OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSISTANT (A.S.)
School of Health Sciences

According to the American Occupational Therapy Association, occupational therapy is defined as “the art and science of directing an individual’s participation in selected tasks to restore, reinforce and enhance performance; facilitating learning of those skills and functions essential for adaptation and productivity; diminishing or correcting pathology; and promoting and maintaining health.”

The associate degree program in occupational therapy assistant prepares students to collaborate in providing occupational therapy services with appropriate supervision, participate in managing occupational therapy services, direct activity programs, and incorporate values and attitudes congruent with the profession’s standards and ethics. It is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association, 4720 Montgomery Lane, PO Box 31220, Bethesda MD 20824-1220, telephone 301.652.AOTA.

Program Application and Admission
The program’s first year includes 37 hours of prerequisite coursework as well as at least 10 hours of volunteer work with an occupational therapy practitioner. Students apply to the selective-enrollment clinical component of the program in a competitive admissions process.

Because the program has a rolling admission policy, there is no application deadline. Qualified applicants who apply early are accepted as soon as their completed application is reviewed. It is strongly suggested, however, that you submit your application no later than March 15. Qualified applicants who apply after that date will be accepted until the class is filled and then placed on a waiting list. Applicants who have completed their prerequisites at MSU and are otherwise qualified are given preference over those who are transferring prerequisites from other colleges or universities.

Program Requirements
For those who are admitted, successful completion of the clinical component takes 12 to 18 months and leads to an Associate of Science degree. Students also have the option of taking some OTA classes while completing prerequisites. Students must earn a grade of at least C in all OTA courses to progress in the program. Level 2 fieldwork experiences (that is, OTA 211 and 212) must be completed within 18 months of finishing the didactic portion of the program.

Graduates are eligible to apply to sit for the national certification examination (administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy Inc., 800 S Frederick Ave, Ste 200, Gaithersburg MD 20877-4150, telephone 301.869.8492, www.nbcot.org) and, after passing, to apply for state licensure.