive services at any of 乌鸦传媒鈥檚 locations where the appropriate classes and services are offered.When a regularly scheduled class falls on a day which is an 乌鸦传媒 observed holiday (Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, and Memorial Day), an alternate class will be scheduled as a make up for that class. The make-up class may fall on a Friday. It is the student鈥檚 responsibility to take note of when and where classes are offered.
2. How large will my classes be?
   The average size for a class is about 20 to 25 students; however, larger and smaller classes occur from time to time.
3. How much time will I spend in lab?
   Almost half of your technical courses consist of laboratory work. In order for you to get the most out of your laboratory experiences, you will first receive a thorough explanation of the theory behind your lab work.
4. Where do my classes meet?
   Students should be prepared to attend classes at any of 乌鸦传媒鈥檚 classroom facilities: either at the Post Road, Access Road, or East Greenwich campus.
5. I have not earned my high school diploma or GED: can I enroll in an Associate Degree Program?
   A candidate for admission to an associate degree program must have a high school diploma, have earned a recognized equivalency diploma (GED), or meet the federal home school requirements.
6. How long should it take me to complete my program?
   To complete your degree requirements in the shortest possible time, you should take the courses outlined in the prescribed curriculum. For a typical six-term curriculum, a student may complete the requirements in as little as 18 months. To complete all your degree requirements in the shortest time, you should take at least one liberal arts course each term. Students are provided up to two additional terms of study to complete the liberal arts requirements without any additional tuition assessment fee. During these additional terms of study, students are required to pay all applicable fees. Students may also elect to complete some of their liberal arts requirements during Intersession, a five-week term scheduled between Spring and Summer Terms. Students will not be assessed any additional tuition for liberal arts courses taken during the Intersession but may be assessed applicable fees. Students wishing to extend the number of terms to complete the required technical courses in their curriculum will be assessed additional tuition and fees. It is in the best interest of students to adhere to the prescribed curriculum without interruption. Students who are not enrolled during one or more terms of their program may find that there is a wait list in place for their program at the time they want to return to 乌鸦传媒. Students should check with their Student Advisor for further details about wait list procedures.
7. Is 乌鸦传媒 accredited?
   乌鸦传媒 is accredited by the 乌鸦传媒 Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). Accreditation by NECHE is recognized by the federal government and entitles 乌鸦传媒 to participate in federal financial aid programs. Some academic departments have specialized professional accreditations in addition to accreditation by NECHE. For more information on accreditation, see 乌鸦传媒鈥檚 catalog.
8. Can I transfer the credits that I earn at 乌鸦传媒 to another college?
   The transferability of a course is always up to the institution to which the student is transferring. Students interested in the transferability of their credits should contact the Office of Teaching and Learning for further information.
9. Can I transfer credits earned at another college to 乌鸦传媒?
   Transfer credit for appropriate courses taken at an accredited institution will be considered for admission based on the following table and upon receipt of an official transcript:

   Courses	Age of Courses	Grade Needed for Transfer to OTA
   EN 100 Introduction to College Writing		C or above
   EN 200 Workplace Communications (or EN 110 Healthcare Communications)		C or above
   MA 100/110 Introduction to College Math		C or above
   English/Communications Liberal Arts Courses	10 years old	C or above
   Math Course	3 years old	C or above
   Biology Course	3 years old	C or above
   Science Course	3 years old	C or above
   Major Courses	3 years old	C+ or above

   An official transcript from the other institution must be received before the end of the first week of the term for transfer credit to be granted for courses to be taken during that term. If the student has a degree from another institution, every opportunity will be reviewed to give the student as many transfer credits as possible for liberal arts courses (math, science, English, humanities, and social sciences) regardless of the age of the degree. Courses in the major will be reviewed individually for relevancy.

10. What is the “Feinstein Enriching America” Program?
    乌鸦传媒 Institute of Technology is the proud recipient of a grant from the Feinstein Foundation. To satisfy the terms of the grant, the university has developed a one-credit community enrichment course which includes hands-on community enrichment projects. The course can be taken for a few hours per term, spread over several terms. Students who are already engaged in community enrichment on their own may be able to count that service towards course credit.
11. How many credits do I need to acquire my Financial Aid?
    In order to be eligible for the maximum financial aid award, you need to maintain at least 12 credits per academic term.
12. What does my program cost?
    The cost of your program will be as outlined in your enrollment agreement, along with your cost for books and other course materials. Students who decide to take more terms than the enrollment agreement describes to complete the technical courses in their curriculum will be subject to additional fees and possible additional tuition costs. Students who elect to take the technical portion of the degree requirements at a rate faster than the rate prescribed in the curriculum and the enrollment agreement will be assessed additional tuition.Students who require prerequisite courses will incur additional tuition and fees above those outlined in their enrollment agreement.If a student elects to take a course(s) outside of the prescribed curriculum, additional tuition and fees will be assessed.Remember, students who withdraw and re-enter, one time only, pay the tuition rate that was in effect for them at the time of their last day of attendance for up to one year from their last day of attendance. Second re-entries and beyond pay the tuition rate in effect at the time they re-enter. The most economical way for you to complete your college degree is to begin your program now and continue your studies straight through for the six terms necessary to complete your degree requirements.
13. What kind of employment assistance does 乌鸦传媒 offer?
    The Career Services Office assists 乌鸦传媒 students and graduates in all aspects of the job search, including resume writing, interviewing skills, and developing of a job search strategy. Upon completion of their program, graduates may submit a resume to the Career Services Office to be circulated to employers for employment opportunities in their fields. Employers regularly contact us about our graduates. In addition, our Career Services Office contacts employers to develop job leads. A strong relationship with employers exists as a result of our training students to meet the needs of industry. No school can, and 乌鸦传媒 does not, guarantee to its graduates鈥� employment or a specific starting salary.
14. Where will job opportunities exist?
    Graduates have obtained employment in the local area. However, one of the most exciting aspects of this program is the ability to look nationally for employment opportunities.
15. Is the Occupational Therapy Assistant program accredited?
    The Occupational Therapy/Occupational Therapy Assistant Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814. ACOTE鈥橲 telephone number, c/o AOTA, is (310) 652-AOTA, and its web address is .(Se
16. Will this program prepare me for a national certification exam?
    Yes. Graduates of the program will be eligible to sit for the National Certification Examination for the Occupational Therapy Assistant, administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT庐). After successful completion of this exam, the graduate will be certified occupational therapy assistant (COTA). In addition, all states require licensure to practice; However, state licenses are usually based on the result of the NBCOT certification examination. A felony conviction may affect a graduate鈥檚 ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.
17. Does this program have a dress code?
    Appropriate attire will be required during your fieldwork training. Specific dress codes will be provided to you prior to the start of your fieldwork. It is understood that in a professional work environment, clothing must adhere to the standards of the profession and be practical to allow the individual to carry on his/her job responsibilities.
18. What is an Occupational Therapy Assistant?
    An Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) is an integral member of the health care delivery team who provides direct patient care under the supervision of a registered occupational therapist. The OTA works with individuals of all ages to prevent deficits and maintain or improve function in activities of daily living, work and play/leisure. Recipients of Occupational Therapy (OT) services may be individuals who have been affected by disease, trauma, physical, psychological, cognitive or sensorimotor deficits.
19. Who employs Occupational Therapy Assistants?
    OTAs serve a diverse population in a variety of settings such as hospitals and clinics, rehabilitation facilities, long-term care facilities, extended care facilities, schools and camps, home health care agencies, private practices, industrial medicine centers and wellness clinics.
20. What type of tasks are done by an Occupational Therapy Assistant?
    Occupational Therapy Assistants:
    • assist with data collection and evaluation of a client/patient referred for services, under the supervision of the Registered Occupational Therapist (OTR)
    • develop treatment goals under the supervision of the OTR
    • implement and coordinate an intervention plan under the supervision of an OTR
    • provide direct service that follows a documented routine and accepted procedure under the supervision of an OTR: examples include exercises, modalities to improve physical skills
    • train in activities of daily living such as feeding, dressing, bathing and household tasks
    • use of activities to promote improvement in psychosocial skills
    • cognitive, perceptual, sensorimotor treatment and activities
    • adaptation to the environment, or prescribing adaptive equipment to enhance an individual鈥檚 function
    • communicate and interact with other team members and the individual鈥檚 family or caregivers in collaboration with the OTR
    • maintain treatment area, equipment, and supply inventory as required
    • maintain records and documentation required by the work setting under the supervision of the OTR.
21. Will I actually have the opportunity to practice these skills in a real professional environment while still in school?
    Yes. The OTA Program will provide you with a treatment laboratory. During course work and laboratory training, you will have the opportunity to practice skills used by the OTA in treatment settings. Level I and Level II Fieldwork training will further your opportunity to experience the duties you will someday practice on your own.
22. How much time will I spend in practice settings while still in school?
    Fieldwork training is provided in two parts during your academic program. Level I Fieldwork takes place during the second and fourth academic terms. The primary goal in Level I Fieldwork is to observe and to practice occupational therapy skills. The course requires that you attend an off-campus facility, selected by the university.Both of the two Level II Fieldwork courses run for 8 weeks, and are full time work experiences, typically at two different facilitites. You will have 16 total weeks of Fieldwork. During each experience, you will apply the knowledge you gained through your classroom and laboratory course work in direct 鈥渉ands on鈥� treatments within actual clinical environments.Fieldwork is off campus in settings such as hospitals, nursing homes, schools, outpatient clinics, and a variety of community-based settings. The Academic Fieldwork Coordinator (AFWC) will assist you in selecting your Fieldwork sites. An Occupational Therapy practitioner working at the facility will be assigned as your fieldwork supervisor.
23. If I am unable to complete the entire sequence of Level II Fieldwork Training, full time, as outlined in the curriculum, will there be alternative options available to me?
    Yes. The Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) allows for Level II Fieldwork training to be completed within a reasonable period of time, following completion of academic classroom preparation. Students unable to complete a Level II Fieldwork training due to illness, or other unforeseen problems, will be given the opportunity to extend the time necessary to complete the fieldwork training, provided it is completed within an 18-month time-frame adopted by the 乌鸦传媒 OTA program.
24. What is the current job market for an OTA graduate?
    The core OTA curriculum for the OTA program prepares its graduates to explore multiple employment opportunities including, but not limited to employment in
    • Acute Care Hospitals
    • Long Term Care Facilities
    • Mental Health Facilities
    • Substance Abuse Facilities
    • Transitional Living Programs
    • Supported Housing
    • Schools
    • Early Intervention Programs
    • Wellness Clinics
    • Outpatient Facilities
    • Private Practice
    • Rehabilitation Centers
    • Day Treatment Centers
    • Industrial Rehabilitation Centers
    • Adult Day Care Programs

     

    In addition, graduates are prepared to pursue advanced degrees in a variety of health careers. Please be aware that the transferability of courses is always up to the institution to which the student is transferring. 乌鸦传媒 offers a graduate degree for COTAs to pursue an MSOT to become an Occupational Therapist.

25. Is licensure required to practice as a certified occupational therapy assistant?
    Yes. Graduates of the program will be eligible to sit for the National Certification Examination for the Occupational Therapy Assistant, administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT庐). After successful completion of this exam, the graduate will be certified occupational therapy assistant (COTA). In addition, all states require licensure to practice; However, state licenses are usually based on the result of the NBCOT certification examination. A felony conviction may affect a graduate鈥檚 ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure. Rhode Island requires a license to practice as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant.
26. Where do I go for the Level I and Level II Fieldwork Training?
    Will those sites be provided for me or must I find a site on my own? The university has developed affiliation agreements with occupational therapy practitioners and facilities within Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. Sites will be assigned as available to complete your Level I and Level II Fieldwork training. Students are welcome to recommend a potential Level II training site of interest, and the fieldwork coordinator will make every effort to obtain a fieldwork contract. Students will be encouraged to be active participants in the selection of their fieldwork training.
27. Do I need to maintain a certain grade point average?
    Yes. You are required to maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.33 throughout the program. In order to advance to the next term, a grade of C+ or better in the technical subjects, and a grade of C (73%) or better in every BIO, AHS, EN, and MA course, must be attained. Students are allowed to repeat a maximum of 3 required (excluding Level II Fieldwork) courses, only once, prior to withdrawal from the OTA program. Failure to maintain this level of achievement will result in dismissal from the OTA program. This excludes Level II fieldwork, which has a maximum of 3 placements allowed in total.
28. Are there any additional costs/activities associated with this program?
    Besides uniforms and textbooks, the student will be required to have a complete physical exam, immunizations and other testing. Personal negligence and malpractice insurance is also required by affiliating facilities where internships are scheduled. A course in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is required some time before the 2nd academic term through the American Heart Association (CPR -C, Healthcare Provider Course). All students are required to obtain three doses of Hepatitis Vaccine and a positive titer before participating in clinical placement. An opportunity for obtaining these shots on campus, at no additional cost, will be made available to students through Occupational Health and Rehabilitation, Inc. There is a fee for the National Certification Examination (approximately $550.00). All costs associated with travel for Fieldwork Training are the sole responsibility of the student. As of July 2022, students will be assessed a one-time fee of $37.45 for EXXAT, which is a fieldwork management system.
29. Must I attend classes during the summer 6-week intersession?
    The liberal arts courses need to be completed by Term 5. This may include having to take up to two liberal arts courses during Intersession.
30. Are there any behavior standards for this program?
    OTA students are expected to exhibit professional behavior. This will be assessed on a continual basis and will encompass not only grades but also adherence to classroom protocol, laboratory and clinic safety, attendance, participation and preparedness for class, appearance and ability to work as a team member. Development of professional values and attitudes is inherent in the curriculum, and students will be expected to exhibit such behavior to assure a placement in clinical fieldwork sites.
31. Do I need to have a Criminal Background check?
    The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) requires all healthcare facilities which they accredit to perform criminal background checks on students. Prior to entering fieldwork, students will be required to undergo a criminal background check. In addition to the criminal background check required by the Joint Commission, some clinical sites may also require a national criminal background check. It will be necessary for students to sign a Consent and Disclaimer permitting 乌鸦传媒 to perform a criminal background check and a Release and Authorization permitting 乌鸦传媒 to disclose the results of the criminal background check to a clinical site where the student is being considered for placement. If a background check reveals any criminal convictions, the student may be disqualified from a clinical placement or employment in the field. Students assume the cost for all background checks. Some facilities may also require a drug screen prior to accepting a student for Fieldwork. 乌鸦传媒 makes no guarantee that once a student is matriculated, the student will be able to attend any fieldwork training setting, sit for the national certification or gain licensure if the student has a prior criminal conviction. This is the student鈥檚 responsibility to discover what they must do to manage a positive criminal background investigation.
32. Is the COVID vaccination required for the OTA program?
    Students must adhere to current 乌鸦传媒 institutional and CDC guidelines regarding COVID-19 exposure protocols and positive test reporting. In the event of a COVID-19 outbreak, fieldwork sites may temporarily suspend operations, which could impact fieldwork completion timelines and program end dates. Students are responsible for staying informed of current guidelines and complying with all institutional and fieldwork site-specific COVID-19 policies throughout their academic and fieldwork experiences.The OTA program fieldwork sites have different COVID-19 vaccination requirements than the university鈥檚 requirements. The fieldwork sites have a responsibility to their employees and patients to minimize the risk of exposure to the COVID-19 virus. Therefore, all fieldwork sites require OTA students to provide proof that they have received the COVID-19 vaccination along with one booster. If a student chooses not to be vaccinated, the OTA program may not be able to assign a student a fieldwork site. This will delay degree progress and/or prevent the student from completing the program. Fieldwork sites may have exemptions for their employees; however, most fieldwork sites do not accept exemptions from students as they are guests at their facility.If a fieldwork site has exemption requirements, it is the student鈥檚 responsibility to submit any required documents and follow the fieldwork site’s COVID-19 protocol. It is up to the fieldwork site to grant or deny the exemption based on the documentation provided by the student. The university has no control over policies mandated by the fieldwork sites. Students may not know if their exemption is approved by a clinical site prior to the start of the term.If an exemption is granted, individuals may also be asked to complete regular COVID-19 testing, often on a weekly basis. Additional PPE protocols may also be required. The student will assume responsibility for any additional costs associated with the exemption protocols. The failure to comply with the fieldwork sites policies with regard to vaccination and/or exemption requirements will result in being dismissed from the OTA program.OTA students are placed at different fieldwork sites during their time in the program depending on the term. The student will need to apply for an exemption at each fieldwork site they are assigned to. In the event the exemption is denied, the OTA student will be unable to complete the OTA program.

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Technical Standards

In addition to the acquisition of the appropriate knowledge in the sciences and humanities, the faculty of the 乌鸦传媒 Institute of Technology Occupational Therapy Assistant Program are committed to the education of all qualified individuals. The essential requirements for the successful completion of an Associate Degree in Occupational Therapy Assistant are described below. The student needs to demonstrate the following skills and abilities, with or without reasonable accommodation. When a student鈥檚 ability to perform is compromised, the student must demonstrate alternative means and/or abilities to perform the essential functions of the occupational therapy student described below.

Frequency Key: O = Occasionally (1-33%); F = Frequently (34-66%); C = Constantly (67-100%)**

** Note: Some frequencies will vary based on setting