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Occupational Therapy Assistant AAS
What you’ll do:
People with developmental, physical, and cognitive impairments depend on the therapy services provided by the certified occupational therapy assistant (COTA), therapy that helps improve their quality of life. At Parkland, you'll gain laboratory and clinical experience, where you’ll modify environments, tools, and methods for better function; provide prevention programs to reduce deterioration and/or re-injury; and conduct lifestyle redesign. Take advantage of our program faculty’s extensive field experience; the strong community partnerships that support service learning and fieldwork education; and state-of-the-art laboratory/clinic space at Parkland College on Mattis.
Where you’ll go:
Where you’ll go: After completing the program, you may take the certification exam given by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). Under the supervision of a registered occupational therapist, you will work with children and adults in hospitals, clinics, rehabilitation centers, school systems, adult day care centers, community-based programs, and home health care services. Additional experience and education may present you with opportunities to work as an assistive technology specialist, exercise trainer, low vision rehabilitation specialist, or registered occupational therapist. The OTA program is a selective admissions program. Go to Program Details for the information about the admission process, program costs, and scheduling.
Licensure and Certification
COTAs are required to be licensed practice in Illinois and most other states, www.idfpr.com [see link under LINKS webpage under Program Details]. A felony conviction may limit clinical placement, licensure, and/or employment. Accreditation: The American Occupational Therapy Association Inc.’s Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) awarded the Parkland OTA Program with a 10-year certification status for demonstrating substantial compliance with the 2006 Standards for Education of Occupational Therapy Assistants (www.aota.org).
Program Details