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Occupational Therapy Assistant - Associate in Applied Science Degree
Program Requirements:
Admission Type:
Health Sciences
Health Science 兔子先生
Locations:
Contact:
Limited Access Program 兔子先生
(843) 347-5221
Occupational therapy is a health care profession that specializes in helping people develop, master or regain the everyday skills necessary to live independent, productive and meaningful lives. Occupational therapy assistants work under the supervision of an occupational therapist to implement treatment interventions and meet the goals of each individual client鈥檚 needs. Occupational therapy assistants perform treatment with clients of various diagnoses across the lifespan.
The program curriculum will expose the student to a wide variety of traditional and emerging occupational therapy practices and settings. Fieldwork will provide the student with the opportunity to develop, implement and assess interventions based on the client鈥檚 plan of care.
The Occupational Therapy Assistant Program prepares graduates to attain the essential skills and competencies needed to sit for the National Board for Certification of Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) to become a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant.
兔子先生 Information
Specific Admission Requirements for Program
This is a Top Qualified program with a limited number of available seats. It has additional requirements beyond those of HGTC鈥檚 General Admission policy. Every applicant will be reviewed on a weighted application, but all will not be selected. Detailed information is shown below.
Getting Started with Occupational Therapy Assistant
Step 1
Apply to HGTC by filling out the Admission Application.
Step 2
- Official high school transcript or G.E.D.
- Official college transcript(s)
- Affidavit Acknowledgement Form (found in myHGTC, Health Sciences Resource card)
- TEAS** scores, no older than two (2) years from date of testing. Students may retest every 30 days.
Step 3
Begin working on requirements listed below in Phase I (Pre-program). You must fully complete the requirements before advancing to Step 4.
Phase I (Pre-program)
- Completion of the six (6) prerequisites classes listed below with a grade of C or
higher and a minimum GPA of 2.50:
- ENG 101, English Composition I
- MAT 110, College Algebra or MAT 120, Probability and Statistics (10-year time limit)
- BIO 210, Anatomy & Physiology I (5-year time limit/10 years with Bachelors Degree)
- BIO 211, Anatomy & Physiology II (5-year time limit/10 years with Bachelors Degree)
- PSY 201, General Psychology
- One qualifying Humanities course
- Recommended composite TEAS** score of 58.7 taken within the last two years.
- Completion of 20 hours in a occupational therapy setting within 3-years. The applicant is responsible for arranging the experience at approved facilities. (Observation form found in myHGTC, Health Sciences Resource card)
** Further information about the TEAS test, including instructions for registering for the TEAS and links to study material may be found on the Health Science Resources card in your myHGTC portal.
- Note: The OTA program does not accept experiential credit for courses with an OTA prefix.
Step 4
Submit the Program Application (found in myHGTC, Health Sciences Resource card.) Applications are due by May 15.
Step 5
If selected for a seat in Phase II (Clinical Program), you will receive an official acceptance letter from 兔子先生, along with clinical requirements instructions from HGTC-clinical@hgtc.edu. Some requirements are time sensitive, so you should not begin any requirements until contacted.
Clinical requirements include, but are not limited to:
- Completion and passing of a ***criminal background check (CBC) and a ***14-panel drug screen (UDS)
- General Hospital Orientation Care Learning Passport Transcript
- Proof of current Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR Certification through the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross
- Completion of the 4-page HGTC Health Physical
- Tuberculosis Screening (2-Step PPD: two TB skin tests) or a QuantiFERON-TB Gold Blood Assay (QFT)
- Submission of specific immunizations (Flu, Tdap, MMR, Varicella, and recommended Hepatitis B and COVID)
- Submit $125 deposit to hold your seat
***Only background checks and drug screens completed through the College's designated agency will be accepted.
Step 6
Attend program orientation.
Step 7
Welcome to the program! Begin Phase II (Clinical Program)
Phase II (Clinical Program)
Phase II is when you will begin occupational therapy assistant classes, labs and clinical rotations. It is required to attend a program orientation prior to the start of the program where you will receive further information from the department.
Course Sequence and Progression Requirements
A minimum grade of "C" or better is required for all OTA-prefixed courses for progression and graduation.
To be licensed as a Occupational Therapy Assistant in the state of South Carolina the graduate must pass the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) examination and apply for Occupational Therapy Assistant licensure with the . The cost of completing the NBCOT examination and application for licensure is not included in the cost of tuition for the program.
Student Resources
Admission Forms
Other Important Forms
- Background Check
- Student Manual
- Observation Experience Documentation Form
- (Observation hours may be completed in person, or virtually through the link. *The virtual option does have an associated cost.)
For more information, contact:
Gina Brown - 843-839-1092
Accreditation Status
The associate-degree-level occupational therapy assistant program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 501E, Bethesda, MD 20814. ACOTE鈥檚 telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-6611 and its web address is . 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). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA). In addition, all states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate鈥檚 ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.
For more information about HGTC's accreditations, click here.
Student Outcomes Information
Program Disclosure Statement
Applicants to the Occupational Therapy Assistant program should be aware a current, unrestricted license or certification may be required to practice in the state in which you intend to reside/practice. Each state is unique in its licensure requirements. Students are encouraged to reach out to the program chair for more information and assistance with understanding professional licensure.
Fieldwork Educators
Access HGTC Occupational Therapy Assistant Program Fieldwork Manual
Career Outlook & Employment Opportunities
For more information about careers, visit for an overview of South Carolina and National earnings statistics, and Career Services for more employment resources.
On a typical day, an occupational therapy assistant will perform components of a variety of treatment procedures, including:
- self-care: bathing, dressing, showering, cooking, etc.
- home & community management
- energy conservation
- wheelchair measurement and positioning
- splinting
- therapeutic exercise
Employment can be found in the following settings:
- Hospitals
- Nursing homes
- Rehabilitation centers
- Outpatient offices
- Home health agencies
Required Courses and Sample Schedules
Degree Requirements: Occupational Therapy Assistant |
||
| Component | Course Title | Semester Credit Hours |
| GENERAL EDUCATION | ||
| ENG 101 | English Composition I | 3 |
| PSY 201 | General Psychology | 3 |
| BIO 210 | Anatomy and Physiology I* | 4 |
| BIO 211 | Anatomy and Physiology II* | 4 |
| Select one Mathematics course from the list below: | ||
| MAT 110 | College Algebra | 3 |
| MAT 120 | Probability and Statistics | 3 |
| and | ||
| Select one Humanities/Fine Arts course from the list below: | ||
| ART 101 | Art History and Appreciation | 3 |
| ART 105 | Film as Art | 3 |
| ENG 201 | American Literature I | 3 |
| ENG 202 | American Literature II | 3 |
| ENG 205 | English Literature I | 3 |
| ENG 206 | English Literature II | 3 |
| ENG 208 | World Literature I | 3 |
| ENG 209 | World Literature II | 3 |
| ENG 230 | Women in Literature | 3 |
| ENG 236 | African American Literature | 3 |
| HIS 101 | Western Civilization to 1689 | 3 |
| HIS 102 | Western Civilization Post 1689 | 3 |
| HIS 201 | American History: Disc to 1877 | 3 |
| HIS 202 | American History: 1877 to Pres | 3 |
| MUS 105 | Music Appreciation | 3 |
| PHI 101 | Introduction to Philosophy | 3 |
| PHI 110 | Ethics | 3 |
| PHI 201 | History of Philosophy | 3 |
| PHI 211 | Moral Ethics | 3 |
| REL 103 | Comparative Religion | 3 |
| SPA 201 | Intermediate Spanish I | 3 |
| SPA 202 | Intermediate Spanish II | 3 |
| THE 101 | Introduction to Theatre | 3 |
| CREDITS | 20 | |
| REQUIRED CORE SUBJECT AREAS | ||
| OTA 105 | Therapeutic Analysis in Occupational Therapy | 3 |
|
OTA 220 |
Adult Physical Performance I | 4 |
| OTA 176 | Pediatric Development and Dysfunction | 4 |
| OTA 221 | Adult Performance II | 4 |
| OTA 162 | Psychosocial Dysfunction | 3 |
| CREDITS | 18 | |
| OTHER HOURS REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION | ||
| OTA 101 | Fundamentals of Occupational Therapy | 3 |
| OTA 108 | Professional Development | 1 |
| OTA 140 | OTA Clinical Introduction | 1 |
| OTA 142 | OTA Clinical Introduction I | 1 |
| OTA 144 | OTA Clinical Introduction II | 1 |
| OTA 155 | Gerontology | 2 |
| OTA 200 | Introduction to Kinesiology | 3 |
| OTA 203 | Kinesiology for Occupational Therapy | 3 |
| OTA 240 | Patient Care Skills for OTA | 3 |
| OTA 245 | Occupational Therapy Departmental Management | 2 |
| OTA 262 | OTA Clinical Application I | 7 |
| OTA 264 | OTA Clinical Application II | 7 |
| CREDITS | 33 | |
| TOTAL CREDIT HOURS | 72 | |
Sample Schedule: Occupational Therapy Assistant (Phase I - General Admission) |
||
| *Required Courses Prior to First Semester Enrollment of Phase II | Course Title | Semester Credit Hours |
| BIO 210 | Anatomy and Physiology I* | 4 |
| BIO 211 | Anatomy and Physiology II* | 4 |
| ENG 101 | English Composition I | 3 |
| PSY 201 | General Psychology | 3 |
| Select one Mathematics course from the list below: | ||
| MAT 110 | College Algebra** | 3 |
| MAT 120 | Probability and Statistics** (preferred) | 3 |
| and | ||
| Select one Humanities course from the list below: | ||
| ART 101 | Art History and Appreciation | 3 |
| ART 105 | Film as Art | 3 |
| ENG 201 | American Literature I | 3 |
| ENG 202 | American Literature II | 3 |
| ENG 205 | English Literature I | 3 |
| ENG 206 | English Literature II | 3 |
| ENG 208 | World Literature I | 3 |
| ENG 209 | World Literature II | 3 |
| ENG 230 | Women in Literature | 3 |
| ENG 236 | African American Literature | 3 |
| HIS 101 | Western Civilization to 1689 | 3 |
| HIS 102 | Western Civilization Post 1689 | 3 |
| HIS 201 | American History: Disc to 1877 | 3 |
| HIS 202 | American History: 1877 to Pres | 3 |
| MUS 105 | Music Appreciation | 3 |
| PHI 101 | Introduction to Philosophy | 3 |
| PHI 110 | Ethics | 3 |
| PHI 201 | History of Philosophy | 3 |
| REL 103 | Comparative Religion | 3 |
| SPA 201 | Intermediate Spanish I | 3 |
| SPA 202 | Intermediate Spanish II | 3 |
| THE 101 | Introduction to Theatre | 3 |
| CREDITS | 20 | |
|
*Upon successful completion of the 20-credit hours of courses listed above, a student may submit the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program Application for consideration for acceptance into the Limited Access OTA program (Phase II). Grades earned on the above courses, along with any support courses (prerequisite courses) must be no less than a C, with a minimum GPA of 2.5. Cumulative GPA must be 2.0 or higher, no academic or disciplinary suspension at time of admission or program entry. |
||
| CREDITS EARNED DURING PHASE II | 52 | |
| TOTAL CREDIT HOURS | 72 | |
Sample Schedule: Occupational Therapy Assistant (Phase II - Limited Access) |
||
| First Semester - Fall | Course Title | Semester Credit Hours |
| OTA 101 | Fundamentals of Occupational Therapy | 3 |
| OTA 105 | Therapeutic Analysis in Occupational Therapy | 3 |
| OTA 142 | OTA Clinical Introduction I | 1 |
| OTA 162 | Psychosocial Dysfunction | 3 |
| OTA 200 | Introduction to Kinesiology | 3 |
| CREDITS | 13 | |
| Second Semester - Spring | ||
| OTA 140 | OTA Clinical Introduction | 1 |
| OTA 176 | Pediatric Development and Dysfunction | 4 |
| OTA 203 | Kinesiology for Occupational Therapy | 3 |
| OTA 220 | Adult Physical Performance I | 4 |
| OTA 240 | Patient Care Skills for OTA | 3 |
| CREDITS | 15 | |
| Third Semester - Summer | ||
| OTA 144 | OTA Clinical Introduction II | 1 |
| OTA 155 | Gerontology | 2 |
| OTA 221 | Adult Performance II | 4 |
| OTA 245 | Occupational Therapy Departmental Management | 2 |
| CREDITS | 9 | |
| Fourth Semester - Fall | ||
| OTA 108 | Professional Development | 1 |
| OTA 262 | OTA Clinical Application I | 7 |
| OTA 264 | OTA Clinical Application II | 7 |
| CREDITS | 15 | |
| TOTAL CREDIT HOURS (Inclusive of the required 20-credit hours from courses listed in Phase I) | 72 | |
*BIO 210 and BIO 211 have 5-year time limits. If a Bachelor's or Master's degree is completed, the courses have 10-year time limits.
**Registration for MAT courses require students to have appropriate test scores and/or pre-req courses; please refer to your advisor to determine your academic qualifications and eligibility for enrolling in MAT courses.