Occupational Therapy Assistant

Occupational Therapy Assistant

Occupational Therapy Assistants (OTA’s) help people of all ages develop, regain, or master everyday skills in order to live life to its fullest. The OTA is a skilled licensed/certified health care worker who carries out treatment plans under the guidance and supervision of an Occupational Therapist.

OTA’s provide treatment interventions to infants, children, adults, and geriatric patients in settings such as public schools, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, mental health centers, nursing homes, and other community settings.

Living life to its fullest

Occupational therapy helps people live life to its fullest by enabling them to do activities of daily life. The word "occupation" means an activity which "occupies" our time.

By focusing on the physical, psychological and social needs of its clients, Occupational Therapy helps people function at the highest possible level by concentrating on what is important to them to rebuild their health, independence and self-esteem. Occupational Therapy Assistants are specially trained and credentialed in the field and rely on evidence-based best practices and science-driven data to constantly improve patient outcomes.

Job Outlook

Occupational Therapy was on U.S. News and World Report’s List of “Best Careers” in 2007 and 2008. In selecting the most promising careers, U.S. News considered job satisfaction, training difficulty, prestige, and job market outlook. Although the magazine does not specify what makes occupational therapy such a promising career, the shortage of occupational therapists, an aging population, and general job satisfaction have most likely contributed to giving the career a spot on this list. For additional information on the OTA profession and salary ranges, please visit www.aota.org.

Licensure / Certification

Graduates of an accredited OTA program will be eligible to take the national certification examination for the occupational therapy assistant. This exam is administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of the exam, the individual will be a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA).

* Current accreditation status: Tucson

Coursework that prepares you for a career as an Occupational Therapy Assistant:

• Foundational Coursework
  
  • Medical Terminology
    
  • Study Skills
    
  • Anatomy and Physiology I and II
    
  • Math and Statistics
    
  • Communication Skills for the Health Professions
    
  • Computer Basics
    
  • Psychology
    
    
• Technical Coursework
  
  • Introduction to Occupational Therapy
    
  • Fundamentals of Occupational Therapy
    
  • Growth and Development
    
  • Activity Analysis
    
  • Principles of Occupational Therapy in Mental Health
    
  • Principles of Occupational Therapy in Physical
    
  • Health
    
  • Specific Populations for the Occupational Therapy
    
  • Assistant
    
  • Documentation for the Occupational Therapy
    
  • Assistant
    
  • Kinesiology
    
  • Therapeutic Modalities
    
  • Human Occupations I and II
    
  • Administrative Procedures
    
    
• Fieldwork
  
  • Level 1 (80 hours)
    
  • Level II a (320 hours)
    
  • Level II b (320 hours)

Day Classes: 80 weeks

For more detailed information on PMI’s Occupational Therapy Assistant classes and program specifics, financial aid and lifetime job placement for graduates, please visit your local campus below.

Tucson, AZ