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

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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 Program

Upon completion of the two-year 74-credit occupational therapy assistant (OTA) program the graduate will be awarded an associate in science (A.S.) degree and are eligible to sit for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy exam to qualify for licensure to practice as an OTA. 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 achieving a 2.5 GPA, prior academic performance, completion of prerequisite coursework, Health Education Systems, Inc. Admission Test Scores (HESI A2) and other criteria. Information outlining costs, requirements, deadlines and procedures is available from the Health Career Information Center at North Campus via email at HCIC@fscj.edu and online at fscj.edu/2355.

All General Education and prerequisite coursework must be completed prior to admission to thep rogram. A grade point average of 2.5 must be maintained throughout the program. 

A minimum grade of C or higher must be achieved in all professional coursework.

Prerequisite and General Education courses are offered in an online, on-campus and hybrid format which include OTH 1001  and OTH 1704 . All other courses within the OTA program are offered in an on-campus or hybrid format, but all have components that require the use of technology. Distance learning fees apply to all online courses. (insert link to https://www.fscj.edu/admissions-aid/student-financial-services/tuition-fees). Classes that require labs, may have additional lab fees. Lab fees are published in the class schedule.

FSCJ uses the learning management system (LMS) Canvas for all courses and for submission of all coursework. Therefore, the following are minimum requirements: 

• A Florida State College at Jacksonville student email account
• A computer with the following:
  • Internet access 
  • Web browser application such as Firefox or Chrome
  • Office software (Microsoft Office 365 is free for FSCJ students)
  • Web camera, microphone and speakers
  • Software plug-ins such as 
    • Adobe Acrobat Reader,
    • Java (required for screen sharing on Canvas)
    • VLC Media Player

Many textbooks within the program are offered in an e-book format or provide supplemental resources for students online. Online subscription-based resources are utilized to supplement textbooks. Faculty hold office hours on-campus and virtually to meet the varying needs of student schedules through the use of Cisco Webex, Microsoft Teams, or Canvas Conferences.  

Technology competencies include, but are not limited to, word processing skills, completing internet searches, downloading and uploading files, presentation development and recording, navigation of the learning management system, file management skills, videoconferencing skills and the ability to scan coursework for upload into the learning management system.

Graduation Rates

The total number of graduates from the Florida State College at Jacksonville Occupational Therapy Assistant program during the three-year period from 2019-2021 was 75, with an overall graduation rate of 69%.

*Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, students from the Class of 2020 Cohort were delayed in fieldwork placement. Therefore, the remaining 9 students graduated in the Spring of 2021. For the cohort admitted in 2019, 18/24 students graduated by Spring of 2021.

Internships/Externships/Rotations/Fieldwork

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 requires two eight-week full-time experiences scheduled in the last semester prior to graduation and after completion of all didactic coursework.

As this is a full-time commitment, it is important for students to plan well in advance for childcare, work and other personal commitments. A hybrid seminar course is scheduled in conjunction with fieldwork allowing for both face-to-face meetings and on-line coursework to prepare the student for graduation and to analyze the fieldwork experience.  Student groups/classes are arranged to meet on campus and/or at locations throughout the community.  According to ACOTE, “the goal of Level II fieldwork is to develop competent, entry-level, generalist occupational therapy assistants.”  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.  Level II fieldwork experiences outside the United States are not offered at this time. 

There is currently no provision for FSCJ OTA students to participate in fieldwork experiences outside of the state of Florida/Georgia or of the United States. If there is a need for placement at a site where OT/OTA services currently do not exist (e.g. emerging practice areas), OT and OTA faculty who have at least 3 years’ full-time or equivalent of professional experience prior to the Level II fieldwork will provide the 8 hours of direct supervision, be available during all working hours through telephone or virtual meetings in order to provide the necessary support needed to ensure the student achieves the learning objectives for the fieldwork experience and provide protection for the consumer. 

Part-Time Fieldwork: Upon special documented request of the student, a part-time Level IIA or Level IIB can be arranged. This part-time arrangement is made with the approval of the AFWC and the clinical supervisor at the fieldwork site.  This arrangement includes the agreement of a start date and end date.  These dates are calculated by the AFWC to ensure that the student attends the fieldwork site for a minimum of 50% of an FTE at that site.   Level IIA and Level II B must be completed within 18 months of finishing the didactic coursework.

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 American Occupational Therapy Organization (AOTA) website at aota.org.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the overall employment of occupational therapy assistants and aides is projected to grow 32 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. Occupational therapy will continue to be an important part of treatment for people with various illnesses and disabilities.

Certification/Licensing

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, most states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. For more information, visit the NBCOT website at nbcot.org.

For official program pass rates on the certification exam please visit nbcot.org/Educators/Home#SchoolPerformance.

A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.

Program 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 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. ACOTE’s telephone number, c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA and its web address is acoteonline.org.

At its April 2018 meeting, ACOTE granted the FSCJ Occupational Therapy Assistant program a status of accreditation for a period of ten years.  ACOTE is recognized as the accrediting agency for occupational therapy education by both the United States Department of Education (USDOE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).  ACOTE is also an active member of the Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors (ASPA). ACOTE currently accredits over 407 occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant programs in the United States and its territories.

The program completed the interim report in 2022 and the next on-site evaluation will take place in 2027/2028.

For more information, please contact Dr. Neal Henning at neal.henning@fscj.edu.

Application Procedure

Students are evaluated for admission to the professional coursework phase of the program in May of each year for a Fall semester program start. Beginning in Summer 2022, students will enter the prerequisite phase of the program (conditional offer) until they complete all admissions requirements. Please note that admission to the professional-level Occupational Therapy Assistant courses/program is competitive.

OTA program applications can be completed online at apply.fscj.edu. There is a one-time application fee of $25.00 for those applying for the first time to a credit-based program.

Applicants transferring from another educational institution must submit transcripts to the Student Records Office for processing and evaluation of credits. Official transcripts can be sent to Admissions Office, FSCJ, PO Box 40515, Jacksonville, FL 32203. You can also have your transcripts sent electronically, directly from the school only, to studentrecords@fscj.edu. Once outside transcripts have been processed, course credits will be added to your official Florida State College at Jacksonville transcript. Please allow 4-6 weeks for processing of transcripts by the Student Records Office. International Baccalaureate (IB), Advanced Placement (AP), and College Level Examination Program (CLEP) documentation must be provided directly to the Assessment and Certification Center for credit evaluation and addition to the Florida State College at Jacksonville transcript. Please contact North Campus Assessment and Certification Center at (904) 766-6708 or email north_testing@fscj.edu for more information.

The FSCJ OTA program does not give OTA course credit for previous work experience. Official transcripts from all colleges attended are evaluated for Florida State College degree-seeking students and vocational certificate students only by qualified evaluators. OTA courses are accepted from institutions recognized and participating in the Florida Department of Education Statewide Course Numbering System.  OT or OTA courses that are more than two years old are not accepted for transfer credit.

This limited access program is open to applicants regardless of race, disability, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, age, sex, sexual orientation/expression, marital status, veteran status, or genetic information. Applicants must meet the Florida State College at Jacksonville admissions eligibility requirements (See college website for information) and must have completed all prerequisites in order to be considered for admission.

All applicants should contact a campus admissions office to see if they need to take the College Placement Test or other placement test and/or other admissions requirements.

Application deadline is the close of business, May 15, for admission to the program for the following fall term. If admitted to the program, applicants will be required to complete a drug screen and background check to obtain entrance into the program.

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 of May 15:

1. Applicants must have completed 17 credit hours or prerequisite coursework, including ENC 1101  or ENC 1101C  or ENC 1102 , DEP 2004 , BSC 2085C , BSC 2086C  and MAC 1105  or higher-level MAC-prefix course or MAP 2302  or MGF 1106  or MGF 1107  or STA 2023  with a minimum grade of C or higher. Only prerequisite courses with a minimum grade of C or higher can be used.  Course credit that was received for College Level Examination Program (CLEP) or Advanced Placement (AP) courses will be evaluated based upon the score obtained.
2. Complete the Health Education Systems, Inc. Admission Test (HESI-A2).  Students must take all 9 sections in one sitting. Scores will be averaged across four categories (Anatomy & Physiology, Math, Vocabulary, and Reading Comprehension) for ranking purposes.
3. Complete and submit the Healthcare or Military Experience documentation form if applicable.
4. Applicants are required to submit official transcripts from both high school/GED® and any postsecondary education. Transcripts must be officially sealed and sent directly from the awarding institution via electronic delivery to studentrecords@fscj.edu or via mail to FSCJ Admissions Office, PO Box 40515, Jacksonville, FL 32203.

GED® and GED Testing Service® are registered trademarks of the American Council on Education (ACE). They may not be used or reproduced without the express written permission of ACE or GED Testing Service® at ged.com. The GED® and GED Testing Service® brands are administered by GED Testing Service LLC® under license from the American Council on Education.

Admissions Process Information

Any previous OT or OTA education coursework that is more than two years old will not receive credit and must be retaken.

Students who have completed the online OTA application by the deadline will be ranked according to a point scale on the following:

• Prerequisite course grades
• Overall grade point average
• Scores on the Health Education Systems, Inc. Admission Test (HESI-A2)
• Healthcare or Military Experience
• American Heart Association, Basic Life Support (BLS)

Candidates will be notified of their admissions status in the program via email approximately one month after the application deadline. The highest ranked students will be will be accepted and an alternate list will be established. In the event of forfeiture, the next highest ranked student will be notified of acceptance

Additional Program Information

Students must keep their physical examination, criminal background check, CPR and First Aid Certification current to attend class and participate in fieldwork.

Application Deadline(s)

Application deadline is the close of business, May 15, for admission to the program for the following fall term. If admitted to the program, applicants will be required to complete a drug screen and background check to obtain entrance into the program. 

Need More Information? Contact:

Health Career Information Center, (904) 713-4545 or hcic@fscj.edu.

More Information Online

• American Council for Occupational Therapy Education: acoteonline.org
• National Board Certification for Occupational Therapy: nbcot.org
• American Occupational Therapy Association: aota.org
• Florida Occupational Therapy Association: flota.org
• Florida Occupational Therapy Education Consortium: floteceducation.org
• Florida Board of Occupational Therapy: floridasoccupationaltherapy.gov/
• Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook: Occupational Therapists: stats.bls.gov/ooh/Healthcare/Occupational-therapists.htm