Occupational Therapy Assistant
LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE BY HELPING OTHERS LIVE THEIRS
A rewarding career – helping people with health challenges live life to its fullest – can be yours in just two years with an Occupational Therapy Assistant degree from Cabarrus College. If you aspire to advance to the next level and become an occupational therapist, we also offer a master’s degree, including a unique bridge program enabling OTAs to get a bachelor’s degree and transition directly into our Master of Occupational Therapy program.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
- Two-year associate degree
- In as little as two years, you can be working as an OTA
- 100% pass rate on certification exam (2021 data), well above the national average
- Student-centered instruction in small classes
- Hands-on clinical experience – every week – allows you to practice skills you learn in class right away
- Excellent opportunities to network with practicing OT professionals during clinical fieldwork
- Flexible: enroll full-time or part-time
- Start in fall semester only
Mission and Vision
The mission of the Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program is to provide progressive and innovative educational experiences to develop exemplary Occupational Therapy Assistants. The vision is to be a premier leader of innovation OTA education.
Program Outcomes
Students who graduate with an associate degree in Occupational Therapy Assistant will become:
- Highly skilled entry-level generalist clinicians
- Ethical leaders
- Effective communicators
- Professional lifelong learners
- Dedicated advocates for clients and the profession.
2020 - 2021 Program Student Learning Outcomes
Students who graduate with an associate degree in Occupational Therapy Assistant will be able to:
- Apply foundational knowledge and clinical competencies as a highly skilled entry-level generalist in current and emerging practice areas.
- Deliver effective evidence-based and culturally sensitive services that emphasize participation in occupation across the life span.
- Utilize effective communication and collaboration with clients, families, teammates, regulatory bodies, third party payers, and other professional customers.
- Demonstrate professional behavior and ethics that uphold the AOTA’s Code of Ethics and professional standards.
- Articulate the value of lifelong learning and professional development.
- Demonstrate confidence and capability in the roles of leader and advocate.
The conceptual framework for the organization and progression of the curriculum consists of the following themes:
- Critical thinking and clinical reasoning
- Promoting participation in occupation as it supports quality of life and well-being
- Communication and collaboration
- Ethics and professional behaviors
- Professional lifelong learning
- Leadership and advocacy
The concepts listed above are interwoven throughout the curriculum design in a progressive nature through which students gain new knowledge, skills, and attitudes that promote and encourage professional behaviors and develop clinical reasoning skills.
Accreditation and Certification
The Occupational Therapy Assistant Program at Cabarrus College is accredited by:
The Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)
6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200
North Bethesda, MD, 20852-4929
ACOTE Phone Number: 301-652-6611
ACOTE Website: acoteonline.org
AOTA Phone Number: 301-652-AOTA
AOTA Website: aota.org
Graduates of the program will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this examination, the individual will be credentialed as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant. In addition, most states require licensure in order to practice. State licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination, as well as character references and criminal record checks. A felony conviction may affect a graduate's ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.
Student Graduate & Certification Data
GRADUATION RATE: The total number of students who graduated from a program within 150% of the published length of the program, divided by the number of students on the roster who started in the program. The total number of graduates from Cabarrus College of Occupational Therapy Assistant program during the 3-year period of 2019-2021 was 84 with an overall graduation rate of 82%.
| Graduation Year | # Students Entering | # Students Graduating | Graduation Rate |
| 2020 | 39 | 35 | 100% |
| 2021 | 33 | 24 | 73% |
| 2022 | 28 | 25 | 89% |
| 3 - year total | 100 | 84 | 84% |
Graduates are not required to take the certification examination within the year that they graduate. Program results from the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) can be found online at https://www.nbcot.org/Educators-Folder/SchoolPerformance
Estimated Tuition and Fees
Estimated tuition and fees for the Occupational Therapy Assistant program:
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Tuition is based on estimated 3% increase yearly. |
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