Occupational Therapy Assistant, A.A.S.

Degree: Associate in Applied Science
HEGIS Code: 5210
Curriculum Code: 665.OTA
Health Sciences Division

Pre-Admission Recommendations and/or Experience: Coursework in Anatomy & Physiology, English, Math, Psychology & Sociology. Volunteer experience in health care settings.

Career Opportunities: Hospitals, Inpatient & Outpatient Rehabilitation, Nursing Homes, Schools, Community Programs, Home Health & Mental Health, in addition to emerging practice settings.

Further Education: This degree prepares our graduates to pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees in occupational therapy and other related programs. 
 

Program Description Mission of SUNY Erie Community College Occupational Therapy Assistant Program Admission Requirements Accreditation Licensure Compliance Statement Graduation/Certification/Licensure Department Notes Program Competencies Curriculum

Program Description

There have been dramatic shifts in U.S. population as a result of an increased average life span. This phenomenon, along with advances in science, technology, wellness, and medicine has brought occupational therapy into the forefront of the healthcare field.  The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projected employment of occupational therapists to increase by 17% and of occupational therapy assistants to increase by 34% between 2020 and 2030.  United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics also reports a 2020 mean annual income of $63,420 for occupational therapy assistants.

The Occupational Therapy Assistant curriculum prepares entry-level occupational therapy assistants to work in community and institutional health care programs, providing direct and consultative occupational therapy services to individuals, groups, communities, and larger populations.  Our graduates are also employable in other health and human service related positions.

The Occupational Therapy Assistant curriculum combines Occupational Therapy Assistant and general education courses with selected laboratory experiences.  Program courses cover theory and application of theory, development across the lifespan (birth to death), wellness/prevention, therapeutic use of self, pediatric/adult/and older adult patient/client treatment as well as community and population services in physical disabilities and mental health, research, evidence-based practice, technology and documentation.  The Occupational-Therapy specific classes are complemented with general studies coursework in anatomy, physiology, psychology, sociology, and English composition.  Although the Occupational Therapy Assistant curriculum is designed to be completed in two academic years, students may take a longer time to fulfill their degree requirements, depending on individual circumstances.

In the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program, students receive instruction in theory and develop practical skills relating to occupational therapy through classroom, laboratory and fieldwork settings. Through second-year coursework, students participate in fieldwork practice settings to include general physical medicine and psychiatric centers, developmental disabilities, schools, nursing homes and community agencies. In these experiences, students work with and teach individual patients/clients or larger groups, communities, or even entire populations methods for engagement in self-care, work, play/leisure, education, social skills, rest/sleep, and home/community living skills.

Technical Ability Standards do exist for the OTA Program and they are a reality of the profession.  However, due to the diversity of occupational therapy practice areas, OTA Education lends itself toward attracting students of diverse abilities.  The SUNY Erie OTA Program is committed to the notion of dis-ABILITY as diversity.  Provided a student has the capacity to successfully navigate the program, graduate, and pass their certification exam, it is our goal to provide reasonable accommodations to facilitate every student’s success.  Please read, “Special Admission Requirements/Pre-requisites:  Technical Ability Standards,” as listed below for more information. 

Mission of SUNY Erie Community College Occupational Therapy Assistant Program

SUNY Erie Occupational Therapy Assistant Program embraces diversity and is student-focused with a commitment to student success by providing high-quality education that fosters professionalism, a passion for occupational therapy, and life-long learning.  We serve our students, the Occupational Therapy profession, and the community by graduating highly qualified occupational therapy assistants who meet the dynamic health care, human service, wellness, habilitation and rehabilitation employment demand in Western New York.  We prepare students to work in traditional and non-traditional/emerging areas of practice, to provide client-centered occupation-based interventions, and to use scientific evidence to guide decision making in ongoing practice.

Admission Requirements

ALL APPLICANTS:
The deadline for application to the OTA program is FEBRUARY 15th. By this date, all minimum admission requirements must be met, and all necessary parts of the online application must be submitted. 

All completed application packets will be reviewed, a decision will be made, and decisions will be rendered by mid to late April. This program is competitive, with only 24 seats for viable candidates. 

There is no admittance into the OTA program for the spring semester. However, students are encouraged to enroll in general education courses for degree completion prior to being accepted into the program (BI 150/151, BI 152/153, EN 100, MT 112 or higher, PS 100, PS 202, and SO 100). An OTA advisor can help with the selection of appropriate general education courses. 

NOTE: Students must acquire computer literacy skills prior to enrolling in OT 101 (either established through life experience or acquired through CS 101). 
 

ADMISSION CRITERIA:
The following are minimum requirements to be considered for the OTA program:

Minimum Grade Point Average:

• High School: 
  • 70% for High School students within 5 years of prospective admission.
  • Grade point to be verified by official transcript.
  • Should an individual only have high school GPA information older than 5 years, they must establish an undergraduate college GPA that includes OTA general education courses. 
• College:
  • Admission is based on a preference for applicants who have an overall GPA of 2.8 or above, within 5 years of prospective admission.
  • Grade point to be verified by official transcript(s).

ONLINE APPLICATION SUBMISSION MUST INCLUDE:

• A complete application, indicating OTA as program of choice for fall admission.
• Meeting all admissions department requirements. 
• Submission of two letters of recommendation.
• Completion and submission of virtual shadowing assignment. 

“Technical Ability Standards”

• “Technical ability standards” for the Erie Community College Occupational Therapy Assistant Student are essential functions or abilities required to meet the physical and intellectual demands of an OTA student while participating in the program.  Technical ability standards can be met with or without reasonable accommodations. 
• Essential Functions as needed for typical program success:

CAPABILITY CATEGORY	SPECIFIC SKILL OR ABILITY
Motor Capability	Move from room to room and maneuver in small spaces.
	Transfer patients who may require physical assistance.
	Guard and assist patients with ambulation.
	Perform exercise techniques, including applying resistance during exercise.  Therapeutically handle patients.
	Lift and carry up to 50 pounds, and exert up to 100 pounds force for push/pull.
	Squat, crawl, bend/stoop, reach above shoulder level, kneel, use standing balance, and climb stairs.
	Use hands repetitively; use manual dexterity.  Ability to use fine skilled movements such as finger dexterity and eye-hand coordination, for effective tool use, dressing, personal hygiene, grooming, cooking, and communicating.
	Adjust, apply, and clean therapeutic equipment.
	Perform CPR.
	Travel to and from academic and clinical sites.
	Be able to, in the average clinical day, sit 1-2 hours, stand 6-7 hours, travel 1-3 hours.
Sensory Capability	Coordinate verbal and manual instruction.
	Assess a patient from a distance that allows visual observation of patient posture, response to treatment, and interpretation/assessment of the environment.
	Respond to a timer, alarm, or cries for help.
	Monitor vital signs.
	Possess auditory, visual, and tactile abilities sufficient to assess patient status and perform treatment (including seeing skin color changes, seeing facial expressions and non-verbal communication, hearing heart/lung sounds, and feeling for muscle contractions/to discriminate hot vs. cold/to fabricate splints).
	Possess the ability to effectively attend to multiple features of a task, personal interaction, and/or group to include ability to selectively focus and attend to key features, use divided and alternating attention between two or more features in a quick and safe manner.
Communication Ability	Communicate effectively in English with patients, families, and other health care providers, both in person and through documentation (including explaining treatment procedures, teaching patients and families, documenting in charts).
	Effectively adapt communication for intended audience.
	Interact, and establish rapport with individuals, families, and groups from a variety of social, emotional, cultural, and intellectual backgrounds.
	Assume the role of a health care team member.
	Function effectively under supervision and effectively communicate with supervisor.
Problem Solving/Critical Thinking Ability	Function effectively under stress.
	Respond appropriately to emergencies.
	Adhere to infection control procedures.
	Demonstrate problem-solving skills in patient care (including reasoning, prioritizing, and synthesizing data or information).
	Use sound judgement and safety precautions.
	Address problems or questions to the appropriate person at the appropriate time.
	Organize and prioritize job tasks, materials, and schedule.
	Follow policies and procedures required by clinical and academic settings.
Social-Emotional Capability and Professionalism	Possess the ability to use effective work ethic skills to include attendance, punctuality, positive work attitude, respect, cooperation, teamwork, professional manners, productivity appropriate to course and job role requirements and to work with persons of diverse backgrounds.
Computer/Technological/Information Literacy	Possess the ability to use basic computer (word processing/PowerPoint/Excel), electronic communication and on-line course skills on a regular basis.
	Possess the ability to access, evaluate, and use a variety of information resources such as library services, electronic catalogs, and databases in an efficient, ethical, and legal manner.

• Students taking classes in the Occupational Therapy Department at SUNY Erie Community College who are considering requesting reasonable accommodations or academic adjustments are encouraged to contact Students Access Center at 716-851-1487.

Accreditation

The program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, Maryland 20814. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is 301-652-AOTA. Website for ACOTE: www.acoteonline.org.  Website for AOTA:  www.aota.org.

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 (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA). In addition, all states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination and attain state licensure.

Licensure Compliance Statement

Effective July 1, 2024, federal regulation requires institutions of higher education to make a determination whether a Title IV eligible academic program that leads to professional licensure or certification meets the educational requirements for licensure/certification in the U.S. State where the institution is located and the U.S. States where “distance education” students are located at the time of initial enrollment in the program, as well as U.S. States where the program is advertised as meeting such requirements, and if applicable, the U.S. State where students attest they intend to be licensed/certified. The Occupational Therapy Assistant/AAS program at SUNY Erie Community College is registered by the New York State Education Department and thus meets the educational requirements for licensure/certification for New York State. Through a good faith effort, and for the purpose of complying with the federal regulation, we have determined that Occupational Therapy Assistant/AAS program at SUNY Erie Community College does not meet the educational requirements for licensure/certification in any other U.S. State.  However, it is important to note that SUNY Erie Community College is not the licensure/certification authority in any U.S. State and cannot assess whether an individual candidate will be issued a license/certificate in any U.S. State and instead it is incumbent on each individual candidate to contact the licensure/certification authority in the applicable U.S. State for any further guidance on the requirements for licensure/certification requirements and application processes.

Graduation/Certification/Licensure

• An Associate in Applied Science degree is granted to each student who successfully completes all coursework and all fieldwork. The student must also demonstrate proficiency in algebra with a minimum placement test score of 40 for the Algebra Test or be waived from placement testing.
• New York State licensure is required for employment in New York State. Upon graduation from the program, an individual is eligible to apply to take the NBCOT OTA Certification Exam and to apply for licensure.  All states in the U.S. require state licensure. Separate applications for state licensure must be filed within that state.  Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination and attain state licensure.
• New York State DOES require passing of the National Certification Exam (NBCOT) for employment in New York State. A final, official transcript indicating confirmation for an Associate in Applied Science degree (A.A.S.) in Occupational Therapy Assistant must be submitted to NBCOT as part of the application process for the national certification exam.
• Retention Data and Results of the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) Exam:

Graduation Year Graduates Graduation Rate NBCOT Exam Passing Rate 2024 16 94% 100% 2023 8 42% 88% 2022 13 94% 80%

 

Program results from the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) can be found online at https://secure.nbcot.org/data/schoolstats.aspx.

Website for NBCOT:  www.nbcot.org

Website for NYSED-Office of the Professions regarding licensure/authorization/permit to practice:  http://www.op.nysed.gov/

New York State prides itself in the high quality of its licensed and certified professionals.  For the protection of its citizens, each license and certificate has requirements that individuals must meet in order to be licensed or certified in New York State.  SUNY’s academic programs leading to licensure or certification are carefully designed to meet and exceed these State requirements. This is a role SUNY plays in protecting the public.  Other states frequently have their own requirements, so if your goal is to practice in another state, the following disclosure statement will help you check to see what that state requires.

In keeping with U.S. Federal Regulations, §668.43 (2019 Rule), and in compliance with the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA) Manual version 19.2, SUNY ERIE Community College OTA Program provides the following disclosure statement related to the educational requirements for professional licensure and certification:

SUNY Erie’s Occupational Therapy Assistant Program is an ACOTE accredited occupational therapy assistant educational program.  The Program also meets the educational requirements by the Board of Regents in New York State to award an Associate in Applied Science Degree (AAS) with a major in occupational therapy assistant.

ACOTE® accredited occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant educational programs satisfy the states’ educational requirements in all states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Students graduating from an ACOTE® accredited occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant educational program are eligible to take the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) certification exam and apply for licensure in all states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. For more information regarding state qualifications and licensure requirements, please refer to the AOTA State Licensure webpage: https://acoteonline.org/about/

 

Department Notes

 

• Students must maintain a minimum grade of ‘C+’ in all OT courses, a ‘P’ in fieldwork courses, and a ‘C’ in all general education courses required for the degree. 
• First-year OTA students must attend the department’s mandatory orientation. Orientation typically occurs on North Campus, during the month of August.
• Each student is responsible for their own transportation to off-campus agencies utilized for applied learning, clinical or fieldwork activities.
• Students are required to comply with immunization requirements for assigned fieldwork sites.
• Student membership in professional organizations (AOTA & NYSOTA) is a program requirement, including payment of fees. Additionally, students are required to pay a fee to take the OT Knowledge Exam (OTKE). 
• Students are responsible for all required/applicable costs associated with fieldwork experience requirements.

Program Competencies

Upon graduation with an Associate in Applied Science degree in Occupational Therapy Assistant, the graduate will be able to:

1. Identify factors that support or hinder occupational performance by gathering relevant information utilizing available resources: EMR/HER, screenings and evaluations, clinical observations, team and family members.
2. Establish service competency in assessment methods such as interviews, observation, assessment tools, and chart reviews within the context of the service delivery system.
3. Develop client-centered and occupation-based goals in collaboration with the occupational therapist.
4. Plan, select, and implement client-centered and occupation-based interventions effectively in collaboration with client(s), family/significant other, occupational therapist, and other service providers.
5. Grade and adapt activities and/or the environment to support engagement in occupations.
6. Utilize effective and appropriate verbal, nonverbal, and written communication with client(s), families, colleagues, and the public.
7. Produce clear and accurate written documentation according to site requirements to include assessments, progress reports, and discharge summaries, attendance records, statistical reports, and for third party payment.
8. Conduct oneself in a professional manner adhering to the American Occupational Therapy Association Code of Ethics, Standards of Practice, client rights, and confidentiality.
9. Maintain a therapeutic environment within a clinical setting to maintain order, prevent accidents, promote adherence to safety regulations of self and others.
10. Develop appropriate professional behaviors related to self-responsibility, constructive feedback, work behaviors, time management, interpersonal skills, and cultural competence.
11. Clearly communicate the values and beliefs of occupational therapy, the role of the occupational therapist, and the occupational therapy assistant to clients, families/significant others, and other service providers.
12. Demonstrate evidence-based practice by making informed decisions based on published research and relevant informational sources.

Curriculum

Total Degree Credits: 66-67