Occupational Therapy Assistant
- Emergency Services
- Public Health
- Healthcare Administration
- Respiratory Therapy: Pre Licensure
- Department of Occupational Therapy
- Occupational Therapy Assistant
- Center for Interprofessional Education and Practice
- Health Sciences
- Communication Sciences and Disorders
- School of Social Work
- Applied Physiology Laboratory
- Respiratory Therapy: Post Licensure
- Department of Public Health and Healthcare Leadership
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSISTANT
Associate's Degree
The OTA Program will no longer accept applications for further admission into the program as of Monday, June 13, 2022 by 5:00 pm. The program is admitting its final cohort to begin fall, 2022.
The Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) Program at Radford University Carilion is the first OTA Program in Virginia, established in 1992. With over two decades of development, our program provides innovative, real world experiences.
The Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree for occupational therapy assistant is a two-year program, designed for students from all educational backgrounds. Students range in age from recent high school graduates to individuals returning to school to prepare for a second career. These differences in age and life experiences make for lively discussions in classes as we explore different roles people assume throughout their lifespan. Our small class size (average 25 students) allows for more individualized instruction and hands-on participation in the classroom.
Program Overview
Client-centered intervention is the core of the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program. Students learn how to assist clients return to participate in activities that matter the most to them: cooking dinner for the family, getting out of bed without assistance or driving. With respect for cultural diversity and individual differences, each client’s intervention plan is unique.
What makes this program different
- Extensive hands-on learning. Almost 150 hours of clinical rotations are split among mental health, pediatrics and adult/geriatrics. Students will also complete two intensive 8-week (full-time) fieldwork experiences in different settings.
- Personal attention. Class sizes are small to ensure 1-on-1 instruction from our highly skilled and experienced faculty. Additionally, lab sizes are half the size of a lecture class to guarantee as much individual attention as possible to learn the necessary hands-on skills.
- Networking. Students are afforded the opportunity for multiple community and professional experiences.
- Standardized patients. The use of standardized patients throughout the program enhances student preparation for client interactions.
Program of Study
FALL SEMESTER: 14 weeks of instruction and 1 week of final exams
Course Prefix | Course Title | Credits |
UNIV 100 | Introduction to Higher Education | 1 |
HLTH 215 | Medical Terminology | 3 |
PSYC 120 | Introductory and Developmental Psychology | 4 |
BIOL 211/211L BIOL 310/310L | Anatomy & Physiology I/Lab Human Anatomy & Physiology I/Lab | 4 |
OTAS 111 | Human Movement for Occupation I | 2 |
OTAS 121 | Foundations of the Profession I | 2 |
Total |
| 16 |
SPRING SEMESTER: 14 weeks of instruction and 1 week of final exams
Course Prefix | Course Title | Credits |
PSYC 240 | Abnormal Psychology for Health Sciences | 3 |
BIOL 212/212L | Anatomy & Physiology II/Lab | 4 |
OTAS 130/130L | Human Movement for Occupation II/Lab | 3 |
OTAS 140 | Foundations of the Profession II | 3 |
OTAS 170/170L | Behavioral Health – Principles & Techniques/Lab | 3 |
OTAS 170C | Behavioral Health Fieldwork – Level I | 1 |
Total |
| 17 |
SUMMER SEMESTER: 11 Weeks of instruction and 1 week of final exams
Course Prefix | Course Title | Credits |
ENGL 111 | Principles of College Composition | 3 |
PHIL 112 | Introduction: Ethics and Society | 3 |
SOCY 213 | Social Issues in Healthcare Delivery (A total of 20 volunteer hours is required for this course.) | 3 |
OTAS 201L | Therapeutic Media Lab | 1 |
OTAS 203 | Pathologic Conditions – Effects on Occupation | 2 |
Total |
| 12 |
FALL SEMESTER: 12 weeks of instruction, 2 weeks of fieldwork level I, and 1 week of final exams
Course Prefix | Course Title | Credits |
OTAS 220/220L | Pediatrics – Principles & Techniques/Lab | 4 |
OTAS 220C | Pediatric Fieldwork – Level I | 1 |
OTAS 235/235L | Physical Dysfunction – Principles & Techniques/Lab | 5 |
OTAS 235C | Adult/Geriatric Fieldwork – Level I | 1 |
OTAS 255/255L | Assistive Technology/Lab | 2 |
Total |
| 13 |
SPRING SEMESTER: 16 weeks of fieldwork level II and 2 full days of Professional Seminar
Course Prefix | Course Title | Credits |
OTAS 270C | Fieldwork – Level II-A | 6 |
OTAS 271C | Fieldwork – Level II-B | 6 |
OTAS 285 | Professional Seminar | 1 |
Total |
| 13 |
| ||
Overall Total |
| 71 |
Waived core courses (if a student has earned a university-approved associate or baccalaureate degree)
UNIV 100 – Introduction to Higher Education
PSYC 121 – Introductory Psychology
ENGL 111 – Principles of College Composition
PHIL 112 – Introduction: Ethics and Society
SOCY 213 – This course can only be waived if a student has earned a university-approved associate or baccalaureate degree and the student has taken and passed an introductory sociology course.
Additional Information
UNIV 100 – Introduction to Higher Education – may be waived if a student has completed a minimum of 12 credits of college-level coursework with a minimum GPA of 2.0
PSYC 121 – Introductory Psychology (3 credits) and PSYC 230 – Lifespan Developmental Psychology (3 credits), may be accepted for PSYC 120 – Introductory and Developmental Psychology (4 credits), whether or not a student has earned a university-approved associate or baccalaureate degree.
BIOL 322 – Human Anatomy and Physiology for Pre-Nursing Majors (6 credits) may be accepted for BIOL 211 and BIOL 212 OR BIOL 310 and BIOL 311, whether or not a student has earned a university-approved associate or baccalaureate degree.
All general education courses transferred into this program of study, must meet the university registrar transfer credit criteria and must be approved according to current registrar policies.
Career Path
This program prepares graduates to work in:
- Hospitals
- School Systems
- Outpatient Clinics
- Home Health Agencies
- Rehabilitation Centers
- Skilled Nursing Facilities
- Mental Health Agencies
- Community Agencies
- Work and Industrial Settings
Admissions Requirements
The OTA Program is no longer accepting applications. According to the Accreditation Council of Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE), the OTA program was placed on Inactive Status December 2, 2022. Admission to this program is closed.
The Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE)
“The Occupational Therapy Assistant Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occpational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929.
ACOTE’s telephone number, c/o AOTA, is (301) 652-AOTA (2682), and its web address is www.acoteonline.org
Graduates of the OTA 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 graduate will be a certified occupational therapy assistant (COTA). In addition, most 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.
Student and Program Outcomes
The average pass rate over the past three calendar years (2019, 2020 and 2021) for graduates attempting the national certification exam within 12 months of graduation is 98%.
Graduation Year | Graduate Passing Rate – Candidates testing within one year of graduation | National Passing Rate – Candidates testing within one year of graduation |
---|---|---|
2019 | 93% | 89% |
2020 | 100% | 86% |
2021 | 100% | 92% |
Total | 98% | 89% |
The average *graduation rate over the following three calendar years (2019, 2020, and 2021) is 81%.
*Graduation rate is calculated based on student program completion within three years.
Graduation Year | Students Graduating/Students Entering | Graduation Rate |
---|---|---|
2019 | 16/21 | 76% |
2020 | 17/21 | 81% |
2021 | 17/20 | 85% |
Total | 50/62 | 81% |
https://www.nbcot.org/EN/EDUCATORS/HOME#SCHOOLPERFORMANCE
View the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy website.
Program Costs
RUC-OTA Program Costs – 2023-2024 – In-State Undergraduate Tuition and Fees
Item | Fall Semester 2023 (full time in-state) | Spring Semester 2024 (full time in-state) | Summer semester 2024 (in-state) | Total Cost of Program (2-year program) 2023-2024 (in-state) |
---|---|---|---|---|
In-State Undergraduate Tuition | 12 credits (Full time) $349.00/credit hour $4200.50 OR <12 credits $349.00/credit hour | 12 credits (Full time) $349.00/credit hour $4200.50 OR <12 credits $349.00/credit hour | 12 credits (Full time) $349.00/credit hour $4188.00 OR <12 credits $349.00/credit hour | $12,589.00 |
Mandatory Comprehensive Fee | 12 credits (Full time) $157.00/credit hour $1882.50 OR <12 credits $157.00/credit hour | 12 credits (Full time) $157.00/credit hour $1882.50 OR <12 credits $157.00/credit hour | 12 credits (Full time) $157.00/credit hour $1884.00 OR <12 credits $157.00/credit hour | $5,649.00 |
Mandatory Technology Fee | 12 credits (Full time) $5.00/credit hour $60.00 OR <12 credits $5.00/credit hour | 12 credits (Full time) $5.00/credit hour $60.00 OR <12 credits $5.00/credit hour | 12 credits (Full time) $5.00/credit hour $60.00 OR <12 credits $5.00/credit hour | $180.00 |
Books (Bookstore Cost) | $280.85 (1st yr.) $372.85 (2nd yr.) | $261.85 (1st yr) | $160.45 | $1,076.00 |
Supplies | n/a | n/a | n/a | Dependent on student projects throughout the program |
AOTA Student Membership | $75.00 (1st yr) $75.00 (2nd yr) | n/a | n/a | $75/year = $150.00 total |
Loan Fees | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Distance Education Fees | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Fieldwork - CastleBranch Account (one-timefee - lifetime) | $35.00 | n/a | n/a | $35.00 |
*Initial Background Check (one time) | $60.00 | n/a | n/a | $60.00 |
*Initial Drug Screen (one time) | $45.00 | n/a | n/a | $45.00 |
*PPD (yearly) | $49.00 | n/a | n/a | $49.00 |
*CPR | $60.00 | n/a | n/a | $60.00 |
*Fieldwork travel – to/from sites | varies | varies | varies | varies |
**Fieldwork – possible additional medical expenses | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
*Physical exam (for university admittance) | varies | varies | varies | varies |
Total | $7,010.70 + cost of fieldwork and university admittance physical exam | $6,219.85 + cost of fieldwork | $6,118.45 | $19,893.00 + cost of minimal supplies, physical exam, and travel to fieldwork sites |
RUC-OTA Program Costs – 2023-2024 – Out-of-State Undergraduate Tuition and Fees
Item | Fall Semester 2023 | Spring Semester 2024 | Summer Semester 2024 | Total Cost of Program (2-year program) 2023-2024 (out-of-state) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Out-of-State Undergraduate Tuition | 12 credits (Full time) $868.00/credit hour $10,426.50 OR <12 credits $868.00/credit hour | 12 credits (Full time) $868.00/credit hour $10,426.50 OR <12 credits $868.00/credit hour | 12 credits (Full time) $868.00/credit hour $10,416.00 OR <12 credits $868.00/credit hour | $31,269.00 |
Mandatory Capital Fee | 12 credits (Full time) $19.00/credit hour $223.50 OR <12 credits $19.00/credit hour | 12 credits (Full time) $19.00/credit hour $223.50 OR <12 credits $19.00/credit hour | 12 credits (Full time) $19.00/credit hour $228.00 OR <12 credits $19.00/credit hour | $675.00 |
Mandatory Comprehensive Fee | 12 credits (Full time) $157.00/credit hour $1882.50 OR <12 credits $157.00/credit hour | 12 credits (Full time) $157.00/credit hour $1882.50 OR <12 credits $157.00/credit hour | $12 credits (Full time) $157.00/credit hour $1884.00 OR <12 credits $157.00/credit hour | $5,649.00 |
Mandatory Technology Fee | 12 credits (Full time) $5.00/credit hour $60.00 OR <12 credits $5.00/credit hour | 12 credits (Full time) $5.00/credit hour $60.00 OR <12 credits $5.00/credit hour | 12 credits (Full time) $5.00/credit hour $60.00 OR <12 credits $5.00/credit hour | $180.00 |
Books (Bookstore Cost) | $280.85 (1st yr) $372.85 (2nd yr) | $261.85 (1st yr) | $160.45 | $1,076.00 |
Supplies | n/a | n/a | n/a | Dependent on student projects throughout the program |
AOTA Student Membership | $75.00 (1st yr) $75.00 (2nd yr) | n/a | n/a | $75/year = $150.00 total |
Loan Fees | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Distance Education Fees | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Fieldwork - CastleBranch Account (one-timefee - lifetime) | $35.00 | n/a | n/a | $35.00 |
*Initial Background Check (one time) | $60.00 | n/a | n/a | $60.00 |
*Initial Drug Screen (one time) | $45.00 | n/a | n/a | $45.00 |
*PPD (yearly) | $49.00 | n/a | n/a | $49.00 |
*CPR | $60.00 | n/a | n/a | $60.00 |
*Fieldwork travel – to/from sites | varies | varies | varies | varies |
**Fieldwork – possible additional medical expenses | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
*Physical exam (for university admittance) | varies | varies | varies | varies |
Total | $13,279.20 + cost of fieldwork and university admittance physical exam | $12,488.35 + cost of fieldwork | $10,452.11 | $39,248.00 + cost of minimal supplies, physical exam, and travel to fieldwork sites. |
Full time tuition and fees are based on 12-18 credit hours.
The above calculations are based on students enrolled in the full program of study. If students have already taken general education courses previous to entering the program, tuition costs may decrease for each semester. It should be noted that summer session tuition and fees are calculated per credit hour.
Fees are subject to change pending annual review.
*varies in cost
**Fieldwork - possible additional medical expenses – Students may incur additional expenses depending on individual need for updated immunizations, titers, etc. and/or possible site-specific background checks, drug screens, and/or additional vaccinations and shots.
According to FASFA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), cost of attendance is defined as total amount of attending the program, which includes tuition and fees, books, supplies, transportation, loan fees as well as fees associated with distance education.