What is Occupational Therapy (OT)?
Young or old, we all have a job to do—the job of living. Learning, growing, playing, working, managing our homes, and caring for our families are among the "occupations" of life.

Unfortunately, physical, emotional, or other challenges prevent people from participating fully in the job of living. Disease, injury, depression, or developmental problems can make it difficult for people to do everyday tasks or be active and independent.

Occupational therapy—a vibrant, growing profession—makes it possible for people to achieve independence and to enjoy life to its fullest. By choosing a career as an occupational therapy assistant, you can make a difference! You will improve the lives of people, from newborns to the very old.


Which qualities or personal traits are useful in practicing occupational therapy?
You’re creative, energetic, and ambitious. You enjoy science and the arts, and know the value of good health. You’re a skillful communicator. You do well in school. You have a knack for problem solving.

You have a lot to offer and want to make the most of what you do best. A career in OT will let you blend your many talents and interests while making a profound difference in others’ lives.

As an occupational therapy practitioner, you will help children and adults gain skills needed to take part in meaningful occupations—from dressing and feeding themselves, to work, school, leisure, and community pursuits. You’ll confront problems and suggest innovative tools and techniques to help your client perform daily tasks and gain more independence in their lives. You will be part of a team that helps make a person’s home, school, or work setting safer and more productive.


What makes Occupational Therapy Different?
In addition to dealing with an individual's physical well-being, occupational therapy practitioners address psychological, social, and environmental factors that may impede independent functioning in all aspects of life. This unique perspective makes occupational therapy a vital part of a health care program.
Occupational therapy services significantly improve rehabilitation for many people with impairments due to

• arthritis, cancer, or other debilitating illnesses,
• head or spinal cord injuries,
• orthopedic, work, or sports-related injuries,
• amputation,
• burns,
• stroke and other neurological conditions,
• mental illness or
• developmental disabilities.

How can I find more information about OT?
http://www.aota.org/

The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) is the nationally recognized professional association of more than 40,000 occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, and students of occupational therapy. These individuals work with people experiencing health problems such as stroke, spinal cord injuries, cancer, congenital conditions, developmental problems, and mental illness. Practitioners work in a wide range of settings including schools, hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, home health, outpatient rehabilitation clinics, psychiatric facilities, and community health programs.

Occupational therapy helps people regain, develop, and build skills that are essential for independent functioning, health, and well-being.
Occupational therapy can prevent injury or the worsening of existing conditions or disabilities and thereby promote independence in individuals who may otherwise require institutionalization or other long-term care. Because of this, occupational therapy can help keep health care costs down while maximizing the quality of life for individuals, families, and caregivers.

Kentucky Occupational Therapy Association: http://www.kotaweb.org/
Indiana Occupational Therapy Association: http://www.inota.com/
 

Who are the Occupational Therapy Assistants (OTA)?
OTA’s earn a 2-year associate’s from an occupational therapy assistant technical program. Under the supervision of occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants provide hands-on services to children and adults who are learning new ways to succeed in the occupations of life.

What does an Occupational Therapy Assistant do?
Depending on your employer or the setting in which you work, your tasks may include:

• Aiding the growth and development of premature babies
• Improving learning environments for physically or mentally challenged school children
• Adapting home environments for people dealing with the effects of stroke, reduced vision, or other conditions
• Analyzing job tasks and equipment to prevent future injuries for an injured worker
• Measuring the effectiveness of treatment activities

What is the difference between an OT and an OTA?Preparing for a career as an occupational therapy assistant requires completion of a 2-year associate degree. An OT must earn an entry-level master’s degree, or entry-level doctoral degree. In addition to these degrees, all candidates will be required to complete a period of supervised fieldwork and pass a national certification exam.
 

Where do OTA’s work?
Occupational therapists work in a variety of job settings. Public schools, hospitals, mental health centers, nursing homes, physician practices, and home health agencies are all job settings that may employ occupational therapy practitioners. With career advancement, occupational therapists may move into management, specialization, teaching, research, or private practice positions
 

What is the job market outlook for OTA’s?
Recent information published by the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals that the job outlook for occupational therapy assistants will continue to improve steadily for the foreseeable future. Specifically, it states that: "Employment of occupational therapy assistants…is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations through 2010," meaning that employment is expected to increase by 36% or more.     http://www.otjoblink.org/

What do OTA’s earn?
According to the 2000 AOTA Compensation Survey, full-time occupational therapists earned an average annual salary of approximately $48,000 and full-time occupational therapy assistants earned approximately $30,132.

What college courses do I need to take as pre-requisites to the OTA Program?
If you are interested in applying to an occupational therapy program, you must obtain specific requirements, prerequisites, and program content from the schools to which you are applying. Obtain an OTA Curriculum Guide from JCTC, Allied Health office, VTI 321 or on the JCTC web site.

What are the licensure, certification, or registration requirements?
Preparing for a career as an occupational therapy assistant requires completion of a 2-year associate degree. In addition to these degrees, all candidates will be required to complete a period of supervised fieldwork and pass a national certification exam.

Occupational therapy practitioners can be credentialed at either the professional (occupational therapist) or technical (occupational therapy assistant) level. The occupational therapist completes a baccalaureate, entry-level masters, or entry-level doctoral degree, and the occupational therapy assistant completes a 2-year associate degree (OTA) program at one of more than 300 accredited programs at colleges and universities throughout the United States.

Beginning January 1, 2007, occupational therapists will be credentialed at the post baccalaureate degree level.

Occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant students must also complete a supervised fieldwork program and pass a national certification exam. All 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico regulate the practice of occupational therapy. Many of these jurisdictions mandate periodic continuing education requirements.

AOTA's accrediting body, the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) has established standards for the profession that have been adopted by many states in their laws and regulations. AOTA, through its accrediting body, has accredited the nation's occupational therapy educational programs since 1935.


Will the OTA courses count towards a Master’s degree in OT?
Most of the pre-requisite courses that are required for the JCTC OTA program will transfer for a Master’s degree. It is always up to the admitting school to accept or decline transfer courses.
 

Who do I contact for advising?

Carolyn Thornsberry, OTR/L , CLT
OTA Interim Program Coordinator
Jefferson Community & Technical College
109 E. Broadway
VTI 307
Louisville, KY 40202
Phone: 502-213-2342
Fax: 502-213-2491
Email: carolyn.thornsberry@kctcs.edu

Lindsey Lawrence, BGAS, COTA/L, ROH
OTA Academic Fieldwork Coordinator
Jefferson Community & Technical College
109 E. Broadway
VTI 307 Louisville, KY 40202
Phone: 502-213-2214
Fax: 502-213-2491
Email: lindsey.lawrence@kctcs.edu
 

How do I apply to the OTA Program?
The only way in which you are able to apply to the OTA Program is to attend an OTA Pre-admission conference. These are listed in the Student Bulletin, on the Program Coordinator’s voicemail or posted on her office door (VTI 307C).

What are the minimum requirements for admission to the OTA Program?
Students are admitted to the Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) Program once a year, in the Spring Semester. It is mandatory that all applicants attend an OTA pre-admission conference. (If you have attended a pre-admission conference before but were not selected for the program, or opted not to enter the program that year, you must attend another pre-admission conference to re-apply for Spring). All conferences are on the Downtown campus. Conference dates are announced in the Student Bulletin, posted on the OTA Program Coordinator’s office door, and requested (502) 213-2432.

It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the following credentials are on file at the JCTC Admissions Office no later than Dec. 1:

1. Application for admission to the community college

2. Official transcripts of all post-secondary education, if applicable. (Official transcripts of all college work completed after Dec. 1 but prior to Dec. 31 must be submitted to the Admissions Office no later than Jan. 2).

3. Official ACT score report.

4. Other credentials as per the request of the Admissions Office as part of the admission process to the college.

It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the following credentials are on file with the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program Coordinator no later than Oct. 1:

1. Copy of the application for admission to the community college.

2. Official or unofficial transcripts of all post-secondary education, if applicable. (Official or unofficial transcripts of all college work completed after Oct. 1 but prior to Dec. 31 must be submitted to the OTA Program Coordinator no later than Jan. 2).

3. Copy of ACT score report.

4. Completed OTA Program Application Form (this form is obtained and completed at a pre-admission conference).

5. Written documentation of completion of ten required observation, volunteer and/or experience hours at two different types of occupational therapy settings. (The ten hours must be split between the two settings).

6. *The top 30 candidates determined from the established point system might be required to participate in a formal interview to determine the final 20 students selected for the OTA Program.

=> Admission process is being reviewed. As a result, there may be some changes.

How many observation/volunteer hours do I need to apply for the OTA Program?
Written documentation of completion of ten required observation, volunteer and/or experience hours at two different types of occupational therapy settings. (The ten hours must be split between the two settings).
 

Why OTA at Jefferson Community & Technical College?
The JCTC OTA Program has an excellent reputation in the community, excellent national certification pass rate, excellent employment records, as well as strong support from the College.

Accredited occupational therapy assistant program:  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, P.O. Box 31220, Bethesda, MD 20824-1220. AOTA's phone number is (301) 652-AOTA. Graduates of the program will be able to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapy assistant administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA). Most states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination.

What are Fieldwork I and Fieldwork II?
Level I
The AOTA Standards describe the goal of Level I Fieldwork "to introduce students to the fieldwork experience, and develop a basic comfort level with an understanding of the needs of clients." Level I Fieldwork is not intended to develop independent performance, but to "include experiences designed to enrich didactic coursework through directed observation and participation in selected aspects of the occupational therapy process."
Services may be provided to a variety of populations through a variety of settings. Experiences may include those directly related to occupational therapy, as well as other situations to enhance an understanding of the developmental stages, tasks, and roles of individuals throughout the life span. Day care centers, schools, neighborhood centers, hospice, homeless shelters, community mental health centers, and therapeutic activity or work centers are among the many possible sites. Level I Fieldwork may also include services management and administrative experiences in occupational therapy settings, community agencies, or environmental analysis experiences. Populations may include disabled or well populations; age-specific or diagnosis-specific clients.

Level II
The ACOTE/AOTA Standards (1998) describe Level II Fieldwork as...a crucial part of professional preparation...The goal of Level II Fieldwork is to develop competent, entry-level, generalist occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants. The fieldwork experience is to provide students with the opportunity to integrate academic knowledge with the application of skills in a practice setting. (AOTA, 1999a & b; AOTA, 1996)


Information about scholarships or financial aid?
http://www.aota.org/featured/area2/links/link20.asp
http://www.jefferson.kctcs.edu/students/default.htm