Occupational Therapy Assistant Technology

The Occupational Therapy Assistant Curriculum is a two-year-program of study that prepares an individual to work as a co-participant in the entire occupational therapy process, at the discretion of the supervising licensed occupational therapist. The occupational therapy assistant provides intervention pertinent to creating and promoting healthy life-styles, restoring or habilitating a skill or ability, maintaining current level of function, modifying an activity to ensure success and addressing disability prevention.

Graduates of this program may apply to take the National Certification Examination for the Occupational Therapy Assistant which is administered by the National Board of Certification of Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). Students accepted into the Occupational Therapy Assistant program must complete all OTA courses at Holmes Community College. Only academic credit earned at another regionally-accredited institution will be accepted by Holmes Community College toward graduation from the OTA program.

OTA’s Mission

The Occupational Therapy Assistant Technology Department is designed to develop competent, ethical, and professional entry-level Occupational Therapy Assistants to provide services for persons, organizations, and populations to promote health and participation through engagement in occupation. The academic and clinical opportunities are designed to help students achieve competency in written, oral and interpersonal communication, to demonstrate a thorough understanding of the OTR/COTA approach to client treatment, to implement effective treatment for clients throughout the life span, and to participate in the management of Occupational Therapy services.

Graduates of Holmes CC Occupational Therapy Assistant Program

Graduates of the program will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapy assistant administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA).  In addition, most states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Exam. Licensure in Mississippi requires graduating from an accredited program and a passing score on the NBCOT certification exam. A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification exam or attain a state licensure.

Requirements for the Associate of Applied Science Degree (AAS) for the Occupational Therapy Assistant

The student will complete the prescribed set of courses for the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program as identified in the program course sequence and course descriptions. The student’s cumulative quality point average must be at least a 2.0 to receive the AAS degree.