Javascript is currently not supported, or is disabled by this browser. Please enable Javascript for full functionality.

Skip to Main Content


    Florida State College at Jacksonville
   
 
  May 19, 2022
 
2015-2016 Catalog [Aug. 2015-Aug. 2016] 
    
  Catalog Home
   Academics
   Programs
   Course Descriptions and Information
   Student Services
   Appendix
   Looking for a Different Catalog?
  My Portfolio
HELP
2015-2016 Catalog [Aug. 2015-Aug. 2016] [Archived Catalog]

Occupational Therapy Assistant (2355) (A.S.)

(opens a new window) | Print-Friendly Page (opens a new window)
Add to Portfolio (opens a new window)

Return to Programs Return to: Programs

Associate in Science

This is a Limited Access program.

Mission/Purpose

The mission of the Occupational Therapy Assistant program is to graduate competent, ethical, confident occupational therapy assistants committed to professional development through life-long learning in a positive, non-discriminatory and supportive learning environment.  

The Career

Occupational therapy assistants under the direction of occupational therapists help people of all ages regain, develop, or master everyday skills in order to live independent, productive, and satisfying lives. Working in collaboration with occupational therapists and other healthcare professionals, occupational therapy assistants are employed in a variety of traditional and emerging practice settings including community settings, mental health settings, public schools, rehabilitation settings, home health agencies, and nursing homes. Occupational therapy assistants provide occupation-based treatment interventions to improve the quality of life of clients within the community.

For information on the activities of our professional organization and the role of the occupational therapy assistant please visit the website of the American Occupational Therapy Organization (AOTA).

According to the U.S. Department of Labor 2012 Occupations Outlook Handbook, the demands for OTA’s is expected to grow by 41% between 2012 and 2022 (www.bls.gov).

The Program

Upon completion of the two year 70 credit occupational therapy assistant (OTA) program the graduate will be awarded an associate’s of science (A.S.) degree and will be prepared to function as an entry-level practitioner. The program includes a combination of general education and professional OTA concentration courses. OTA courses include lecture, laboratory, and fieldwork experiences. The program is a limited access program and admissions into the program is based on prior academic performance, completion of prerequisite coursework and observation hours, and other criteria. A brochure outlining costs, requirements, deadlines and procedures is available online. 

A minimum grade of “C” or better must be achieved in all professional core courses.

Accreditation

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 4720 Montgomery Lane, Suite 200, Bethesda, MD 20814-3449.  ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA and the web address is www.acoteonline.org.

On December 3, 2010, the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) Granted accreditation status to the Occupational Therapy Assistant program at Florida State College at Jacksonville effective for 7 years. 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) (www.nbcot.org). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA). In addition, most 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 or attain state licensure.

For official program data results please visit the NBCOT website.

Graduation Rates

Admission Year # of Admissions # of Graduates Graduation Rate
2012 20 19 95%
2013 22 21 95%
2014 24 21 87.5%
Total 66 61 92.4%

Fieldwork Experience

Fieldwork is an integral part of the educational process and is designed to be an in-depth experience in delivering occupational therapy services to clients in a variety of settings in the community. Level II fieldwork generally requires two eight week full time experiences scheduled in the last semester prior to graduation. Students are responsible for uniform expenses, background screenings, physicals, vaccinations, travel expenses and any miscellaneous expenses required by each fieldwork location. All Occupational Therapy Assistant students must complete Level II Fieldwork within 18 months following completion of academic preparation.

Curriculum

All general education courses must be completed before the fourth term of the occupational therapy assistant program. A grade point average of at least 2.0 must be maintained in each course throughout the program.

Application Procedure

Acceptance into the Occupational Therapy Assistant program is based upon academic performance and other criteria. To be considered as a qualified applicant, individuals must complete the following by the application deadline:

  1. Applicants must be accepted for admission for Florida State College at Jacksonville or be currently enrolled at Florida State College at Jacksonville. Acceptance to FSCJ does not guarantee admission to the OTA program.
  2. Applicants must submit a completed application and clinical experience verification form to the Occupational Therapy Assistant program department (see OTA application instructions).
  3. Applicants must complete the Revised PSB-Health Occupations Aptitude Examination and include results in the occupational therapy assistant application file. Contact the assessment and certification center of any campus for scheduling information.
  4. Applicants must provide a copy of your official college transcript(s) to the OTA program. Students not currently enrolled in Florida State College at Jacksonville and/or who are transferring college credit courses are required to have a second copy of their official transcript sent directly from the college or university to the registrar’s office at Florida State College at Jacksonville for evaluation of transfer credit.
  5. Provide evidence of current CPR certification and First Aid Health Care Professional Provider Level with AED (infant, child, adult) obtained through the American Red Cross or American Heart Association.
  6. Applicants must have completed 20 credit hours, including ENC 1101, DEP 2004, PSY 1012, BSC 2085C and MAC 1105 (or higher level mathematics course) with a minimum grade of “C” or better.  Course credit that was received for College Level Examination Program (CLEP) or Advanced Placement courses will be counted as a “C” on the admissions rubric.
  7. Applicants must submit documented evidence verifying completion of the minimum of 10 hours of observation, volunteer service and/or work experience in occupational therapy with a licensed occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant. Submit the completed clinical experience verification form and reflection essay.
  8. Students who have submitted completed applications to the OTA department by the deadline will be ranked according to a point scale based on grade point average in the required general education courses, scores on the Revised PSB-Health Occupations Aptitude Examination, accumulated hours of clinical experience in occupational therapy, CPR certification and essay scores. The 24 highest ranked students will be accepted into the OTA program and notified of their acceptance by mail. A ranked alternate list will be established. In the event of forfeiture, the next highest ranked student will be notified of acceptance. Refer to the OTA program information packet for a complete description of the point system on which ranking is based.

Note: A physical examination will be required upon acceptance into the program.

Application Deadline

Applications are due May 30, 2016.  Applications post-marked after May 20, 2016 or incomplete applications will not be processed.  Candidates will be notified of their status after all completed applications have been reviewed by the Admissions Committee.  Notification of admission to the program will be made by mail and it is estimated that notification letters will be mailed within 4-5 weeks of the application deadline.

Need More Information? Contact:

Dr. Kimberly Fahlgren, North Campus, (904) 713-4532 or kfahlgre@fscj.edu

More Information Online

Recommended Roadmap for this Program  

Apply to the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program
(includes application and clinical experience verification form)
Florida Occupational Therapy Association
Florida Occupational Therapy Education Consortium
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Florida Licensing Board

Prerequisites

Successful completion of the following prerequisites with a minimum grade of “C” or better is necessary before applying to the program.

Curriculum

General Education

Credit Hours: 26

Required Professional Courses

Credit Hours: 44
A minimum grade of “C” or better is required in all Professional Core courses

Total Credit Hours: 70

Record of Conviction of a Crime

Effective July 1, 2009, pursuant to Section 456.0635, Florida Statutes, health care review boards shall refuse to renew a license, certificate or registration, issue a license, certificate or registration and shall refuse to admit a candidate for examination if the applicant has been convicted or plead guilty or nolo contendere, regardless of adjudication, to a felony violation of: chapters 409, 817, or 893, Florida Statutes; or 21 U.S.C. ss. 801-970 or 42 U.S.C. ss. 1395-1396, unless the sentence and any probation or pleas ended more than 15 years prior to the application, terminated for cause from Florida Medicaid Program (unless the applicant has been in good standing for the most recent 5 years) or terminated for cause by any other State Medicaid Program or the Medicare Program (unless the termination was at least 20 years prior to the date of the application and the applicant has been in good standing with the program for the most recent 5 years). The Florida nursing or allied health licensure or certification application requires disclosure of any criminal history and the disposition of all cases prior to board review. Being convicted of, or having entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, any of the listed felonies in Florida Statute 456.0635 or termination for cause from the statutorily-described Medicaid programs will preclude an applicant from obtaining a nursing or allied health license or certification in the state of Florida. Entry and acceptance into the nursing or allied health program does not guarantee licensure or certification in the State of Florida.

Note

Most clinical agencies require students to undergo drug screen and criminal background checks prior to placement in the agencies for clinical experiences. Students whose drug screening and criminal background checks are deemed unsatisfactory may be denied access to clinical experiences by the clinical agencies. Failure to qualify for and meet clinical requirements at clinical sites may prevent completion of the program. Withdrawal from the program may be necessary if students cannot be placed for clinical experiences.

Some practice settings may have additional requirements including health insurance, a volunteer application, references, fingerprinting and background check, drug testing, and/or an interview prior to the start of the clinical experience. The additional requirements are the responsibility of the student, including expenses.

The cost of the background check(s) and drug screen(s) is borne by the student. Additionally, it is the student’s responsibility to have all paperwork completed by the program’s published deadline.

Students who are unable to complete the clinical requirements after acceptance into selective access programs are not eligible for refunds of tuition.

A physical examination will be required upon acceptance to the program.

Graduation Requirements

In order to be awarded the Associate in Science degree, students must have met the following requirements:

  1. Students must fulfill all academic requirements for the chosen program of study as outlined in the Florida State College at Jacksonville catalog and curriculum.
  2. Earned a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 (“C”) at Florida State College at Jacksonville in courses eligible toward the Associate in Science degree programs, excluding developmental education courses. (A.S. Florida State College at Jacksonville GPA).
  3. Earned an all-college cumulative grade point average of 2.0 (“C”) on a 4.0 scale on all courses attempted. This includes Florida State College at Jacksonville college-credit semester hours and transferred credits (excluding developmental education) in lower division courses. (All college cumulative.)
  4. Complete a minimum of 25 percent of the total hours required for the program in residence at Florida State College at Jacksonville. Credit by examination and credit by portfolio development do not count toward this residency requirement.
  5. Complete the required semester hours, as specified by the degree, of which a minimum of 15 semester hours must be General Education requirements.
  6. Earned a grade of a C or better in each course used to satisfy the General Education Requirements and any other area designated with a C or better requirement.
  7. Students must have fulfilled all obligations, financial or otherwise, to the College before they may graduate.

 Note: Students are cautioned to pay particular attention to the following statements.

  1. A student’s graduation date will be the date of the end of the College term in which the student has fulfilled all academic requirements. (The removal of an incomplete grade does not affect students’ graduation dates, since the grade change is effective at the end of the term in which the incomplete grade was assigned rather than the term in which the incomplete work was made up.)
  2. Students who enter under the (2015/2016) catalog will be assigned to the degree or certificate requirements in effect during the 2015/2016 academic year.  The student’s assigned catalog year will remain in effect as long as the student maintains continuous enrollment. Changes to requirements as mandated by law or by rule of the District Board of Trustees may supersede this provision.
  3. Many courses in this catalog have prerequisite and/or co-requisite courses which are listed in the course descriptions. Students are advised to be guided by these requirements.
  4. Students who place into developmental education courses are required to complete designated developmental education courses with a grade of “C” or better regardless of program of study.

University Transfer

This Associate in Science and Associate in Applied Science degree programs are intended primarily for students who desire to complete an Associate in Science degree or an Associate in Applied Science degree and become employed. Students who decide to pursue university transfer study must meet certain course and test requirements. For details refer to the University Transfer Guide.

Return to Programs Return to: Programs


 Back to Top | (opens a new window) | Print-Friendly Page (opens a new window)
Add to Portfolio (opens a new window)
   
All catalogs © 2022 Florida State College at Jacksonville.
Powered by the Acalog™ Academic Catalog Management System™ (ACMS™).

Mobile Site.