Occupational Therapy Assistant, A.S.

The Associate of Science in Occupational Therapy Assistant program prepares graduates to care for clients who are limited by a physical illness or injury, an emotional disorder, a developmental disability or the aging process. Working under the supervision of an occupational therapist, an occupational therapy assistant uses functional, meaningful occupations, and therapeutic modalities as methods of treatment. Therapy focuses on assisting clients in regaining or maintaining independence in everyday life skills. Specific techniques that an occupational therapy assistant may utilize include training in activities of daily living, adapting home, work and school environments, vocational, training and therapeutic use of functional activities.

The Occupational Therapy Assistant programs core courses are primarily offered on evenings and weekends. The program must be completed in a cohort model. Students should be advised and make arrangements early in their coursework to accommodate the full-time requirement of Academic Fieldwork along with the responsibility of providing their own transportation. OTA 100  FWIA, OTA 218  FWIB, OTA 250  and OTA 260  Advanced Fieldwork Level IIA and IIB are all completed during the day as required by clinical sites. Level II fieldwork courses in your final semester are completed on a full-time basis. A part-time option is not available.

Admission Requirements

It is important to note that not all qualified candidates can be offered admission to the Occupational Therapy Assistant program due to the limited number of seats available. All occupational therapy assistant prerequisite and general education requirements must be completed prior to beginning the program. Any submitted applications that do not meet the requirements will not be considered for admission.

Candidates will be accepted based on the following outlined requirements listed below:

1. Complete the application for admission into Goodwin University. Applicants to the Occupational Therapy Assistant program must first meet the requirement for admission and be accepted into Goodwin University.
2. Complete the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program application. Applicants must include:
   1. Official high school transcript or General Equivalency Diploma/HiSET. (An official Bachelor’s or Master’s degree transcript, with a date of completion/graduation, can be accepted in lieu of a high school transcript.)
   2. Official college transcripts, if applicable.
3. Applicants must also have a cumulative 2.7 GPA in the last twelve college credits taken or on high school transcripts if no college courses have been taken.
4. Provide documentation of observation of occupational therapy in any specialty area. Observation must include 8 hours in the prior 12 months. 
5. Occupational Therapy Assistant applicants who have satisfied all the admission criteria will be required to interview with the Program Director and complete a personal essay before admission.

Point System

Occupational Therapy students who have satisfied all of the admission criteria will be selected according to the point system specified below:

Admission Requirements:		Score
Previous College Education
Associate Degree or > (60 Credits)		3
Bachelor’s Degree		4
Master’s Degree		5
Completion of Courses at Goodwin University
1 course		1
2 courses		2
3 courses		3
4 courses		4
5 courses		5
Cumulative GPA (minimum 12 credits)
2.7 - 3.0		1
3.1 - 3.4		2
3.5 - 3.6		3
3.7 - 3.8		4
3.9 - 4.0		5
Personal Essay/Interview		10
Total Possible Points		25*

*Acceptance to the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program is based on the applicant scoring 17 points or higher on the Interview Rubric. Points obtained on the interview is a part of the total specific point system for acceptance into the program.

Accepted Students

1. All prerequisite courses must be completed prior to the start of the OTA program. 
2. Official college transcripts, if applicable, must be submitted with application to assure appropriate transfer of credits and prerequisite requirements are met.
3. Completion of BIO 211 - Anatomy & Physiology I within the last five years with a minimum grade of a “C” or higher.  
4. All students must successfully pass a background check, drug test and DCF check before official acceptance into the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program will be granted. Forms are provided by program personnel.
5. Additional documentation required:

Immunization Records and Statement of General Health:

Admitted students must submit a medical examination report by a physician which describes the student’s physical and emotional health. All required immunizations, including the Hepatitis B vaccine series, must be completed before the start of the fieldwork and must remain current while in the program. Additional health requirements may need to be met, based on the requirements of each individual fieldwork site.

Required Medical and Legal Documentation:

• CPR certification prior to first FW I rotation and throughout the program
• Fingerprinting (if required by FW site)
• Annual updates: Physical Exam, 2 Step PPD, Flu vaccine
• Varicella, MMR and Hepatitis B
• Tetanus less than 7 years old, or booster if over.

Required Insurance:

It is the student’s responsibility to maintain current malpractice insurance and health insurance coverage. Failure to do so will prevent the student from participating in their advanced academic fieldwork experience.

Malpractice insurance can be obtained at the following websites:

• http://www.hpso.com/
• https://www.proliability.com

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of all program requirements, graduates will be able to:

1. Sit for the National Certification Exam.
2. Demonstrate the ability to apply, analyze, and evaluate clinical information relevant to their role as an occupational therapy assistant.
3. Demonstrate the clinical skills and proficiency in all relevant practice areas necessary to fulfill the role as an entry-level occupational therapy assistant.
4. Demonstrate professional behavior consistent with employer expectations for the occupational therapy assistant.
5. Demonstrate professional skills to begin work in any one of the specialty areas of occupational therapy practice with the general and specific tools necessary to complete the job requirements.
6. Apply the scope of occupational therapy practice.
7. Apply the comprehensive learning outcomes identified within each syllabus.
8. Apply the comprehensive learning outcomes identified with the General Education Component.

Occupational Therapy Assistant Program Policies

Policies specific to the Occupational Therapy Assistant program may be found in the Occupational Therapy Assistant Student Handbook and Fieldwork Guide.

Graduation Requirements

Students must complete all the general graduation requirements as stated in the catalog. Students must complete the following programmatic graduation requirements:

1. Complete all Occupational Therapy Assistant core courses with a minimum grade of “C+”.
2. Complete BIO 211  or equivalent, with a minimum grade of “C”.
3. Fieldwork IIA and IIB must be completed within 18 months of completion of all academic coursework.