Occupational Therapy Assistant

Degrees

Program Information

Program Director: Debra A. Chasanoff, M.Ed., OTR/L
Contact the OTA Program at: (941) 752-5346

The Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) Program prepares graduates to function as members of the health care team. Working under the supervision of a registered occupational therapist, the OTA assists individuals of all age groups to acquire, improve or regain independent living skills. Program graduates will be responsible for assisting with evaluations and setting of treatment goals, implementation of treatment plans, evaluation of treatment effectiveness, maintenance of client records and assisting with service management. The OTA is able to work in a variety of practice areas including, but not limited to, pediatrics, physical disabilities and mental health.

The program combines coursework at SCF with selected clinical experiences in both Manatee and Sarasota counties.

What is Occupational Therapy?

Occupational therapy is a health care profession that uses occupations as treatment to assist individuals of all ages and abilities to engage in activities that are meaningful to their lives and foster independence, equality, participation, security health and well being. Occupational therapy can be beneficial to individuals across the lifespan who have developmental or physical disabilities, emotional or mental illness, or disabilities related to the aging process. Occupational therapy practitioners are employed in a variety of work environments including hospitals, rehabilitation & developmental centers, schools, home health, and hospice agencies, community mental health facilities, assisted living and extended care facilities.

What Does an Occupational Therapy Assistant Do?

Certified occupational therapy assistants (COTA) are skilled health care providers who work under the supervision of a registered occupational therapist (OTR). The COTA assists in the evaluation of a client's physical, intellectual, perceptual and psychosocial skills and needs. Other duties include evaluating the client's ability to carry out the activities of daily living and designing a specific treatment program for the individual. COTAs also instruct and supervise clients and their families in the use of occupations/activities to develop, prevent deterioration in or restore self-care, work and leisure performance capabilities.

Additional responsibilities include recording observations and the client's progress toward meeting individual goals and reporting information to supervisors and other health team members. COTAs also assist in ordering and maintaining supplies and equipment needed fo the implementation of occupational therapy programs, as well as supervise students during fieldwork experiences.

OTA Application Information

OTA Program will be accepting applications for Fall 2014 from January 6, 2013 to March 1, 2014.

The Associate in Applied Science A.A.S. degree currently is being reviewed at the state level with the probability it will no longer be available effective Fall 2013. The OTA Program will now only offer the Associate in Science (AS) . Students completing MAT 1033 will be considered for admission for Fall 2013, however the Mathematics (Area II AS) requirement must be completed prior to the start of Fall 2014 semester.

The OTA program will not be offering the AAS degree after May 2014 (graduation). We will continue to offer the AS degree for the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program. All students entering the program as of Fall 2013 will need to meet the requirements for the AS degree prior to graduation. Students accepted into the OTA program after Fall 2013 will need to meet the requirements for the AS degree prior to acceptance in the program.

Student must apply/reapply every year. (There is no waiting list for the OTA program)

Approximate Cost of OTA Program
OTA Curriculum

The Occupational Therapy Assistant Program, a two-year Associate in Science degree 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, Maryland 20814-3449. AOTA's phone number is (301) 652-AOTA. Graduates of the program will be eligible to take the national certification examination of the occupational therapy assistant administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of the exam, the individual will be a certified occupational therapy assistant (COTA). Most states also require licensure in order to practice, however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate's ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.

Announcements/Workshops/Open House

SCF Occupational Therapy Assistant Program Hosts Open House Thursday, April 4^th.

State College of Florida (SCF) Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program will host an Open House from 5:30-7:30 Thursday, April 4th in building #28, 5840 26th St. West, SCF Bradenton campus.

Visitors will have an opportunity to tour the OTA teaching/learning laboratory that offers a unique hands-on-environment, outfitted with state of the art therapy equipment.　

Faculty members will be present to discuss, the profession of Occupational Therapy, SCF-OTA program, career opportunities, job mobility, work settings and salaries. Currently enrolled students also will be on hand to offer their insight, as well as an adviser from enrollment services to assist, with the college application process.

Refreshments will be served and there will be a drawing for prizes.　

For additional information about the Open House call (941) 752-5346.

OTA / PTA Job Fair: April 11, 2013

The Job Fair is for existing and past students of the Occupational and Physical Therapy Assistant Programs as well as fieldwork educators. For more information regarding the job fair please call (941) 752-5346.

Mother's Day Gifts

SCF Occupational Therapy Assistant Club is collecting travel size toiletries to Mother's day gifts for moms in local women's shelters in Pinellas, Bradenton, Sarasota, and Hillsborough counties.

Suggested donations include:

Shampoo/Conditioner
Soap/Body Wash
Toothpaste/Toothbrush/Dental Floss
Lotions/Sunscreen
Deodorant
Powder

Donation box is located in Building 28. For more information please contact Debbie Chasanoff at (941-)752-5346

Program brochures are available at the OTA Program office, Health Science Division Office and student services at the Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch and Venice campus.

For more information about the program, please contact the OTA Program at 941-752-5346 or email chasand@scf.edu

The American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc.
4720 Montgomery Lane
Bethesda, Maryland 20814-3449
Phone: (301) 652-2682
TDD: 800-377-8555
Fax: 301-652-7711
www.aota.org
www.aotaonline.org

NBCOT
800 South Frederick Ave., Suite 200
Gaithersburg, MD 20877-4150
(302) 990-7979
www.nbcot.org

Florida Department of Health Board of Occupational Therapy Practice
2020 Capital Circle SE, BIN #C05
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3255
(850) 487-2098

Florida Occupational Therapy Association
P. O. Box 5606
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 3310
(954) 840-FOTA (3682)
www.fota.org

This page is maintained by The OTA Department Staff