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Program Details

Associate of Applied Science - Occupational Therapy Assistant

Associate of Applied Science
Tidewater Community College

This program is included in: G3, Fast Forward

The Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) prepares students for entry-level employment as occupational therapy assistants in acute-care hospitals, in-patient and out-patient rehabilitation centers, long-term care facilities, developmental centers, school-based therapy programs, pediatric facilities, and mental health facilities. Graduates of the program are equipped to assist individuals in meeting a level of independence to perform the occupational roles necessary for productive living. Such roles may include tasks related to self-care, work, or leisure for those disabled by illness, accidents, or by developmental or psychiatric impairment.

Admission to the college does not guarantee admission to the OTA program. Entrance requirements for this program include: successful completion of BIO 141 and ENG 111; VPT placement into MTH 154 with no co-requisite required or successful completion of an equivalent or higher level college math class; grade point average of 2.75 or higher; 30 hours of documented observation time in at least two separate locations with an occupational therapist (OTR) or an occupational therapy assistant (COTA); documented attendance of at least one OTA Program Open House within 12 months preceding program application; and a personal interview with the Program Staff. A writing sample may also be required for admission. For additional information regarding admission, continuance, and graduation requirements, go to tcc.edu (search keywords "occupational therapy assistant").

Individuals in the Occupational Therapy Assistant program may elect to pursue professional certification following completion of the A.A.S. The National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) offers a national certification examination for the occupational therapy assistant. After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA). All states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination.

The Occupational Therapy Assistant program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929, phone (301) 652-6611, www.acoteonline.org.

This program prepares students to sit for professional exams and/or apply for professional licensure that is required for employment in the related occupation in Virginia. ACOTE® accredited occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant educational programs satisfy the states' educational requirements in all states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Students graduating from an ACOTE® accredited occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant educational program are eligible to take the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) certification exam and apply for licensure in all states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. For more information regarding state qualifications and licensure requirements, please refer to the AOTA State Licensure webpage (https://www.aota.org/Advocacy-Policy/State-Policy/Licensure/StateRegs.aspx).


Program Overview & Guidance
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Program Web Page
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External Link
Delivery Mode
In-Person
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Delivery Mode
Online
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Delivery Mode
Hybrid
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Program Guidance Element What You Need to Know
Considerations for Selecting Degree Yes, if you:
  • have excellent communication skills
  • have patience
  • enjoy working with people
Considerations When Selecting Courses

  • Create a schedule for all required courses, pay attention to prerequisites and when courses are offered, complete your first math and English courses in your first year
  • Connect with an advisor at your community college and Tidewater Community College within your first year via College Connect
Program Requirements Beyond Specific Courses Admission to the occupational therapy assistant program is very selective and requires a separate application in addition to general admission to the college. Applicants must also attend a mandatory information session, which is held the third Thursday of each month at 3 p.m. (except December) at the Regional Health Professions Center on the Virginia Beach Campus. Admission to the college does not guarantee admission to the occupational therapy assistant program.
Doing More With Your Degree
Program Successes & Highlights Complete this program in as litle as 6 semesters (including pre-addmission semester) / 67 credits

Tidewater Community College's nationally accredited occupational therapy assistant program will get you moving toward a rewarding career. Occupational therapy assistants help people regain independence and live life to the fullest after an illness or injury. Sometimes that means training patients to brush their teeth or dress and bathe themselves. Other times it can be helping them learn to use a wheelchair or rehab equipment. Occupational therapy assistants establish a partnership with their patients, who range from young children to the elderly. TCC had 54 graduates in 2020-21, 4 graduates in 2019-20, 27 graduates in 2018-19, 31 graduates in 2017-18, and 27 graduates in 2016-17 in the AAS program in Occupational Therapy Assistant.
Related Programs & Certifications
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Certifications You Can Now Complete
Certified Professional Coder (CPC)
Program Credit Requirements
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The table below provides the requirements to complete this program. If you have an account and have created a Portfolio, the table includes the "Applied Credits" column. This column shows how the credits you earned based on the experiences you entered may be applied to satisfy these requirements. You should consult an advisor or counselor to find courses you can take at your current institution that will transfer to this degree.

Please note that some courses may count towards more than one requirement such as meeting a general education requirement and a major specific requirement. The course will be listed under the first matching requirement. Please contact the institution with questions.

The program map provided below is an estimate based on courses identified as a result of reviewing your portfolio and the requirements for the selected program.

A formal determination of credits awarded for your prior learning and their applicability to the degree requirements can only be made by the institution. The formal determination and resulting map may reflect higher or lower number of credits to be completed to achieve this program.
Requirements
Required Credits
Associate of Applied Science - Occupational Therapy Assistant
67
Associate of Applied Science: Occupational Therapy Assistant
67
Course Grad Req Grp (126)
67
Occupational Therapy Assistant Course Requirement - 67 Credits
67
BIO 141
4
Earn 4 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
HLT 143
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
HLT 150
1
Earn 1 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
OCT 100
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
OCT 201
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
PSY 231
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
SDV 101
1
Earn 1 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
ENG 111
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
NAS 177
2
Earn 2 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
OCT 206
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
OCT 225
4
Earn 4 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
PSY 232
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
OCT 190
1
Earn 1 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
OCT 202
4
Earn 4 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
OCT 205
2
Earn 2 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
OCT 190
1
Earn 1 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
OCT 203
4
Earn 4 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
OCT 207
4
Earn 4 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
OCT 208
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
OCT 210
2
Earn 2 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
OCT 220
2
Earn 2 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
OCT 290
4
Earn 4 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
OCT 290
4
Earn 4 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
Humanities Elective
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course list:
Residency Requirement (126)
67
Transfer credits will be evaluated, and as applicable, up to 50 credits may be applied to this program.
GPA Requirement
67
This requires a minimum GPA of 2
What If I Have An Associate Degree Or Credit For Prior Learning?
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Transfer Guidance Element What You Need to Know
Associate Transfer Degree Completion The student development requirement at TCC is waived for students who have completed an associate or baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution. All other coursework is evaluated and transferred as applicable to your degree.
Completion of Associate Degree Concurrent with High School TCC does not distinguish between students earning an associate degree while in high school or after high school graduation.
Credit for Prior Learning TCC recognizes you have a wealth of skills and knowledge gained through life, work and community-based experiences. Credit for Prior Learning at TCC is academic credit awarded to students who successfully demonstrate college or university-level learning achieved through informal or experiential learning outside of the classroom. You can have your learning evaluated for academic credit, saving you time and money towards earning your degree.

For more information: https://help.tcc.edu/s/topic/0TO1R000000gnrkWAA/credit-for-prior-learning
Did You Know That...
  • Completing your Associate transfer degree post-high school satisfies all lower division general education requirements and increases the chance of completing your bachelor's degree?
  • Exceeding 3 years or 90 credits at your community college means you may have exhausted your financial aid at that college and have limited your future financial aid at: Tidewater Community College
College Level Information
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Transfer Center
Visit our transfer site for more information
External Link
Transfer Admission Application
Transfer Students - Apply Here
External Link
Transfer Student Aid
Financial Aid for Transfer Students
External Link
Number of Transfer Students
3364
College Fit Guidance What You Need to Know
Is This College Right For Me? At TCC, we believe everyone should have access to a high quality, affordable education. With diverse programs designed for immediate job placement, smaller class sizes, top-rated faculty and modern campuses, TCC is an ideal environment for a life changing education, right here in your own backyard.
Transfer Student Catalog Year Catalog year is determined when an academic plan is selected by the student.
First Year Student Catalog Year Catalog year is determined by first semester of attendance.
Applying for Guaranteed Admissions Completing the first two years of your degree at TCC can get you in the door - while saving you thousands on the cost of your education. We recommend that you start your transfer planning during your first semester at TCC. In addition to your regular academic advising, you should review the TCC guaranteed admissions agreements and the transfer guides for the college or university to which you would like to transfer.

https://help.tcc.edu/s/article/Guaranteed-Transfer-Programs.

Where Can This Degree Transfer
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This section displays VCCS degrees most closely related to this program and to which you may be able to most efficiently transfer your current course work. So, you can use this list to find a degree you can complete in your major. Please click the degree name to visit that program page.

If you are interested in transferring to a four-year degree view this degree on the Transfer Virginia site to explore degrees aligned with this program at Virginia's 4-year institutions.

Institution Title Degree Award Name Award Level Delivery Mode
Northern Virginia Community CollegeOccupational Therapy Assistant, A.A.S.AssociateAssociate of Applied Science2-YearIn-Person, Hybrid
Southwest Virginia Community College Associate of Applied Science in Occupational Therapy AssistantAssociateAssociate of Applied Science2-YearHybrid
Careers Where This Degree Applies
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O*Net Code Name Description Parent
25-1071.00Health Specialties Teachers, PostsecondaryTeach courses in health specialties, in fields such as dentistry, laboratory technology, medicine, pharmacy, public health, therapy, and veterinary medicine.Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
31-2011.00Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssist occupational therapists in providing occupational therapy treatments and procedures. May, in accordance with state laws, assist in development of treatment plans, carry out routine functions, direct activity programs, and document the progress of treatments. Generally requires formal training.Healthcare Support Occupations
Cost To Complete
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This section provides you with a very high-level estimate of your costs and is purely intended as a guide. You should consult the institution via College Connect to get a more detailed estimate based on the totality of your circumstances. The selections below are based on information gathered from your Profile and the estimated costs are calculated based on the 67 credits remaining to be completed

Please select the "Cumulative Months of Service" that determine your Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits.
Estimated Cost for the Associate of Applied Science - Occupational Therapy Assistant at Tidewater Community College
These costs are based on an estimated 4 semesters or 2 years remaining to complete this degree (assuming a full-time load of 16 hours per semester)
Category Cost Basis Cost (To You) Estimated Benefits Net Cost Notes
Tuition $165 Per Credit $11,055 $0 $11,055 Tuition is subject to change by action of the State Board for Community Colleges. Fees are payable with tuition and are charged on a per credit hour basis.
Fees
Institutional Fee $7 Per Credit $469 0 $469 Used to fund expenses related to campus parking including, but no limited to parking improvements, signage, parking lot repairs, lot security, and overall improvements. Up to a maximum of 15 credit hours per semester. Fees are payable with tuition and are charged on a per credit hour basis.
Student Activity Fee $3 Per Credit $201 0 $201 Used to fund various student activities and programs including, but not limited to honor societies, leadership training, community and cultural events, clubs, athletics, student publications, and learning assistance. Up to a maximum of 15 credit hours per semester. Fees are payable with tuition and are charged on a per credit hour basis.
Auxiliary Capital Fee $20 Per Credit $1,340 0 $1,340 Used to construct, maintain, and operate facilities for which state General Fund dollars are not permitted. Up to a maximum of 15 credit hours per semester. Fees are payable with tuition and are charged on a per credit hour basis.
*Please note that the above estimated costs do not include all Federal, State or other financial aid, grants, scholarships, etc. for which you may qualify. All such aid could substantially reduce these costs.
Other Financial Aid to Pay for College:
  • You may be eligible for additional financial aid from Federal, State, and Local sources. Military education benefits are not considered in determining eligibility for federal financial aid. Everyone is therefore encouraged to apply for federal financial aid by submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), because many will qualify for additional educational funds like Pell Grants, worth over $5,500/yr.
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