Occupational Therapy Assistant

Programs

Associate in Applied Science Degree

The OTA courses have both lecture and hands-on laboratory components. Portions of the lecture section of some OTA courses are web-based. During the program, students will develop entry-level competencies necessary to provide services to persons of all ages who have functional loss due to physical, neurological, social/emotional, cognitive, or developmental disabilities.

The Associate in Applied Science degree in occupational therapy assistant is offered at two community colleges through the Southern Illinois Collegiate Common Market. Twelve students are admitted from each college for an entering total of twenty-five. Admitted students take general education courses on their own campuses and OTA courses together in a central laboratory. After classes and the fieldwork internship are completed, they graduate at their entering college.

The profession tailors rehabilitation individually for each client. Through evaluation and treatment, it seeks to restore or improve function in occupational performance. Treatment is provided within the context of the client’s life environments and relationships. Occupation may be defined as the ordinary things people do each day to work, to play, and to take care of themselves. Occupational therapy is based on the idea that our personal identity and feeling of value is closely tied to what we are able to do. We all choose many “occupational” roles that are important to us and make us excited to engage in life. When our function becomes impaired, we may lose both our independence and sense of self-worth.

The practice of OT utilizes the therapeutic use of purposeful and meaningful occupations in treatment, as well as focusing on these occupations as the goal of treatment. OT intervention may include restoration of performance abilities; instruction in compensatory techniques; adaptation of tasks, processes, or environments; disability prevention techniques; and health promotion strategies. Occupational therapy assistants, under the supervision of an occupational therapist, will work directly with persons to achieve maximum level of independent living by developing the capacities that remain after disease, accident, or other disability.

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What You Can Do

An occupational therapy assistant (OTA) provides services to persons of all ages who have functional loss due to physical, neurological, social/emotional, cognitive, or developmental disabilities.

OT serves a diverse population in a wide variety of settings such as hospitals; clinics; facilities for rehabilitation, extended, and long-term care; sheltered workshops; schools; camps; private homes; physicians’ offices; community programs; and private practice.

Jobs

Occupational Therapy Assistant

Earning Potential

View the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor for Occupational Therapy Assistants at Occupational Therapy Assistants and Aides : Occupational Outlook Handbook: : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (bls.gov)

Modes of Instruction
Learn more about the modes of instruction offered at John A. Logan College.

Program Details

OTA0094

FIRST YEAR – FALL SEMESTER

BIO 205 – Human Anatomy and Physiology I is a prerequisite for this program.

HIT 217	Medical Terminology	3
ENG 101	English Composition I	3
OTA 110	Clinical Observation	2
OTA 130	Introduction to Occupational Therapy	2
OTA 131	Disease and Impact on Occupation	3
OTA 132	Occupational Development	1
OTA 210	Occupational Therapy Theory I	4
		18

FIRST YEAR – SPRING SEMESTER

BIO 206	Human Anatomy and Physiology II	4
OTA 112	Activities of Daily Living	3
OTA 120	Occupational Therapeutic Media	3
OTA 122	Occupational Therapy Group Process	2
OTA 133	Clinical Rotation I	1
OTA 134	OT in Physical Disabilities	3
PSY 132	General Psychology	3
		19

FIRST YEAR – SUMMER SEMESTER

MAT 120	OR MAT 119 Elementary Statistics OR MAT 104 Mathematics for Allied Health	3
COM 115	Speech	3
		6

SECOND YEAR – FALL SEMESTER

OTA 200	Psychosocial Therapy and Practice	3
OTA 205	Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics	4
OTA 230	Clinical Rotation II	2
OTA 231	Occupational Therapy Theory II	1.5
OTA 232	Aging and Impact on Occupation	1.5
PSY 262	Child Psychology	3
		15

SECOND YEAR – SPRING SEMESTER

OTA 217	Fieldwork Experience I¹ (class meets 8 weeks)	4.5
OTA 218	Fieldwork Experience II¹ (class meets 8 weeks)	4.5
OTA 250	Occupational Therapy Administration	3
		12

Total Hours for Degree

Notes and Information

Students must maintain “C” overall average plus “C” or better in all OTA classes and all required general education classes.

Admission Requirements

Graduate from an approved high school, or demonstrate equivalent competency (G.E.D. examination).
Complete general admission procedures for John A. Logan College.
By March 31, file the following OTA application information with the admissions & Records Office at John A. Logan College:
– Completed OTA application form.
– Health Occupations Aptitude Test results.
– Official transcripts of previous college experience.
Achieve competitive level on a composite selection score for the College. The 12 top-scoring applicants are awarded admission. This score is based upon the Health Occupations Aptitude Examination–Revised test results and weighted grades for previous college coursework taken within, or transferring to, the occupational therapy assistant required curriculum.

The minimum general education component for the Associate in Applied Science degree requires satisfactory completion of at least 15 semester credits of coursework distributed over the disciplines of Communications, Mathematics, Arts and Humanities, Physical and Life Sciences, and Social and Behavioral Sciences. The curriculum guide for each Associate in Applied Science degree program will spell out the course requirements or options available for satisfying the general education component. With appropriate justification and in consultation with your academic advisor, a request to substitute a course for one recommended in this guide may be granted with the appropriate approvals from the Department Chair, Dean for Instruction and Vice-President for Instruction. However, no substitutions are allowed in Groups I-III (General Education Component; GECC) of the curriculum guide (see the Associate in Applied Science general degree requirements worksheet in the John A. Logan College Catalog).

Students planning to transfer and pursue a baccalaureate degree should, when given a choice, enroll in the general education course that is IAI GECC approved and articulated with participating Illinois institutions.

The Occupational Therapy Assistant AAS Program is a minimum of 70 credit hours. Please use our Tuition and Fees page to calculate your approximate cost.

*Students will be responsible for additional classroom materials and tools.

Official John A. Logan Bookstore Apparel, Merchandise & Gifts

The Occupational Therapy Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council
for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the

American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)

6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200
North Bethesda, Maryland 20852-4929
(301) 652-6611
accred@aota.org

Accreditation Status
The SICCM Occupational Therapy Assistant Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. ACOTE’s phone number c/o AOTA is 301-652-6611. Program graduates will qualify to sit for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc. (NBCOT) national certification examination. This is a computer-delivered examination. Successful completion of this exam confers the title of Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA). Illinois and most states additionally require licensure to practice, usually basing this on the NBCOT exam results. A felony conviction may adversely affect ability to sit for the NBCOT exam and/or attain state licensure.

Program learning outcomes information.