Occupational Therapy Assistant Technology (OTA)
Occupational therapy is the art and science of directing the human response with a focus on using selected client-centered occupations to promote and maintain health, prevent disability, assess behavior, and treat or train patients with physical or psychological dysfunction.
The mission of Occupational Therapy Assistant Technology program is:
- to prepare graduates as competent, entry-level generalists qualified to practice in the field of Occupational Therapy
- to meet community workforce needs
- to provide opportunities for experiential and cooperative education with exposure to non-traditional and emerging areas of practice
- to educate the community, and
- to function within the standards of the College, the American Occupational Therapy Association, and the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education.
Graduates of the Occupational Therapy Assistant Technology program are technically qualified members of the health team who function under the supervision or consultation of a registered occupational therapist. Assistants accept clinical responsibilities in hospitals, nursing homes, schools, rehabilitation centers, or other organizations directed to maintain health and socialization.
Graduates demonstrate entry-level competency in:
- analyzing activities and applying activities to client needs
- using occupational therapy concepts and skills (such as daily living skills, group activities, evidence based interventions, and adaptive equipment)
- directing activity programs
- managing department operations
- collecting data
- understanding the effect of one’s behavior on the client and others
- upholding the standards of the profession
- identifying the need for continuing professional education and growth, and
- relating occupational therapy to the total health care system.
The OTA program at Cincinnati State provides unique learning opportunities for students through the Eileen Berke Occupational Therapy Center. This training laboratory is a home adjacent to the Clifton campus that has been modified with cabinetry, architectural installations, equipment, and furnishings designed to make daily life easier for individuals with disabilities or for those who simply wish to “age in place” in their own homes.
The Occupational Therapy Assistant program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education, 4720 Montgomery Lane, Suite 200, Bethesda, MD 20814-3449. The Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education is affiliated with the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929.
Graduates of the program earn an Associate of Applied Science degree and are eligible to sit for the national certification exam for the occupational therapy assistant, administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the graduate will be a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA).
In addition, all states require licensure to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT certification examination. A felony conviction may affect a graduate's ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.
Current NBCOT pass rates are available on the College’s website.
All OTA students must complete Level II fieldwork within 20 months after completing academic coursework preparation.
For more information, please contact the Health and Public Safety Division at (513) 569-1670.
To apply for this program at Cincinnati State, visit the Admissions section of the College website.