What Does a Pediatric Occupational Therapist Assistant Do?As a pediatric occupational therapist assistant, you help children by implementing developmental exercises designed to help them become functional and independent adults. As part of this, you may demonstrate specific movements, teach new skills, or work with senior occupational therapists to create a comprehensive therapy plan. You often work with children who have physical or mental disabilities, so being able to recognize patterns and tailor your communication skills is essential to success in this field. Fulfilling the responsibilities and duties of this role also requires research skills, empathy, flexibility, and the ability to meet any qualifications your employer expects for this role. Show How to Become a Pediatric Occupational Therapist AssistantAs a pediatric occupational therapist assistant (OTA), you work closely with certified occupational therapists to help children with physical or mental disabilities learn how to complete daily tasks through guided therapy. Your job duties may include developing treatment plans and goals, teaching children how to perform movements or exercises, and maintaining patient records and insurance claims. To become a pediatric occupational therapist assistant, you typically need at least an associate degree in occupational therapy or a closely related field and clinical experience. Most states also require OTA candidates to have a license, which usually involves passing a state licensing examination. Additional qualifications include voluntary certification, strong interpersonal and critical thinking skills, and the ability to work with children. The Occupational Therapy Assistant curriculum prepares entry-level occupational therapy assistants to work in community and institutional health care programs, providing direct and consultative occupational therapy services to individuals, groups,
communities, and populations. The Occupational Therapy Assistant curriculum combines Occupational Therapy Assistant and general education courses with selected laboratory experiences. Program courses cover theory and application of theory, development across the lifespan (birth to death), therapeutic use of self, pediatric/adult/and geriatric patient/client treatment, physical disabilities/mental health, research, evidence-based practice, technology and documentation. The
Occupational Therapy specific classes are complemented with general studies in anatomy, physiology, psychology, sociology, and English composition. Although the Occupational Therapy Assistant curriculum is designed to be completed in two academic years, students may take a longer time to fulfill their degree requirements, depending on individual circumstances. In the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program, students receive instruction in theory and develop practical skills relating
to occupational therapy through classroom, laboratory and fieldwork settings. Through second year course work, students participate in fieldwork practice settings to include general physical medicine and psychiatric centers, developmental disabilities, schools, nursing homes and community agencies. In these experiences, students work with and teach patients and clients methods for engagement in self-care, work, play/leisure, education, social skills, rest/sleep, and home/community living
skills. Technical Ability Standards do exist for the OTA Program and they are a reality of the profession. However, due to the diversity of occupational therapy practice areas, OTA Education lends itself toward attracting students of diverse abilities. The Erie Community College OTA Program is committed to the notion of dis-ABILITY as diversity. Provided a student has the capacity to successfully navigate the program, graduate, and pass their certification exam, it is our
goal to provide reasonable accommodations to facilitate every student’s success. Please read, “Special Admission Requirements/Pre-requisites: Technical Ability Standards,” as listed below for more information. Campus: North High School Biology, High School Psychology, High School Anatomy & Physiology, High School Math-Algebra, Geometry, Statistics & Probability, HS Physics, HS English & Writing Courses, Volunteer experience in health care settings. Pre-Admission Recommendations: 80% High School Average, 2.80 GPA within 5 years of prospective admission for Undergraduate College Students, Placement test, waiver or completion of developmental English and Math courses. See admission requirements listed below. Special Admission Requirements/Prerequisites Introduction of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act requires that no qualified individual with a disability shall, by reason of such disability, be excluded from participation in or denied the benefits of SUNY Erie Community College's services, programs or activities or be subjected to discrimination by SUNY Erie. The term "qualified individual with a disability" means an individual with a disability who, with or without reasonable modifications to rules, policies, or practices, the removal of architectural, communication or transportation barriers, or the provision of auxiliary aids and services, meets the essential eligibility requirements for the receipt of services or for participation in programs or activities. Students must be able to perform the essential functions of the program in order to meet certain minimum academic and technical standards. Essential Functions as needed for typical program success:
Sensory Capability:
Communication Ability:
Problem Solving Ability:
Social-Emotional Capability and Professionalism:
Computer/Technological/Information Literacy:
SUNY Erie OTA seeks to create an inclusive learning environment. If there are aspects of the curriculum that result in barriers to a student's inclusion, they are strongly encouraged and invited to notify the Department Head. Our program mission involves serving our students which means making course materials accessible and fostering student success. Students taking classes in the Occupational Therapy Department at Erie Community College who are considering requesting reasonable accommodations or academic adjustments are encouraged to contact Students Access Center at 716-851-1487. The need for adaptations within the typical OTA program as determined by essential functions may preclude specific OT practice areas for fieldwork placement. For example, an individual who cannot lift and carry up to 50 pounds or exert up to 100 pounds of push/pull force would not be best suited for a traditional clinic-based adult physical disabilities fieldwork placement. For another example, an individual who does not possess the sensory-motor skills to fabricate an arm/hand splint would not be eligible for fieldwork placement in hand therapy/orthotics. Due to the diverse practice areas of occupational therapy, placement is possible in mental health settings, as well as emerging practice areas. Other Relevant Admission Requirements/Prerequisites In addition to the requirements of the SUNY Erie Admissions Department which include an application indicating OTA as the program of choice for the semester of interest, transcripts, and Placement Testing or waiver, OTA applicants must also meet special admission requirements. All applicants are encouraged to contact the Admissions Department to check the status of their application and verify receipt of all required documents (transcripts, proof of virtual shadow hours, letters of recommendation). All intended majors are encouraged to make sure that they communicate with the Admissions Department to add an OTA Program focus or interest.
According to FAFSA (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.
* Estimated projected cost as tuition increases are determined annually by the Board of Trustees. 1 Student Fees include: Student Life Fee (Health/Wellness Programming, Diversity & Equity Programming, Life Skills Programming, Financial Literacy, Student Success Programming, Student Leadership Programming,
Athletics, Commencement); Transportation Fee (Campus Parking, NFTA pass, Campus Shuttles); Document Fee (One time College fee to provide any future requested copies of transcripts, medical records, etc at no additional cost to the student. Online requests submitted through national clearinghouses’ services may be charged a small processing fee by the vendor.); Student Activity Fee (Student Government, Student Clubs, Student Planned Events (i.e. winter ball, speakers, voter registration,
etc); Technology Fee (Online library databases and subscriptions, technology infrastructure including labs, wireless access, etc); Registration Fee; START New Student Orientation Fee; and Lab Fees/Clinical Rotation Fees/Malpractice Insurance linked to specific required courses. An Associate in Applied Science degree is granted to each student who successfully completes all coursework and all fieldwork. The student must also demonstrate proficiency in algebra with a minimum placement test score of 40 for the Algebra Test. New York State licensure is required for employment in New York State. Upon graduation from the program, an individual is eligible to apply to take the NBCOT OTA Certification Exam and to apply for licensure. All states in the U.S. require state licensure. Separate applications for state licensure must be filed within that state. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate's ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination and attain state licensure. New York State DOES require passing of the National Certification Exam (NBCOT) for employment in New York State. A final, official transcript indicating confirmation for an Associate in Applied Science degree (A.A.S.) in Occupational Therapy Assistant must be submitted to NBCOT as part of the application process for the national certification exam. Retention Data and Results of the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) Exam
*TBD=To be determined Program results from the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) can be found online at https://secure.nbcot.org/data/schoolstats.aspx. Website for NBCOT: www.nbcot.org Website for NYSED-Office of the Professions regarding licensure/authorization/permit to practice: http://www.op.nysed.gov/ New York State prides itself in the high quality of its licensed and certified professionals. For the protection of its citizens, each license and certificate has requirements that individuals must meet in order to be licensed or certified in New York State. SUNY’s academic programs leading to licensure or certification are carefully designed to meet and exceed these State requirements. This is a role SUNY plays in protecting the public. Other states frequently have their own requirements, so if your goal is to practice in another state, the following disclosure statement will help you check to see what that state requires. Per U.S. Federal Regulations, §668.43 (2019 Rule), and in compliance with the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA) Manual version 19.2, SUNY ERIE Community College OTA Program provides the following disclosure statement related to the educational requirements for professional licensure and certification: SUNY Erie’s Occupational Therapy Assistant Program is an ACOTE accredited occupational therapy assistant educational program. The Program also meets the educational requirements by the Board of Regents in New York State to award an Associate in Applied Science Degree (AAS) with a major in occupational therapy assistant. 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. For more information regarding state qualifications and licensure requirements, please refer to the AOTA State Licensure webpage. https://acoteonline.org/about/ The 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, Maryland 20852-4929.
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, all states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate's ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination and attain state licensure. What does an OTA do for kids?What Do Pediatric OTAs Do? Occupational therapy assistants help people who have physical, sensory, or cognitive disabilities. OTAs help clients learn the everyday skills they need in order to live and enjoy life as independently as possible, like getting dressed or brushing teeth.
How much does an OTA make in Kansas?The average Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant salary in Kansas is $60,006 as of September 26, 2022, but the range typically falls between $54,059 and $65,916.
What qualifications do you need to be an occupational therapist assistant?There are no set entry requirements for OT support workers. Employers expect good numeracy and literacy and some experience or qualifications in health or social care. Employers may ask for GCSEs in English and maths. They may ask for a BTEC or equivalent vocational qualifications in health and social care.
Are OTAs in demand?OTA Job Outlook Nationwide
This is 4.5 times the rate of all occupations nationwide, which average about 8% growth. Each year, about 8,800 job openings are expected for OTAs, on average, over the next decade.
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