Program Overview
The Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program is designed to prepare individuals to function as entry-level certified occupational therapy assistants working in partnership with the occupational therapist. OTA graduates can find employment in a variety of healthcare and human service settings including hospitals, clinics, extended care facilities, schools and specialized community care and wellness programs.
The OTA 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, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. ACOTE’s telephone number is (301) 652-2682; the web address is www.acoteonline.org. Graduates 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). A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure. After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA). Successful certification permits the graduate to apply for licensure as required by the State of Illinois.
Admission to McHenry County College does not guarantee admission to the OTA program.
What Does An Occupational Therapy Assistant Do?
Occupational therapy is a profession that is essential to the promotion of health and wellness. Occupational therapy assistants, under the supervision of the occupational therapist, plan and implement goal-directed therapeutic occupations uniquely designed to help patients and clients achieve optimal function in their daily life roles. In response to the effects of disabling disease or disorder, the OTA also may facilitate an individual’s level of functional independence by modifying or re-designing any of the multiple environments in which patients and clients live and work.
What is the Program Like?
The program highlights skilled instruction in the classroom enhanced by hands-on learning experiences in health and wellness settings. Emphasis is on development of real life problem-solving skills needed for the occupational therapy assistant to enhance meaningful active participation in the lives of people. Students’ expertise is advanced through field observations and community involvement, fieldwork training experiences in a wide range of facilities and programs, participation in professional organizations and activities, and mentoring faculty. Students will work with experienced instructors, both COTAs and OTs who work as a team and model the collaboration desired
between practitioners.
Admission Requirements
- A grade of C or higher is required for all general education and support courses: ENG 151 , OTA 110 , PSY 151 , and BIO 230 (or equivalent). The biology courses must have been completed within 5 years of admittance into the program.
- The cumulative GPA of at least 2.75 is required for general education and support courses.
- Preference is given to residents of McHenry County College District #528.
Admissions Process
- Individuals must have a MCC student ID number to apply to the Occupational Therapy Assistant program. If an applicant has never attended MCC as a credit student, a MCC Admissions form and a $15 application fee must be submitted online at www.mchenry.edu/apply or at the Registration Office, Room A258.
- If any general education or support courses were taken at another institution, official transcripts from every college or university you attended must be submitted to the Admissions Office with a request for it to be reviewed for the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program. It is highly recommended that official transcripts and evaluation requests be submitted one month prior to the application deadline.
- A two page typed response to the following essay questions:
- What has been your exposure to occupational therapy assistants and/or occupational therapists?
- What factors influenced your decision to become an occupational therapy assistant at MCC?
- Application link is on web page: www.mchenry.edu/ota
- Group interviews begin after November 1st.
Criteria for Selection
The number of students accepted into the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program is limited, therefore admission is competitive. The screening process is designed to select the most academically qualified students and takes into account GPA, completion of general education and support courses and experience or familiarity with occupational therapy.
Notification of Acceptance
Students are notified by mail of their acceptance into the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program. They must complete and return an acceptance agreement within two weeks of receiving notification. Letters are sent to all applicants by December 15th. If there are more qualified applicants than class space available, applicants will be placed on a waiting list for that year’s admissions and will be placed as space becomes available. Individuals not accepted into the program may reapply the following year. The program does not retain applications after the spring semester starts.
Additional Requirements
Once accepted into the OTA program, students are required to provide proof of the following medical and legal clearance: current physical exam, proof of current immunizations, two-step TB test, criminal background check, child abuse clearance and current American Heart Association BLS Healthcare Providers certification. Students are also required to have Health Insurance throughout their period of enrollment. The medical forms and details about the background checks are distributed with acceptance paperwork. The required documentation should be submitted to the Program Director in Room E212.
Access and knowledge of basic technology for projects, e-mail, accessing and turning in assignments is required. A blended course is required as part of the curriculum in the fourth semester of the program.
Clinical Education
Students must participate in two levels of fieldwork while enrolled in the OTA program. Fieldwork level I takes place during the second and third semesters while in the program. These are designed to allow students to observe, shadow and interview professionals within the field.
Fieldwork level II is hands-on experiences which allow the OTA students to gradually assume the roles and responsibilities of an entry-level OTA. Reliable personal transportation is required. Days and times of fieldwork may change from semester to semester. Fieldwork level II experiences are each nine weeks in length, and the student is required to be at the site for 40 hours per week. These experiences could start early in the morning, end later in the evening and/or could be scheduled on weekends. Students must complete Level I fieldwork (OTA 260 and OTA 265 ) within 18 months following completion of the didactic portion of the program.
Advanced Placement
Requests for advanced placement or transferring occupational therapy assistant courses from another occupational therapy program are not being considered at this time.
For more information, visit: www.mchenry.edu/ota
The primary purpose of an Associate in Applied Science degree is to prepare students for employment. The AAS degree is not designed specifically for transfer; however, there are opportunities to apply some coursework or the whole degree to a bachelor’s degree program. For more information, see an academic advisor and the Occupational Therapy Assistant department chair.
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