OTC’s Occupational Therapy Assistant program prepares students for generalized practice under the supervision of an occupational therapist. Occupational therapy assistants (OTAs) help clients of all ages return to their daily activities by using meaningful, occupation-based activities to improve health and wellness. An OTA may act as an educator, an advocate, a coach, an inventor or a motivator—often all at once.

In this program, students will learn to apply specific assessment and treatment procedures, understand common clinical conditions in therapy, and analyze activities and create adaptations to encourage client participation in everyday activities. They will also learn how to work as part of an occupational therapy team and the role that OTAs have in supporting the other members. Graduates will earn an Associate of Applied Science in Occupational Therapy Assistant degree.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that it expects the employment outlook for OTAs to increase much faster than average for all occupations. There are many different employment options for OTA program graduates. For instance, hospitals, long-term care facilities, school systems or community agencies all offer careers in this field.

The 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 telephone number, c/o AOTA, is (301) 652-AOTA, and its web address is www.acoteonline.org.