Laredo Community College
Department of Allied Health
Occupational Therapy Assistant Program
Overview:
The Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) Program prepares the student for entry into the health service profession that helps individuals whose physical and mental abilities have been altered by biological, psychological or environmental factors. The OTA uses a variety of activities and techniques to help those individuals adapt to life skills needed to function at their most productive level.
The OTA Program requires a total of 70 college credit hours. Four of these courses are web-based. This includes 11 prerequisite hours and one summer session between the first and second year. A 16 week fieldwork experience is required in the last semester. Depending on space availability some students may have to complete their fieldwork experience outside of Laredo. The fieldwork experience must be completed within 18 months following the didactic course work. A minimum grade of C must be maintained to progress in the program.
Accreditation & Licensure
The Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc. (AOTA) located at 4720 Montgomery Lane, P.O. Box 31220, Bethesda, MD 20824-1220, phone: 301-652-2682. www.aota.org
Graduates of the OTA program are awarded an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree and are then eligible to take the national examination to become a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA). The national examination is administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) located at 800 S. Frederick Ave., Suite 200, Gaithersburg, MD 20877-4150, phone: 301-990-7979, 301-869-8492 (fax), www.nbcot.org
Once certified the individual must apply to the Texas Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners (TBOTE) for a license to practice in the state of Texas. The TBOTE is located at 333 Guadalupe, Suite 2-510, Austin, TX 78701-3942, 512-305-6900, 512-305-6970 (fax), www.ecptote.state.tx.us
A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain State Licensure. Contact can be made at the www.ecptote.state.tx.us for questions regarding eligibility for licensure or www.nbcot.org for certification questions.
Graduation, certification and licensure are separate mechanisms and are the responsibility of the individual student.
Application Process
DEADLINE: Last Thursday in May
To be admitted to the OTA Program, the student must:
1. Complete LCC admission process
2. Submit completed Health Science Program application to OTA Program Director
3. Acceptance is based on:
a. A minimum cumulative Grade Point Average of 2.5
b. A course specific cumulative grade point average of 2.5
c. Completed prerequisites: BIOL 2401/2402 (must have been taken within the last 5 years) and PSYC 2314 with a minimum of “C”
d. Written, notarized evidence of 40 hours or more of completed volunteer work or one year of work experience in the area of occupational therapy on facility letterhead
e. One letter of recommendation
f. Interview
g. PSB exam. Students will be assessed $15.00 for the exam which will be given the second week of June.
h. Students will be ranked.
Acceptance
A student accepted into the program must submit prior to the first class day:
1. Proof of immunizations
2. A negative criminal background check. This can be accessed at: www.precheck.com
3. A negative drug screen.
4. A physical exam by an U.S. physician or a nurse practitioner of choice within 45 days prior to the first class day
A student accepted into the program conditionally must complete:
1. A Reading Comprehension Assessment
2. A score below college-entry level will require completion of required English enhancement assignments
A student accepted into the OTA Program will be notified via email regarding his/her program admission status. The applicant who is not selected for admission to the program may reapply during the next application period. The applicant who is accepted for admission into the OTA program, but who does not enroll, forfeits his/her space and will need to reapply for admission. Applicants desiring to re-apply must submit a letter of intent and must update their application.
PROGRAM INFORMATION
1. An applicant to the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program must be eligible to sit for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy. A copy of the Texas Occupational Therapy Practice Act is available in the office of the program director located in the Allied Health Bldg. Rm. 113. Up-to-date information is also available online at www.ecptote.state.tx.us.
2. The pass rates for Laredo Community College’s Occupational Therapy Assistant program are:
National Board Exam Results
National Board Exam ResultsYear / First Attempt / Pass / %
2005 / 1 / 0 / 0%
2006 / 19 / 9 / 47%
2007 / 10 / 4 / 40%
Total Avg. for 3 yrs / 30 / 13 / 43%
Overall Exam Results
Year / Add’l Attempts / Pass / %
2005 / 8 / 6 / 75%
2006 / 20 / 15 / 75%
2007 / 23 / 20 / 87%
Total Avg. for 3 yrs / 51 / 41 / 80%
3. If during the course of the program an applicant is convicted of a felony, implicated in substance abuse or involved in activities considered inappropriate, he/she may be dismissed from the program.
4. A student on current academic probation is ineligible to apply or remain enrolled in the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program.
5. In order to remain enrolled and to graduate from the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program, a student is required to maintain a grade of C or better in all academic and core occupational therapy assistant courses.
6. Each student who registers for an occupational therapy course which requires a rotation at a clinic site is required to purchase student liability insurance yearly (subject to rate applicable at the time of registration).
7. Second year students will be required to submit verification of negative TB skin test or chest X-ray.
8. Hepatitis B vaccine in a series of 3 doses is required. An immune titer or booster is required every 5 years. The first injection must be at least 2 weeks prior to beginning the first semester. The second and third injections must be completed before clinical practice begins. If verification is not submitted the student will forfeit his/her place in the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program.
9. Each student is required to purchase polo shirts/kaki pants/scrubs and necessary accessories.
10. Each student is responsible to pay the cost of the National Board Certification Exam. The approximate cost of the certification exam is $490.00 or the rate applicable at the time of completion. There is an additional cost of $35.00 for the official score transfer request to the state in which they intend to practice. The test scores must be submitted to Texas for licensure application.
11. Each student must have current basic CPR certification for health professionals while enrolled in the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program. Verification of such certification must be submitted to the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program Academic Fieldwork Coordinator 2 weeks prior to the beginning of the first semester.
In order for the student to receive a temporary license at the completion of the program, all official transcripts must be on file in the Office of the Registrar. “Temporary licensure – only available to someone who has just graduated from an OT or OTA program and before taking the first available NBCOT exam, and who has never held a license in any US State, territory, or foreign country. [Chapter 364]”. The Board by rule may provide for the issuance of a temporary license. Rules adopted under this section shall include a time limit for a licensee to remain on temporary status. A holder of a temporary license shall practice under the supervision of an occupational therapist licensed by the Board. The OTA graduate must also see that the Board receives:
· The Confirmation of Examination Registration and Eligibility to Examine form from NBCOT (Make arrangements for NBCOT to send us this form).
· Temporary license fee in addition to the regular application fee paid via check, money order, or online with application.
· Signed Supervision Form. Make copies of this form to take to the job interview. When you accept a job, mail or fax this signed form to TBOTE.
· The cost of the temporary license is $55.00 for the OTA.
For additional information, you may call the OTA Program Director at (956) 721-5460 or (956)-721-5261. For personal advice or counseling you may request an appointment during designated office hours (Allied Health Bldg. Rm. 113).
PROGRESSION/WITHDRAWAL/DISMISSAL
POLICY/PROCEDURES
Progression
1. Achieve a 70% or better on all academic non-OTA and all OTA courses.
2. Adhere to “Standards of Student Conduct” and “Students Rights and Responsibilities” as stated in the current LCC College catalog.
3. No evidence of reasons for dismissal (see below).
Withdrawal
1. The OTA Department adheres to the LCC Scholastic Withdrawal Policy.
2. The student will be withdrawn by the OTA Department for any violation of the Progression Criteria listed above.
3. The student has the option to withdraw. S/he will be required to follow the readmission procedures.
Dismissal
1. Any student who withdraws and/or fails any OTA courses will be dismissed and must re-apply to re-enter the OTA program. (each applicant will be reviewed on an individual basis pending criteria)
2. Reasons for dismissal are:
q Serious and/or chronic violations of LCC student Handbook and the OTA Department policies (including the course syllabus);
q Serious and/or chronic failure to provide for the safety and well being of a client in the clinical setting.
q A final grade of less than 70% in all required academic non-OTA and all OTA courses;
q Academic dishonesty in the classroom or clinical area (one incident = dismissal);
q Unprofessional conduct as defined by the Licensing Board of Occupational Therapy in the classroom or the clinical area;
q Lack of proof of malpractice insurance;
q Absences exceeding days allowed as indicated in current LCC Catalog;
q Clinical absences exceeding days allowed as indicated in OTA Department policies and those included in the course syllabus. (may be specific to clinical setting policy)
READMISSION POLICY/PROCEDURES
1. Any student who withdraws from or fails Principals of Occupational Therapy may reapply as an entering first time student. However, any subsequent withdrawal or failure of any other OTA course will result in withdrawal from the OTA program and the student must re-test for competency in order to re-enter the program.
2. Any student who withdraws from or fails one OTA course may apply for reentry. The application will be rank ordered by the final numerical grade and/or average on successfully completed OTA course(s). Prior to re-entrance, the student must successfully challenge the courses s/he previously passed. Readmission is based on space availability only. A failed Challenge Exam will be considered as a failed OTA course.
CREDIT FOR PREVIOUS WORK
Students requesting credit for previous coursework must submit an official transcript from the educational institution to the Laredo Community College Admission’s Office. The Curriculum, Advising and Program Planning Specialist will review all submitted transcripts and set course equivalencies, according to State regulated standards, for all previous non-OTA coursework. Any course that is listed as equivalent will be accepted as having completed that course within the OTA curriculum. When necessary, The Curriculum, Advising and Program Planning Specialist will consult with a counselor or academic and career advisor to assist with the determination.
For OTA courses the student must provide documentation of each course description, course content and a syllabus. A transferred course must have 75% of the same content to be considered as a substitution for a course within Laredo Community College's OTA program.
The total content of all OTA courses will be considered in the transfer advising. If it is felt that a student is lacking in a particular content area a specific learning contract may be established to allow the student to complete the content. This contract will be part of a written transfer agreement into the OTA program.
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Adopted: 2/96
Revised: 3/2008; 2/2007; 2/ 2006; 5/2005; 2004; 6/29/1998