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Program Admission Date: Fall
The mission of the OTA Associate in Applied Science Transfer Degree Program at LWTech is to prepare students with the skill base, fund of knowledge, ethical base, understanding and demonstration of the behaviors required to successfully assume the roles required of occupational therapy assistants in the current environments of OT Practice.
In congruence with the mission of the college at large, the focus is on successful workforce education of individuals from diverse backgrounds and life experiences, giving them the skills, knowledge and attitudes to successfully gain employment and cope successfully with ever-changing workforce requirements. We will provide our students with an engaging curriculum which encourages life-long learning, and high standards of occupational therapy assistant practice.
The Occupational Therapy Assistant AAS-T degree prepares students to work in a variety of settings including hospitals, private practices, outpatient clinics, client homes, long term care facilities, retirement communities, assisted living facilities, school systems, and mental health centers. Occupational therapy assistants (OTAs) provide occupational therapy services with the direction and supervision of occupational therapist.
The Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 4720 Montgomery Lane, Suite 200, Bethesda, Maryland 20814-3449. AOTA’s phone number is (301) 652-AOTA. The website for ACOTE is www.acoteonline.org. Graduates of the Program will be able to sit for the national certification examination for OTAs administered by the National Board for Certification of Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) located at 800 South Frederick Avenue, Suite 200, Gaithersburg, MD 20877. After successful completion of this examination, the graduate will become a certified occupational therapy assistant (COTA). Washington State requires licensure to practice as a COTA.
Occupational Therapy Assistant AAS-T degree graduates will:
- be prepared to obtain an entry-level position in their field
- be eligible to take the National Registration Examination for Occupational Therapy Assistants
- teach patients or clients to manage basic activities of daily living, such as dressing and grooming
- teach exercise and purposeful activities to increase coordination, strength, and work tolerance
- assist the occupational therapist with assessments of patient function
- demonstrate critical thinking, teamwork, communication, intercultural appreciation, and information literacy skills
- meet Social Science, Humanities, Written Communication, and Quantitative Reasoning distribution area outcomes
Lake Washington Institute of Technology does not offer every course each quarter. It is the student’s responsibility to consult the Class Schedule and work out an individual schedule with an adviser or counselor. Any developmental coursework a student may be required to complete may increase the program length.
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