Occupational Therapy Assistant
Mission
The Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) Program provides students with a professional foundation that integrates technical level occupational therapy theory with the knowledge and skills required for practice in diverse health care settings. The broad based curriculum design is a systematic process of personal and professional development that embraces the individual student's personal vision and instills a commitment of service to the profession and to the community. The program recognizes the dynamic nature of occupational therapy practice and, along with the development of entry-level competence, fosters lifelong education for continued competency in ever changing roles of the occupational therapy assistant.
Programs of Study
A high school diploma, GED, or passing score on a
federally approved Ability To Benefit Test is required for admission
to all programs. Contact the Admissions Office
for more information.
Announcements
Student Handbook
Students may access the 2009-2010 Student Handbook by downloading the handbook here (PDF).
FALL 2010 APPLICATIONS:
Applicants seeking admission for fall 2010 must access and follow ALL steps within the fall 2010 application packet. Participation in a mandatory information session is a required step of the application process. The dates, times and locations of these sessions (one session scheduled each month during the academic year, September 2009- April 2010) is included in the application packet. There is no need to register in advance for a session. However, applicants are encouraged to attend the earliest session possible in order to best prepare for application submission and plan for potential enrollment.
OTA PROGRAM INFORMATION SESSIONS will be held in Room 202 of the Health and Science Building on the Danvers campus on the following dates:
Thursday September 24, 2009 from 2:30 - 3:45 p.m.
Monday October 19, 2009 from 3:00 - 4:15 p.m.
Wednesday November 18, 2009 from 2:30 - 3:45 p.m.
Thursday December 10, 2009 from 3:00 - 4:15 p.m.
Wednesday January 27, 2010 from 3:00 - 4:00 p.m.
* The above sessions are scheduled to meet the fall 2010 application submission date of February 8, 2010 (all completed applications received by this date will be reviewed for potential acceptance to the program). Additional dates for information sessions to be held during the winter/spring 2010 semester will be posted on the web page - please check back later.
ADVISEMENT INFORMATION: Persons considering and/or seeking fall 2010 application are highly encouraged to enroll in as many of the OTA Program's general education course requirements as possible prior to entering the OTA Program. These courses can be taken during the 2009-2010 academic year (including summer sessions) and include Composition 1 and 2; Anatomy & Physiology 1 and 2; General Psychology; and Human Growth and Development. ALL of these six general education courses are pre-admission requirements for the accelerated option of study (OTX) but are also recommendations for the traditional option of study [especially if students must balance part-time work and family responsibilities along with the rigors of the OTA courses]. In addition, although not a program requirement for any option of study within the OTA department, students are advised to enroll in NSCC's 1 credit LSC101: Research Methods.
Occupational Therapy - Living Life to its Fullest!
Transfer Opportunities
Graduates of NSCC's OTA Program may continue their education at a professional OT program (master degree minimum) to become an occupational therapist. Salem State College's "OTA to OT" Program (combined BS in Occupational Health Studies to MS in Occupational Therapy) is one local program where an associate degree in occupational therapy is required for admission. A formal Transfer Agreement exists between NSCC's OTA Program and SSC's OT Program.
Program Accreditation
Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education
Program Resources
Student Occupational Therapy Assistant Club
Web Resources
Accreditation - ACOTE
This site provides information about the accreditation of occupational therapy education programs.
American Occupational Therapy Association
The definitive source for news and information about the profession of occupational therapy. The AOTA is the national organization representing occupational therapy practitioners.
Massachusetts Association for Occupational Therapy
The organization representing occupational therapy practitioners in the state of Massachusetts.
National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc.
The official credentialing agency that provides certification for the occupational therapy profession.
The Board of Registration for Allied Health Professions
The state agency responsible for evaluating the qualifications of applicants for licensure and granting licenses to those who qualify.
US Department of Labor: Occupational Outlook Handbook
Official government report outlining expected growth in the demand for occupational therapy assistants.
Program Accreditation - Status and Contact Information
North Shore Community College's 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, P.O. Box 31220, Bethesda, MD 20824-1220. ACOTE's telephone number c/o AOTA is (301)652-2682.
Graduate Performance Information
The OTA Program proudly acknowledges the successful performances of our graduates on the national certification exam administered by NBCOT! For the 3-year calendar time frame (Januaray - December 2006, 2007, and 2008) a total of 79 students successfully completed the OTA program [traditional and accelerated options of study - 9 of whom completed program requirements in 2008 but have official graduation dates of January 2009]. Of these graduates, 74 took the certification exam as first-time test takers. During this time period, 70/74 first-time test takers passed the certification exam (95% pass rate). Two (2) graduates who failed on their first attempt, took the certification exam again and passed.
The pass rate percentage of NSCC OTA Program graduates has consistently been higher than the national average for first-time test takers. In 2006 NSCC's pass rate was 100% and the national average was 90%; in 2007 NSCC's pass rate was 91.67% and the national average was 86%; and in 2008 NSCC's pass rate was 90.91% and the national average was 83%.
Further information about certification exam performance, employment rates and clinical performance of graduates as evaluated by employers is available upon request by contacting Maureen Nardella, Department Chair, OTA Program at 978-762-4176 or mnardell@northshore.edu
Job Outlook for Occupational Therapy Practitioners
Occupational Therapy was included in U.S. News and World Report?s List of ?Best Careers 2008?. In addition, occupational therapy was named one of the Nation's "best 150 recession-proof jobs" - see news release at http://www.aota.org/News/Media/PR/2008Releases/OT_RecessionProof.aspx
Questions or comments to mnardell@northshore.edu.
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