Occupational Therapy Assistant | Allegany College of Maryland

What will you learn?

The Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program prepares graduates to work with individuals, groups, and populations who are limited by physical injury or illness, mental health challenges, developmental or learning disabilities, or the aging process. The student learns to utilize purposeful activities, exercises, adaptive devices, daily living tasks, and leisure activities to assist clients to achieve their highest level of independence.
The OTA participates in patient care by assisting the Occupational Therapist (OT) in assessing client needs, determining therapeutic goals, and treatment planning activities. Under the direction of the OT, the OTA is responsible for carrying out treatment sessions, communicating with clients and health care providers, documenting client progress, and maintaining clinical environments.

What will you do?

Assist individuals in achieving independence through meaningful engagement and participation in their chosen occupation which can include, but not limited to:
- Self care
- School
- Work
- Play-Leasure skills

Occupational Therapy Assistant program graduates enjoy enriching and rewarding careers in a variety of places:
- Hospitals
- Home health care
- Hospices
- Long-term Care facilities
- Mental Health facilities
- Outpatient facilities
- Rehabilitation facilities
- Day Care Centers
- Public and Private Schools
- Private Homes
- Industry/Ergonomics
- Accessible Housing Consultant

Job Outlook: Occupational therapy is one of the top healthcare fields in the United States. The OTA is in high demand and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) anticipates that employment for the profession will grow by 29% between 2016 and 2026. Additionally, the U.S. News & World Report ranked OTA as the #7 healthcare support role in 2024.

Why ACM?

Discover what others are saying about ACM's Occupational Therapy Assistant program - click an image below.

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What Can Occupational Therapy Do For You?

Admissions Criteria

Phase I The Occupational Therapy Assistant Program is a 1+1 program. This means that students are required to complete all General Education requirements (Phase 1) before applying to the clinical phase of the program (Phase II).  A full-time student could potentially complete all General Education requirements in one year; however, a part-time student will require additional time. It is recommended that General Education requirements be completed within five (5) years prior to application to the Clinical Phase, and it is mandatory for the Biology requirements unless waived by the program director.

Phase I courses include:

Freshman English
Math elective (Elements of Math, College Algebra or Statistics)
Humanities elective
Introduction to Occupational Therapy
Diversity and Health Determinants
General Psychology
Human Growth and Development

Option 1:

BIO121 Musculoskeletal Anatomy followed by BIO201 Human Anatomy & Physiology

*BIO121 is nontransferable and offered only at ACM in the Fall semester

*BIO 201 is a combined BIO 207/208 A & P course and may or may not transfer.

Option 2:

BIO207 Anatomy & Physiology I followed by BIO208 Anatomy & Physiology II
(This sequence is strongly recommended but has an additional prerequisite)
*Please note: Bio100, 101, or 102 is a prerequisite for Bio 207.

For students transferring from another institution or ACM students seeking transferable credit, Biological Science 207 and 208 may be substituted for Biological Science 121 and 201.

The sequencing is not interchangeable. If you have questions, please call our office at 301-784-5538.

Requirements for application to the Clinical Phase (Phase II):

Application to the College (This can be completed at: https://services.allegany.edu/admissions/application/)
Successful completion of all General Education courses (Phase I) with a grade of "C" or better. Transfer students—Submission of all transcripts must be sent as quickly as possible. Please allow three weeks for processing of the transcript(s). Paper transcripts should be sent to the attention of the Admissions Office. Electronic transcripts should be sent to ACMtranscripts@allegany.edu

a. Must have completed all prerequisite courses before or during the Spring semester of which the deadline falls

b. Must hold a “C” or better grade

c. Cumulative GPA of 2.5 for all Phase I courses.
Pre-Admission Observation Requirement:

We feel that personal job shadowing is beneficial. Completion of four hours of volunteer observation (job shadowing) at two different facilities (for a total of eight hours) will be required (i.e. nursing home, hospital, school or pediatric facility, rehab facilities or outpatient services). Observation Evaluation Forms are to be completed, signed, and returned to the OTA Program by the supervising OT/OTA in a confidential manner.

Additionally, there are two required writing assignments.

The following two summaries are to be completed:

1. Review https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwwOXlLYQ4Q&t=10s

a. Write a reflection of 250-300 words using correct grammar mechanics. No texting abbreviations will be accepted.

2. Review http://abbypediatricot.blogspot.com/p/a-day-in-life-of-ot.html

a. Write a summary of the similarities and differences between these practice settings, and then reflect on which area of practice you find most appealing. Describe why you feel you would be a good “fit” to a specific setting (400-500 words).

Your reflection papers should be mailed, faxed or emailed to the following contacts prior to the April 15 deadline. Emails should be addressed to jandres@allegany.edu
Read and understand the EXPECTATIONS as outlined in the OTA Application packet. Sign and return the signature page only with your application. You should keep the Expectations for future reference.
Submission of OTA application for Clinical Phase II by April 15 in order to be considered for admission in the summer session.
Submission of Volunteer Observation Hour Evaluations prior to April 15 deadline.
Submission of Reflection papers prior to April 15 deadline.

All applicants will be required to submit to a criminal background check. All admitted students must have a clean criminal record in order to be placed in clinical sites.

Laptop Requirements

Admission to the clinical phase of the OTA program is limited to 16 students per year, and completion of the above requirements does not guarantee admission.  Please contact the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program or the Admissions Office for more information on the admissions process. Early application to the program is encouraged.  Following the selection from these applications, if the class of 16 is not filled, students will be accepted on a first come, first served basis based on their eligibility.

Phase II

Once admitted to the clinical phase (Phase II), students will complete all OTA courses at the Cumberland campus in 4 consecutive terms; summer, fall, spring, and summer.  Many of the Phase II courses are offered in an A-Term/B-Term format.

The Occupational Therapy Assistant Program is comprised of both classroom education and clinical experience.  A satisfactory health record must be on file prior to clinical experience.  CPR certification is a prerequisite to beginning the clinical phase of the program.  Certification and/or recertification is the responsibility of the student.  The college regularly offers such courses.  In order to participate in clinical experiences, students must obtain a Criminal Record Check, prior to entrance into the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program.  If participating in a clinical experience at a Pennsylvania site, the student must also obtain a Child Abuse History Clearance.  During enrollment, any official change or the initiation of any governmental proceeding affecting the information revealed by the required criminal or child abuse background checks must be reported immediately by the student to the director of the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program. 

Program Details

Phase II of the program includes occupational therapy assistant courses, as well as fieldwork opportunities in a variety of settings. As you work towards earning your Associate of Applied Science degree in Occupational Therapy Assistant, you'll also be required to join the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) to gain access to their website for valuable learning resources, as well as discounts on textbooks and educational workshops.

As an Occupational Therapy Assistant program student, you'll expand your knowledge and gain career training through a variety of challenging courses, including:

    Introduction to Occupational Therapy
Diversity and Health Determinants
    Intervention Techniques I
    Dynamics of Human Motion
    Intervention in Physical Rehabilitation
    Mental Health Concepts and Techniques
Domain of Occupational Therapy
    Intervention Techniques II
    Intervention with Children and Adolescents
    Occupational Therapy Specialty Skills Development
    Intervention with the Geriatric Population
    Occupational Therapy Program Development
    Physical Agent Modalities
    Clinical Internship I & II

A full listing of program courses and their descriptions can be found in the credit catalog.

The OTA Program is comprised of both classroom education and clinical experience. Upon completion of the program students will have accumulated over 500 hours of clinical training. The program is affiliated with over 50 facilities such as Western Maryland Health System, Washington County Hospital Association, WVU Hospitals, UPMC Hospitals.  OTA also has several corporate contracts.

National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) pass rates for Allegany College graduates are available on their website at https://www.nbcot.org/Educators-Folder/SchoolPerformance.

Allegany College graduates NBCOT Pass Rates:

2022	100%
2023	100%
2024	100%

OT educator's all-inclusive resource on everything NBCOT, including the program director portal, educator resources, and exam prep.

www.nbcot.org

OTA Graduation Rates:

Year	Total Enrolled	Total Graduated	Withdraw Personal	Withdraw Academic	Percentage
2023	11	8	2	1	73%
2022	7	6		1	86%
2021	8	7	1		88%
2020	15	13	1	1	87%
2019	18	17	1		94%
Total	59	51	5	3	86%

Transfer Information

Students should recognize that this program is primarily designed to prepare students to work as Occupational Therapy Assistants after graduation and certification.

Students transferring to some four-year colleges and universities may not receive credit for OTA courses taken at Allegany College of Maryland.

Occupational Therapy Assistants have the opportunity to continue their education by receiving a Master's degree in OT. There are many Occupational Therapy programs designed to prepare Occupational Therapy Assistants to become Registered Occupational Therapists. A list of such programs is available through the American Occupational Therapy Association by calling 1(800) 729-2682 or www.aota.org. Admission requirements for these programs vary from one program to another and making contact with a specific program is the best way to ensure admission.

The ACM Occupational Therapy Assistant program is designated as a Health Manpower Shortage Program by the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC). Maryland residents from counties other than Allegany County who register in this eligible program will be charged the out-of-county tuition rate. However, these students may be eligible to receive reimbursement for a portion of the cost difference between the in-county and out-of-county tuition rates. Funding availability for this program is based on funding from the state of Maryland and is thus subject to change each semester. Some restrictions apply. Please contact the Admissions Office  for more information.

Discover more...

Certification Examinations

FAQs

Resources for Fieldwork Supervisors

NMWC Forms/Fees

Total Cost to Student

PLTW Articulation

Accreditation

Accredited (August 2014) by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE), 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Ste 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814, (301) 652-6611 or https://acoteonline.org. 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), One Bank Street, Suite 300, Gaithersburg, MD 20878, (301) 990-7979. After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be a Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA) and can obtain licensure in whatever state he/she chooses to be employed.

ACOTE® accredited occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant educational programs satisfy the states’ educational requirements in all states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Students graduating from an ACOTE® accredited occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant educational program are eligible to take the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) certification exam and apply for licensure in all states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. For more information regarding state qualifications and licensure requirements, please refer to the AOTA State Licensure webpage.

Program Goals & Learning Outcomes

Program Goals

The OTA graduate will demonstrate entry-level clinical competency within the context of the occupational therapy assistant's role to support successful achievement of the national certification exam and licensure.
The OTA graduate will demonstrate commitment to best evidence-based practice and professional development to
meet the needs of a diverse treatment population and future employers.
The OTA graduate will demonstrate value in promoting the health and well-being of persons and populations within
the scope of occupational therapy's core values and standards.

Learning Outcomes

The OTA graduate will demonstrate theoretical knowledge and skills competency in delivering client-centered and occupation-based interventions to support successful completion of the national certification examination and licensure to practice as a certified Occupational Therapy Assistant.
The OTA graduate will demonstrate therapeutic use of self to promote occupational engagement across the function-dysfunction continuum.
The OTA graduate will demonstrate skills in integrating occupational therapy's core values and practice principles within the OTA roles of direct service provider, educator, manager, leader, and advocate for the profession and consumer.
The OTA graduate will demonstrate skills in creative and flexible clinical reasoning to facilitate maximum functional performance in occupations among individuals, groups, and populations.
The OTA graduate will demonstrate competency in promoting quality patient outcomes through the pursuit of innovation and evidence-based clinical practice.
The OTA graduate will demonstrate a commitment to life-long learning through the integration of art and science to foster professional growth.
The OTA graduate will demonstrate effective communication skills and professionalism to efficiently meet the needs of individuals, groups, and populations.
The OTA graduate will demonstrate competency in translating, applying, and adapting occupational therapy's professional value appropriately to meet regional and cultural needs of individuals, groups, and populations.
The OTA graduate will demonstrate skills in improving the health and well-being of individuals, groups, and populations through the active role of community engagement in traditional and emerging practice areas.
The OTA graduate will demonstrate skills in advocating and promoting the value of the occupational therapy profession in alignment with evolving professional and ethical standards.

Meet the Faculty

Our experienced, knowledgeable faculty and staff are excited to share their expertise with you and prepare you to succeed in the diverse, dynamic field of Occupational Therapy.

Jeff Hopkins, MS, OTR/L
jhopkins@allegany.edu
Program Director

301-784-5536
Allied Health 234D

B.S., University of Maryland, College Park
MS, University of Puget Sound

C. Alex Grimm, BS, COTA/L
cgrimm@allegany.edu
OTA Faculty, Fieldwork Coordinator

301-784-5583
Allied Health 234

A.A.S., Allegany College of Maryland
B.S., University of Cincinnati

Emily Rhodes, BS, COTA/L
emilyrhodes@allegany.edu
OTA Faculty

301-784-5583
Allied Health 234C

A.A., Allegany College of Maryland
B.S., Frostburg State University

Jamie Andres
jandres@allegany.edu
Administrative Associate

301-784-5538
Allied Health 234

A.A., Allegany College of Maryland