Contact Information
Dr. Tom Pigg, Dean
(731) 424-3520 ext. 50201
tpigg@jscc.edu
Program and Career Description
Occupational therapy assistants (OTA) enjoy a satisfying, challenging and rewarding career in helping patients of all ages develop, recover, and improve the skills needed for daily living and working. Upon Completion of the Associate of Applied Science Occupational Therapy Assistant Major, the OTA will work in partnership with and under the direct supervision of a licensed occupational therapist in a variety of settings. This program includes academic and fieldwork training over a two-year course of study.
Applications for the OTA program are accepted in the spring semester for the program beginning the next fall.
| Career | Entry Level | Mean | Median | Experienced |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Occupational Therapy Assistant | $43,245.00 | $56,910.00 | $57,393.00 | $63,742.00 |
Data provided by Jobs4TN. Salaries are not guaranteed.
Admission Requirements
Students are accepted into the program Fall semester of each year.
The OTA program has specific admission requirements. To be considered for admission you must:
- Attend Information Session
- Obtain regular admission status to the college.
- Submit all official high school/college transcripts to the Admissions Office.
- Complete all required learning support classes (if applicable) prior to applying to the program.
- Possess a high school and/or college overall GPA of 2.5 or higher.
- Submit official ACT results if you have not earned credit in college level courses
- Students accepted into the OTA program must complete Anatomy and Physiology I with a grade of “C” or better no later than the summer before the student expects to begin the program. BIOL 2010 -Anatomy and Physiology I must have been completed within the five years before a student expects to begin the program.
- Students are encouraged to complete all General Education courses prior to beginning the Occupational Therapy Assistant program.
Observation hours are no longer required. Applicants will need to watch a series of
videos within the application online portal and complete attestation to watching.
Program Requirements
Various courses are offered in a hybrid format meaning that part of the course will be delivered online (through eLearn), and the other part will be conducted in the classroom. Access to the internet is necessary to participate in on-line activities. High-speed connection is strongly recommended. (The AAS Occupational Therapy Assistant requires 70 college level credits. This is a career program which was granted an exception to the 60 hour limit requirement reached through Tennessee Board of Regents consensus. The exception was granted due to additional hours needed to adequately cover the necessary learning outcomes and/or to meet national accreditation agency requirements. Some courses have prerequisites and co-requisites.)
Communication Requirement
ENGL 1010 English Composition I
COMM 2025 Fundamentals of Communication
Choose ONE Humanities Course
ART 2000 Art History Survey I
ART 2020 Art History Survey II
ART 1035 Introduction to Art
COMM 1851 Introduction to Film
ENGL 2055 African-American Literature
ENGL 2110 Early American Literature
ENGL 2120 Modern American Literature
ENGL 2210 Early British Literature
ENGL 2220 Modern British Literature
ENGL 2310 Early World Literature
ENGL 2320 Modern World Literature
HUM 1010 Early Humanities
HUM 1020 Modern Humanities
MUS 1030 Introduction to Music
PHIL 1030 Introduction to Philosophy
PHIL 1040 Introduction to Ethics
THEA 1030 Introduction to Theatre
Social/Behavioral Sciences Requirement
PSYC 1030 General Psychology
Natural Science Requirement
BIOL 2010 Human Anatomy and Physiology I
Major Required Courses
OTAP 1310 Occupational Human Development
OTAP 1320 Exploring Occupation
OTAP 1210 Foundations of Occupational Therapy
OTAP 1220 OT Doc with Level 1 A
OTAP 1140 Foundations of Research in OT
OTAP 1350 Group Process and Dynamics
OTAP 1360 Challenges to Mental Health
OTAP 1370 Challenges to Physical Health
OTAP 1340 Human Movement for Occupation
OTAP 1380 A T and Environments
OTAP 1240 OT Doc with Level 1 B
OTAP 2210 OT Intervention and Treat/Pediatric
OTAP 2310 OT Intervention and Treat/Mental Health
OTAP 2330 OT Intervention and Treat/Adult
OTAP 2340 OT Intervention and Treat/Geriatric
OTAP 2220 Practice Management
OTAP 2110 Level 1 C
OTAP 2610 Levell II A
OTAP 2620 Level II B
Occupational Therapy Assistant students have a maximum of 12 months to complete the Fieldwork Level II (internship) portion of their OTA education. This 12 month period begins when a student is eligible to participate in Level II fieldwork. If a student postpones their Level II fieldwork rotation, they must provide proof of hardship, physician statement, and/or any other evidence deemed necessary. A plan outlining the student to schedule or complete their Level II fieldwork experience must be approved by the OTA faculty. The Associate of Applied Science Occupational Therapy Assistant courses have prerequisites and co-requisites.
Note: Students accepted to the OTA program will be required to provide a copy of a criminal background check prior to starting their first level I Fieldwork in the fall of the first year of the program. JSCC does not use the background check as criteria for admission to the program. Background checks are required by some clinical sites as a condition of participation. Students are required to participate in a variety of clinical experiences to successfully complete the program. If a student has questions regarding the criminal background check, please call (731) 425-2612.
Sample Schedule
| Number | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENGL 1010 | English Composition I | 3 |
| PSYC 1030 | General Psychology | 3 |
| OTAP 1310 | Occupational Human Development | 3 |
| OTAP 1320 | Exploring Occupations | 3 |
| OTAP 1210 | Foundations of Occupational Therapy | 2 |
| OTAP 1220 | OT Documentation with Level 1 A | 2 |
| OTAP 1140 | Foundations of Research in OT | 1 |
| Total Credits | 17 |
| Number | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| OTAP 1350 | Group Processes and Dynamics | 3 |
| OTAP 1360 | Challenges to Mental Health | 3 |
| OTAP 1370 | Challenges to Physical Health | 3 |
| OTAP 1340 | Human Movement for Occupation | 3 |
| OTAP 1380 | Assistive Technology and Environments | 3 |
| OTAP 1240 | OT Documentation with Level 1 B | 2 |
| Total Credits | 17 |
| Number | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| OTAP 2220 | Practice Management | 2 |
| COMM 1010 | Fundamentals of Communication | 3 |
| Humanities Course | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 8 |
| Number | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| OTAP 2310 | OT Intervention and Treat/Mental Health | 3 |
| OTAP 2330 | OT Intervention and Treat/Adult | 3 |
| OTAP 2340 | OT Intervention and Treat/Geriatric | 3 |
| OTAP 2110 | OT Intervention and Treat/Pediatric | 2 |
| OTAP 2110 | Level 1 C | 1 |
| Total Credits | 12 |
| Number | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| OTAP 2610 | Level II A | 6 |
| OTAP 2620 | Level II B | 6 |
| Total Credits | 12 |
Students are required to complete BIOL 2010 Anatomy and Physiology (4 credits) no later than the summer before beginning the OTA Program.
Any of the non-OTA courses may be taken prior to applying to the program. This does not, however, alter the above OTA specific course schedule once the student is accepted into the program.