Occupational Therapy Assistant, A.A.S.

Associate in Applied Science
Health Sciences Division

Program Code: OTAS2

Office: Curtice-Mott Complex CM2313

Phone: (810) 762-0317

The program prepares students as entry level Occupational Therapy Assistant practitioners The Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) works under the direction of the Occupational Therapist (OT) in providing specific patient services to improve health and performance. OTA. and OTPT courses will be taught only at the Southern Lakes Branch Campus.

Accreditation Status:

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, Ste 200, Bethesda, MD 20814-3449. AOTA’s phone number is (301) 652-AOTA. The web link for ACOTE is http://www.acoteonline.org/. Graduates of the program will be able to sit for the national certification examination for occupational therapy assistant administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). NBCOT’s address is 800 S. Fredrick Avenue, Suite 200, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20877-4150. NBCOT’s phone number is (301) 990-7979. After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) Michigan requires a license in order to practice; however, state licensure is based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination and attain state registration.

Criteria for Admissions to the OTA Program Eligibility Requirements

1. Demonstrate College level reading comprehension on the ACCUPLACER placement test within the last 5 years, OR a minimum score of 20 on the reading portion of the ACT within the last 5 years. A satisfactory grade in RDNG 030  or ENGL 100  within the last 5 years will also meet this requirement.
2. Must have been completed *or be enrolled in BIOL 151,   PSYC 281  and ENGL 101  or ENGL 103  with a grade of “2.0” or better.
3. Provide official transcripts of all college work. High school transcript or proof of GED.
4. Must have and maintain a cumulative MCC GPA of 2.5 or better.
5. Complete 8 hours of occupational therapy observation. Submit signed verification with Supplemental Application.
6. Must have an acceptable criminal background check for the purpose of identifying any student who could not continue in the program due to a felony conviction (within the last 15 years) or misdemeanor conviction (within the last 1, 3, 5 or 10 years) in accordance with State statutes and laws. Student may be required to have additional checks at the request of specific clinical facilities. The cost of the criminal background check is the responsibility of the student.
7. Submit a Supplemental Application for OTA Program (available in the Health Sciences Office) after all the Eligibility Requirements listed above have been completed. Deadline dates for receipt of Supplemental Applications following each semester/session are as follows:

After Fall Semester - January 31
After Winter Semester - May 15
After Spring Semester - July 15
After Summer Semester - August 31

*If prerequisite courses are in progress, acceptance into program is conditional pending final grades in these courses.

NOTE: Science and Psychology courses must have been taken no longer than seven years before entry into the first year of the OTA Program.

Criminal Background Investigations & Drug Screens

Michigan law requires criminal background screening for individuals working in most health care settings and facilities. Students in the Occupational Therapy program are affected by this law. Conviction of a criminal offense (felony or misdemeanor) may make a student ineligible to be assigned to a clinical site, making program completion and graduation unattainable.

A criminal background investigation is required to apply to the Occupational Therapy program. Informational packets may be obtained from the Division office (CM 2313) or from an advisor.

The packet provides instruction regarding the process to complete and submit the background investigation. Students will not be admitted to the Occupational Therapy program without a clear CBI.

In some cases, clinical sites may require students to complete additional background investigation and submit to drug screening procedures prior to or during the clinical experience. All background investigations and drug screenings are at the student’s expense.

Conviction of a criminal offense may also make graduates of health science program ineligible for state or national licensure/certification at program completion. All applicants for a health profession license in Michigan are required to submit fingerprints and undergo a criminal background investigation prior to licensure/certification.

Program coordinators, faculty, advisors, and staff cannot give legal advice to any student regarding potential eligibility/ineligibility based on prior convictions or negative findings on the criminal background investigation. The student should consult an attorney for questions specific to his/her individual case.

Selection of Students on a First Qualified First Served Basis

All eligible students submitting a completed Supplemental Application will be added to the Eligibility List. The matriculation date (semester first class taken at MCC) of the student will be used to rank the order of the applicants on the Eligibility List. In the event that more than one student has the same matriculation date, lots will be drawn.

Students will receive a letter stating their number on the Eligibility List. Students will retain their position on the Eligibility List until admitted to the program.

Dual Tract:

Students have the option of receiving a degree in both OTA and PTA. This may be accomplished in 3 years if the student:

1. meets eligibility requirements for both programs
2. is accepted into both programs
3. selects which program (OTA or PTA) to complete first within 30 days of admission to the program.
4. meets with OTA and PTA coordinators to discuss scheduling of first year of classes before registering.

Requirements After Admission to the Program:

1. Complete with a 2.5 or better OTPT-113 Applied Anatomy.  The student will be contacted by OTA Program Coordinator approximately 6 months prior to start date and instructed to complete OTPT 113.  
2. Submit complete documentation of a recent physical exam (no older than 6 months) taken at his/her own expense. This form is available in the Division of Health Sciences office. The completed form must be returned to the Division of Health Sciences office by date specified by the program coordinator.
3. Attend a mandatory program orientation session conducted by the OTA/PTA faculty. Students not attending will be dropped from the Introduction to OTA class (OTA. 100)  and the Program.