Occupational Therapy Assistant, A.A.S.

Associate of Applied Science
126

The Occupational Therapy Assistant Program at Virginia Western Community College has applied for accreditation candidacy status by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education, 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, Maryland 20814; telephone: (301) 652-6611; email: accred@aota.org; website: https://acoteonline.org/. To contact the program directly, please call (540) 857-6733 or email lsavelyev@virginiawestern.edu.

Purpose: The curriculum is designed to prepare selected students to become integral members of a collaborative healthcare team, assisting in the delivery of occupational therapy services under the supervision of licensed occupational therapists. Through comprehensive training, students develop professional skills to work as generalists in various practice settings upon graduation and licensure. Upon successful completion of the program, graduates are eligible to sit for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy exam. Obtaining a passing score on this examination is a prerequisite for licensure, which is mandatory in all 50 states for practicing as an occupational therapy assistant.

Program Objectives: The Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) Program’s mission is to deliver exceptional education, empower student autonomy, champion inclusivity, and cultivate student innovation that leads to healthier and more equitable societies. To fulfill its mission, the OTA Program strives to produce graduates who:

• Promote ethical practice
• Integrate OT principles and interventions
• Implement evidence-based practice
• Cultivate effective collaboration and advocacy
• Engage in lifelong learning and professional growth

Admission Requirements: This is a restricted admission program. Please see the program-specific admission requirements at Occupational Therapist Assistant Checklist - 2025.

Developmental Requirements: Applicants must meet the requirements for admission to credit-level coursework established by the college.

Applicants must receive an ENG 111 , ENG 111 /EDE 11*  placement recommendation, or have successfully completed EDE 10 .

Students who do not demonstrate readiness for college-level math will be required to select appropriate MDE coursework in consultation with an advisor.

Program Notes: Individuals who have any convictions on their background check may not be permitted to take the national certification exam administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). For questions regarding this issue or to request a character review, contact NBCOT: telephone (301) 990-7979; email: info@nbcot.org. 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 or attain state licensure.

Fieldwork sites require students have background checks and drug screenings completed at the student’s expense before and/or during fieldwork experiences. A positive background check, drug screen, and/or felony conviction may dismiss the student from the program as the required work in the clinical settings may not be able to be completed. Students will be required to complete background checks and medical requirements prior to their first fieldwork experience (second semester). Students must complete 16 weeks of Level II fieldwork within 18 months following the completion of the didactic portion of the program.

By entering the program, students are required to follow all program policies in addition to college policies. Students accepted into the A.A.S. Occupational Therapy Assistant Program will receive a program handbook during their mandatory orientation prior to beginning the program which will outline all program policies and expectations.

Retention Policy: Satisfactory progress is demonstrated by achieving a grade of “C” or better in all curricular courses (OCT prefix). Students will have the opportunity to petition for re-entry if withdrawn from the program due to academic failure. Students must complete BIO 142*  with a grade of “C” or better before progressing to the second semester of the program. Because curricular components build upon each other over the five semesters, students must complete courses with the “OCT” prefix in the order outlined in the curriculum. Support courses (non-OCT prefix) may be taken before but not after the semester outlined. In semesters with fieldwork courses, students must successfully complete all didactic courses which precede the fieldwork experience.

AAS degrees prepare students for direct employment upon completion of the degree. However, many programs may also transfer to four-year institutions. Students interested in transferring should verify program requirements with specific four-year institutions and with the program head for Occupational Therapy Assistant.