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 administer specific OT assessments, select and implement client-centered interventions, understand common clinical conditions, and create adaptations to tasks or the environment to encourage client participation in their life roles. A COTA might help a client with activities of daily living, play, work, or educational tasks they need or want to do. Students will also learn how to work as part of an occupational therapy team and will understand the role that COTAs in leadership and advocacy within the profession. 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.