Occupational therapy is the profession for individuals who enjoy solving challenging problems that help people of all ages overcome physical, developmental, mental and/or emotional disabilities and achieve independence; you will find many opportunities in the field of occupational therapy. The need for therapists will grow well into the 21st century, reflecting the importance of function, prevention of disability, and promotion of health. The Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA), under the supervision of a registered Occupational Therapist, uses therapeutic activities to help people with an illness or disability live healthy, productive lives. Therapy is functional, purposeful, and individualized for each client. In the classroom, students experience simulated and actual clinical activities. Students will learn vital skills to safely work with people with many types of abilities, disabilities, and functional challenges.
American Occupational Therapy Association Vision 2025
As an inclusive profession, occupational therapy maximizes health, well-being, and quality of life for all people, populations, and communities through effective solutions that facilitate participation in everyday living. (AOTA, 2017)
[https://www.aota.org/about/mission-vision]
Admission Requirements
General college admission requirement:
- High School Diploma including general education core.
Program requirements: (all located in the OTA Admission Packet located on RVCC website: https://www.rivervalley.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/OTA-Program-Admissions-2024.pdf):
- Demonstration of knowledge of the field of occupational therapy through flexible pathways (more information available in the OTA Application packet)
- Signed Essential Skills Agreement
- Signed Licensure/Liability Agreement
- A pre-admissions advising appointment with the Program Director after all program and college application materials are submitted.
Curriculum Grading and Progression Through Program
Students who earn less than a “B-” (80%) grade for any professional course must repeat that course. Students who repeat the course for the second time and earn less than a “B-grade will be suspended from the program for one semester. Students who earn less than a “C” (73%) grade for any liberal arts course must repeat that course. Students who repeat the course for a second time and earn less than a “C” grade should refer to the Student Handbook policy. At selected points in the curriculum. Students must pass a comprehensive examination in order to progress.
Curriculum Flexibility
The curriculum may be completed in two to three years. A curriculum plan is individualized for each student and done so with the OTA Program Director. All students must complete the curriculum within a three year period from the date of their matriculation.
Criminal Background History: Consideration for Applicants
OTA Students with Criminal Backgrounds Students are asked about their criminal background on their Lackawanna College application. Background checks are required for all OTA students and are completed in the first semester of the program. If a student has answered the application question dishonestly he/she will be investigated by the director of public safety and will be dismissed from the OTA program and/or Lackawanna College. However, if a student with a criminal background answers the question honestly, a criminal background check will be conducted upon admission and the director of public safety will determine the student’s fitness for the college. If the student is determined to be of low risk to the college, his/her criminal background will not interfere with his/her acceptance to the college. A student, with a criminal background, accepted into the OTA program may have difficulty being placed for Level II Fieldwork. Some fieldwork sites have policies forbidding the placing of students with certain criminal backgrounds in their settings. It is important for the OTA academic fieldwork coordinator to be aware of any student with a criminal background so efforts may be made, sooner than later, to establish for him or her, a fieldwork site.
OTA Students Previously Convicted of a Felony or Other Serious Crime Taking and passing the national certification exam is mandatory for practicing occupational therapy in the United States. States require OT practitioners to be licensed. A passing score on the certification exam is typically a requirement to secure an OT/OTA state license. Prospective students who have been convicted of felonies and/or other serious crimes (as defined by NBCOT) may not be eligible to take the national certification exam to become an Occupational Therapy Practitioner.
As of January 1, 2019, the NBCOT will implement its Policy for Presumptive Denial. Exam candidates who do not meet NBCOT eligibility requirements have the right to appeal any decision made by the NBCOT.
NBCOT Presumptive Denial Policy URL: https://www.nbcot.org/-/media/NBCOT/PDFs/Presumptive_Denial_Policy.ashx NBCOT Early Determination Review Any potential or current OTA student concerned about his/her future eligibility to take the certification exam, as it relates to his or her criminal background may participate in NBCOT’s Early Determination Review. NBCOT Early Determination Review Payment Form URL: https://www.nbcot.org/-/media/NBCOT/PDFs/early-determination-review-paymentform.ashx?la=en
Program Accreditation
The associate-degree-level occupational therapy assistant program has applied for Re-Activation of Accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA).
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Graduates of the program will be able to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapy assistant administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA). Most states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based upon the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination.