OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSISTANT
Associate of Applied Science Degree

Occupational therapy assistants, under the direction of a licensed occupational therapist, assist individuals with disabling conditions to achieve independence through the use of purposeful activity. The curriculum for the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program covers a period of two years and is designed to lead toward an Associate of Applied Science degree. Students will engage in coursework for a period of four semesters followed by a fifth semester of full-time fieldwork at health care facilities in the community. The educational experience will include classroom instruction, laboratory activities and clinical work. Students will be trained to work with all age groups in a variety of health care settings.

 1. Academic Requirements

Applicants can meet the academic requirements through ONE of the three following options:

 

Option 1 (Test scores that show college level skills such as):

THEA SCORES

Reading

 

230

Math

  230

Writing

  220

 

Other test scores may be substituted in place of THEA scores such as, SAT, ACT, ASSET and COMPASS scores.  Please inquire with the program director regarding any substitutions.

Option 2  (Course completion):
Complete a minimum of seven semester college credit hours including the following courses with a grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 with no grade below a C.

a. BIOL 2401: Human Anatomy and Physiology I or
    BIOL 2402: Human Anatomy and Physiology II
    and
b. ENGL 1301: Composition and Rhetoric I

Applicants may also substitute other completed courses such as psychology, history, etc.  Contact the program director for verification of any substitutions.  

Option 3 (A combination of testing and course work):

Applicants may combine test scores with course completion.  For example, completion of ENGL 1301 and a Math score of 230 on the THEA would be an acceptable combination.  Contact the program director for specific questions regarding the combining of scores and coursework.

2. Personal Reference Forms

              Identify 3 persons who are willing to complete the performance form.  These forms can be completed by supervisors who may/may not be an occupational therapy professional or, if you have not been employed, a volunteer work supervisor or a teacher who has had the opportunity to observe your performance would be sufficient.  Friends and family members are not appropriate to use as references.  Forms are to be mailed directly from the person providing the reference to the Occupational Assistant Program.  The form is provided below; please print and staple three forms, one for each reference.  Be sure to sign the waiver on each form before giving it to the reference.  Reference forms that do not have a signed waiver and/or are not sent directly from the individual providing the reference will not be considered as part of the application.

3.  Observation Hours

There is no requirement for an applicant to complete observation hours with an occupational therapist or  occupational therapy assistant in order to be considered for  program admission.  Applicants may choose on their own to observe an occupational therapy practitioner and can receive additional points toward their application packet for doing so.   A form is provided below.

4.  Official Transcripts

            An official transcript must be sent from all colleges attended, except those in the Lone Star College System.  

             If all other college experience has already been evaluated by the Records Department of the Lone Star College System (degree audit) you may submit a copy of this official evaluation.

5.   Ranking Process

              Applicants to the program will be ranked according to their level of achievement of the program admission criteria and will be accepted into the program on a competitive basis.   

Ranking criteria includes grade point average, personal reference forms, possible completion of non-occupational    therapy program coursework that is part of the program degree plan (English 1301, BIOL 2402 and 2402, PSYC 2301 and 2314, SPCH 1318, Humanities/Fine Arts elective) observation hours in occupational therapy, and any prior certification in a healthcare related field.  

            Please note that completion of non-occupational therapy program coursework, observation hours, and prior certification in a healthcare field are not required for admission, however, they may be considered in the ranking process.

                        The top-ranking applicants, based on this initial information, will be invited for an interview.  Interviewees will be notified by telephone or in writing of the time, date and location of the interview.  In addition, interviewees will be required to complete a writing sample at the time of interview.  Upon completion of the interview and writing samples, applicants will be re-ranked with the top applicants chosen to join the program.

6.   Program Requirements

             All successful applicants admitted to the OTA program will be required to attend an orientation session.  Evidence of a physical examination completed by a licensed physician along with verification of updated immunization records must be submitted at that time.   Student liability insurance is required prior to enrolling in Level I Fieldwork.  Students must submit a Certificate of completion of CPR prior to Level II Fieldwork.

            Persons interested in applying to the program are highly recommended to begin as soon as possible as the Hepatitis B series of immunizations as it takes several months to complete.  Hepatitis B is required by law in the State of Texas for all students involved in healthcare programs. 

            The majority of coursework requirements include competence in basic computer use skills including some components of distance learning.  Computer labs for student access are available on campus.

7.              Program Cost

Approximate costs per semester are listed below.  In addition,  students will pay $19.00 for liability insurance, $50.00 for a criminal background check, immunization costs as needed and uniform costs where applicable.  Students are responsible for the cost of their own transportation to and from clinical sites.

Semester

Books

Tuition/Fees

1       Fall

$480.00

$690.00

2      Spring

$580.00

$680.00

3      Summer

$310.00

$420.00

4      Fall

$260.00

$700.00

5      Spring

$0.00

$370.00

         TOTAL

$1630.00

$2860.00

 

           

 

 

 

7.   Program Accreditation

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, (301) 652-AOTA.  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 graduate will be a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA).  Most states, including Texas, require licensure to practice.  Texas licensure is based on successful completion of the NBCOT examination.  A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT examination or attain state licensure.  Any form of charges or conviction results on a criminal background check may be cause for exclusion from admission to the program.

The total number of graduates who passed the certification exam in 2005-2007 was 37 out of 38 total first-time new graduate test takers which is a 97% pass rate. During that three-year time period, the program had 39 graduates.

8.            Application Packet

Applications are due the last Tuesday in April each year.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING THE APPLICATION:

1)     Application Form: Please open, print, and staple the PDF file below which contains the application.  Fill out the application in black ink and mail to the address below.  DO NOT FOLD.

2)     Reference Letter Form: Please open, print three copies and staple the PDF file below which contains the reference form letter.  Follow the directions listed in number 2 above under “Personal Reference Forms”.

3)     Observation Documentation: Please open and print the PDF file below which contains the observation documentation form.  Follow the directions listed in number 3 above under “Observation Hours”.

 

         4) Please direct all correspondence to:

Terra Ruppert, Ph.D., OTR

Director, Occupational Therapy Assistant Program

30555 Tomball Parkway

Tomball, Texas  77375

281-357-3733

terra.ruppert@lonestar.edu