Apply Now
Request More Information
Print

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 

  1. 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.
     
  2. 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.
     
  3. Networking. Students are afforded the opportunity for multiple community and professional experiences.
     
  4. 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
BIOL 311/311L

Anatomy & Physiology II/Lab
Human Anatomy & Physiology I/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 (2020, 2021 and 2022) for graduates attempting the national certification exam within 12 months of graduation is 100%.

Graduation Year
Graduate Passing Rate – Candidates testing within one year of graduationNational Passing Rate – Candidates testing within one year of graduation
2020100%86%
2021100%92%
2022100%85%
Total100%88%

The average *graduation rate over the following three calendar years (2020, 2021, and 2022) is 79%.

*Graduation rate is calculated based on student program completion within three years.

Graduation YearStudents Graduating/Students Entering
Graduation Rate
202017/2181%
202117/20
85%
202216/2273%
Total50/6379%

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

ItemFall 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 Tuition12 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 Fee12 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 Fee12 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
Suppliesn/an/an/aDependent on student projects throughout the program
AOTA Student Membership

$75.00 (1st yr)

$75.00 (2nd yr)

n/an/a$75/year = $150.00 total
Loan Fees
n/an/an/an/a
Distance Education Fees
n/an/an/an/a
Fieldwork - CastleBranch Account (one-timefee - lifetime)$35.00n/an/a$35.00
*Initial Background Check (one time)$60.00n/an/a$60.00
*Initial Drug Screen (one time)$45.00n/an/a$45.00
*PPD (yearly)$49.00n/an/a$49.00
*CPR$60.00n/an/a$60.00
*Fieldwork travel – to/from sitesvaries
varies
varies
varies
**Fieldwork – possible additional medical expensesn/an/an/an/a
*Physical exam (for university admittance)variesvariesvariesvaries
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

ItemFall Semester 2023
Spring Semester 2024Summer Semester
2024
Total Cost of Program (2-year program) 2023-2024 (out-of-state)
Out-of-State Undergraduate Tuition12 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 Fee12 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 Fee12 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 Fee12 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
Suppliesn/an/an/aDependent on student projects throughout the program
AOTA Student Membership$75.00 (1st yr)
$75.00 (2nd yr)
n/an/a$75/year = $150.00 total
Loan Fees
n/an/an/an/a
Distance Education Fees
n/an/an/an/a
Fieldwork - CastleBranch Account (one-timefee - lifetime)$35.00n/an/a$35.00
*Initial Background Check (one time)$60.00n/an/a$60.00
*Initial Drug Screen (one time)$45.00n/an/a$45.00
*PPD (yearly)$49.00n/an/a$49.00
*CPR$60.00n/an/a$60.00
*Fieldwork travel – to/from sitesvaries
varies
varies
varies
**Fieldwork – possible additional medical expensesn/an/an/an/a
*Physical exam (for university admittance)variesvariesvariesvaries
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.