This program is designed to prepare students to work as occupational therapy assistants in a variety of delivery systems, including, but not limited to: acute care hospitals, rehabilitation centers, developmental centers, school systems, long-term care facilities and community-based programs. Occupational therapy personnel assess, utilize and adapt everyday occupations to improve daily living skills, promote health and wellness, and enhance independence in the daily occupations of the clients. The COTA provides intervention strategies under the supervision of a registered occupational therapist.
Students are provided with a knowledge base in occupational therapy theory and practice with a variety of diagnosis and conditions that limit human function. Laboratory experiences enhance skills and techniques used to promote function in daily living skills. Opportunity to integrate knowledge and skill in the practice of occupational therapy is provided through two levels of fieldwork. Level I fieldwork is scheduled during the didactic portion of the program, and Level II fieldwork of 16 weeks is completed within 18 months of the academic portion of the program. Specific immunizations, CPR certification and criminal background checks are required. All expenses incurred during fieldwork are the responsibility of the student.
The OTA program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education of the American Occupational Therapy Association, located at 4720 Montgomery Lane, PO Box 31220, Bethesda, MD 20824-1220. ACOTE's phone number at AOTA is (301) 652-2682. 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. After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant. In addition, most states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination.
Completed application for the federal, North Dakota and Minnesota Criminal Background checks will be required upon entry to the program. A previous felony conviction may affect fieldwork placements. The applicant must visit with the department chair and fieldwork coordinator regarding this issue if it applies.
When the candidate makes application to take the certification examination, a series of questions regarding felony conviction will be asked. A felony conviction may affect a graduate's ability to sit for the NBCOT Certification Examination or attain a state license. Further information regarding this issue can be obtained from NBCOT at 12 S. Summit Avenue, Suite 100, Gaithersburg, MD 20877-4150. The phone number is (301) 990-7979.
Beth Schlepp, department chair
elizabeth.schlepp@ndscs.edu
1-800-342-4325, ext. 3-2982 or 701-671-2982
Patti Wells, administrative assistant
alliedhealthcareers@ndscs.edu
1-800-342-4325, ext. 3-2981 or 701-671-2981
| Course Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| OTA 101 | Introduction to Occupational Therapy | 3 |
| OTA 102 | Behavioral Health: Theory/Practice Children and Adolescents | 2 |
| OTA 111 | Introduction to Muscle Function | 1 |
| OTA 112 | Documentation | 2 |
| OTA 113 | Physical Disabilities: Theory/Practice | 5 |
| OTA 120 | Medical Terminology | 2 |
| OTA 121 | Disability Awareness | 1 |
| OTA 141 | Therapeutic Media | 2 |
| OTA 152 | Fieldwork Level I - Experience I | 1 |
| OTA 214 | Pediatrics-Theory/Practice | 5 |
| OTA 215 | Behavioral Health: Theory/Practice Adults | 3 |
| OTA 216 | Professional Issues | 2 |
| OTA 217 | Orientation to Fieldwork Level II | 1 |
| OTA 218 | Aging | 2 |
| OTA 219 | Community Models of OT Practice | 2 |
| OTA 253 | Fieldwork Level I - Experience II | 1 |
| OTA 254 | Fieldwork Level II - Experience I | 6 |
| OTA 255 | Fieldwork Level II - Experience II | 6 |
| OTA 256 | Seminar | 1 |
| Related/General Education Courses | ||
| BIOL 115 | Human Structure and Function | 3 |
| BIOL 115L | Human Structure and Function Lab | 1 |
| COMM 110 | Fundamentals of Public Speaking | 3 |
| ENGL 110 | College Composition I | 3 |
| PSYC 100 | Human Relations in Organizations | 2 |
| PSYC 250 | Developmental Psychology | 3 |
| PSYC 270 | Abnormal Psychology | 3 |
| SOC 110 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| **Wellness elective | 3 | |
| TOTAL REQUIRED CREDITS | 72 | |
| **Recommended: HPER 217 Personal and Community Health or NUTR 240 Principles of Nutrition (and Diet Therapy) | ||
| Optional Courses | ||
| OTA 241 | Therapeutic Media: Teaching Assistant (2) | |
| OTA 220 | Teaching Assistant - Medical Terminology (2) | |
| Suggested sequence of study (this sequence may be extended to six or more semesters after discussion with advisor) | ||
| First Semester | Second Semester | |
| OTA 101 | OTA 102 | |
| OTA 111 | OTA 112 | |
| OTA 120 | OTA 113 | |
| OTA 121 | OTA 141 | |
| BIOL 115 | OTA 152 | |
| BIOL 115L | PSYC 270 | |
| ENGL 110 | Wellness elective | |
| PSYC 250 | ||
| Summer Semester | ||
| PSYC 100 | ||
| COMM 110 | ||
| SOC 110 | ||
| Third Semester | Fourth Semester | |
| OTA 214 | OTA 254 | |
| OTA 215 | OTA 255 | |
| OTA 216 | OTA 256 | |
| OTA 217 | ||
| OTA 218 | ||
| OTA 219 | ||
| OTA 253 | ||
The applicants must be high school graduates or equivalent. Helpful courses to prepare for this program include: basic sciences, biology or anatomy, social sciences, psychology and communication skills, including computer literacy. It is highly recommended that the applicant arrange a visit to an occupational therapy clinic, do volunteer work or be employed in a setting serving clients frequently referred to occupational therapy.
Applicants may be required to complete a basic skills evaluation during the admissions process. Applicants are encouraged to visit the NDSCS OTA program. Applicants must be able to perform essential functions for OTA students as listed on the NDSCS OTA Web site. Applicants with a completed application will be accepted until program capacity is reached. Once program capacity has been reached, applicants will be placed on a waiting list and will be accepted into the program as space becomes available.
Upon successful completion of the required courses, students will be awarded an Associate in Applied Science degree in Occupational Therapy Assistant and will be eligible to take the National Certification Examination for Occupational Therapy Assistants.
Occupational therapy has been named one of the nation’s 150 best recession-proof jobs and one of the 50 fastest growing recession-proof jobs according to Laurence Shatkin’s, Ph.D., newly released “150 Best Recession-Proof Jobs” (JIST, 2008).
