Program: AS-25535

The Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) Program provides students with opportunities to develop interpersonal and clinical skills, promoting lifelong learning within an environment of excellence to ensure a successful career in healthcare.

Occupational Therapy is a vital healthcare service whose practitioners use occupation (purposeful activity) as a means of preventing, reducing, or overcoming physical, social, and emotional disabilities in people of all ages. Some of the responsibilities of occupational therapy assistants include carrying out treatment interventions designed by an occupational therapist, adapting the environment for individuals with psychosocial and physical dysfunctions to maximize independent function, and teaching the use of adaptive equipment and compensatory techniques to facilitate performance of daily activities. The OTA 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; telephone: 301.652.6611 (webpage: www.acoteonline.org). 

The Occupational Therapy Assistant Program is a limited-admission, 74-credit hour, Associate in Science (AS) degree program. Each OTA applicant must first be admitted to the College and meet pre-admission requirements. A maximum of twenty-four applicants are selected each year by the OTA Selection Committee for enrollment in the spring semester. The College reserves the right to change the requirements of the OTA Program as needed. Two Linkage Program seats are reserved for students enrolled at Hillsborough Community College or Pasco-Hernando State College. Prospective students should contact an advisor to learn more about the Linkage Program. Two seats are reserved for eligible veterans through the College’s Veteran Services Program. Upon review of applicant submissions from Linkage and Veteran candidates, there are 20-24 seats open to the general public. Should no Linkage or Veteran applications be deemed ‘complete’ upon submission to Program Director, 24 total potential seats are available for the admissions cycle. 

The program is offered on the Winter Haven Campus. OTA courses are generally offered from 8:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on two to four days a week. The Program requires face-to-face participation, with some courses offered with an online-assisted format. A reliable home computer (or access to a computer) with reliable internet access is a program requirement. The OTA Program requires a full-time commitment throughout the year, including the summer. It contains 14-credit hours of clinical fieldwork (Level I and II), which are completed at various sites in Polk County and throughout Florida. During fieldwork experiences, a student is expected to participate on a full-time, 40-hour-per-week basis, so reliable transportation is required. A student may need to drive more than 60 miles to a given clinical site.  Each student is encouraged to work with the Program to determine fieldwork sites that are of special interest or in specific areas.

The Essential Functions of an OTA can be located on the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program website (www.polk.edu/ota).

Admission Criteria

The application period for the OTA Program is September 1 through September 30. The following are the minimum requirements for admission to the Occupational Therapy Program:

1. The prospective student must gain acceptance to Polk State College as a degree-seeking student with all required admission documents received by the Registrar’s Office.
2. The individual must complete all required prerequisite courses.
3. The individual must have an overall cumulative prerequisite (unweighted) GPA of 2.5 upon application to the program.
4. The following prerequisite courses must be completed (i.e., prior to program admission) with a grade of C or better (i.e., one course grade must be a B or better to qualify for the 2.5 GPA):

• BSC 2085C - Human Anatomy and Physiology I     
• PSY 2012 - General Psychology    
• ENC 1101 - College Composition I    

Note: Prerequisites to the program and courses that can be taken prior to admission can change. A student not yet admitted may be required to take additional or alternate prerequisites prior to admission to the program. 

The student must complete BSC 2085C Human Anatomy and Physiology I within five years of applying to the program. It is highly recommended, but not required, for students to complete PSY 2012 General Psychology and ENC 1101 College Composition I within five years of application. If a student has successfully completed a higher-level course other than either PSY 2012 General Psychology or ENC 1101 College Composition I, the committee reviews the submission(s) to determine completion of the requirement(s).

5. The student must complete 20 observation hours of occupational therapy services and answer questions based on these experiences. Hours must be documented on the OTA Program Observation Hours Form, which is available under the ‘Program Information” section of the website (www.polk.edu/OTA). 

Note: Observation hours are valid for up to three years from the date of completion.

6. The student must submit a résumé that reflects the appropriate skills and abilities necessary to successfully complete the OTA Program. A template is available in the OTA “Forms” webpage (https://www.polk.edu/wp-content/uploads/Resume-Template.pdf). 

Additional Program Requirements

A. Evidence of the following must be submitted directly to the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator no later than the first day of class (i.e., this is not submitted at the Orientation Session):

1. Completion of a physical examination.
2. Completion of all immunizations and communicable disease screenings, including a Tuberculosis PPD, Tetanus vaccination or booster (i.e., this must have been administered within the last five years), the MMR (Measles/Mumps/Rubella) vaccine or an MMR titer, a Varicella titer, and a Hepatitis B vaccination (i.e., this is optional, but recommended).
3. Certification in CPR for the adult and infant.
4. Certification in AIDS/HIV precautions (one-hour training).
5. Completion of a background check and drug screening via CastleBranch (www.castlebranch.com). 

Specific requirements are communicated at the Orientation Session upon program acceptance. The Program Director alerts students of any changes related to these requirements by November. The Program may require additional drug testing (by random selection) at any time while the student is active in the program.

B.  The following must be completed by a designated date in preparation for the summer fieldwork rotations:

1. Submission of a Level II Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) background check.
2. Completion of 10-panel drug screening.
3. Completion of fingerprinting for documentation.

The student must update the above admission requirements every year. Information regarding the completion of these additional admission requirements is provided by the faculty during the Orientation Session scheduled in November.

General Admission Process

1. The electronic application for the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program is available online between September 1 and September 30. The application link is activated at 9:00 a.m. on September 1.
2. The electronic Occupational Therapy Assistant Program Application Form and instructions are accessible under the “How to Apply” link on the OTA Program webpage.
3. The date and time of receipt are posted on the application form.
4. No application is considered if it is submitted before or after the admission window.
5. No application is considered until all necessary Polk State College admission documentation is received and processed by the Registrar’s Office (i.e., Polk State College application, transcripts, and residency paperwork).

Selection Process

1. The OTA Program determines the number of available seats for each entering class (up to 24 students).
2. The Selection Committee determines the top 24 applicants meeting or exceeding the General Admission requirements.  

• The OTA Selection Committee utilizes a point system as a guide in the selection of qualified students for the OTA Program.   
• Areas evaluated by the committee include college GPA, prerequisite GPA, Polk County residency, related experiences in the field, and corequisite and General Education courses completed.   

Note: The Program Manager can provide information regarding this system.  

3. Applicants for the Linkage Program seats are considered. 

• A total of two Linkage Program seats are allocated to prospective candidates from Hillsborough Community College and Pasco-Hernando Community College.
• Prospective linkage applicants may find detailed instructions in the Linkage Handbook available from the academic advisors at their respective colleges.
• A Linkage applicant may submit the electronic application and required documents between September 1 and September 15, only after meeting with an academic advisor at the respective college to initiate the Linkage Transmittal Form. The Linkage Transmittal Form must be submitted to the linkage administrator at Polk State College by August 15. Any Applicant who neglects to follow this process is not considered for admission and the applications is not acknowledged. If an application is denied and deemed incomplete, the applicant must reapply during the General Admission application window (September 1 - September 30).
• Preference is given to the student with the highest GPA if more than one qualified applicant from the same institution applies for the same seat.
• Selected candidates are notified via electronic mail the week after September 15.

4. Applicants under the Veterans Agreement seats are considered.

• Two seats are allocated on a first-come, first-qualified basis to prospective qualified Veteran Students enrolled at Polk State College. The student must meet with the Coordinator of Veteran Services to determine eligibility before initiating the application process.
• After establishing eligibility, the Veteran Student must meet with an academic advisor to determine if admission criteria for the program has been met.
• The academic advisor forwards the qualified application and related documents (i.e., Transmittal Form, Observation Hours Form, résumé, and transcripts) directly to the OTA Program Director from July 15 to August 15.
• If more than two qualified applicants apply for these seats, preference is given to the student with the higher GPA. In the event that applicants share the same GPA, the seat is assigned to the student who applied first (i.e., based on the date and time posted on the application form).
• The two selected Veteran Student applicants are notified via electronic mail shortly after August 15. 
• Between September 1 and September 15, the two selected Veteran Student applicants must complete the online application for the OTA Program, which is available on the program website (www.polk.edu/ota) under “How to Apply.”
• Any Veteran Student who is not selected under the Veterans Agreement has the opportunity to reapply through the General Admission process (September 1 through September 30).
• Unassigned seats from the Veterans Agreement convert to General Admission seats after completion of the application period.

5. The General Admission process opens for student applicants.

• The remaining 20-24 seats are allocated to General Admission applicants by the Selection Committee after the Program Director reviews the submissions from qualified Linkage Program and Veterans Agreement applications.
• Ten additional applicants are designated as alternates.
• Candidates and alternates are selected based on the Selection Criteria and a first-come, first-qualified basis.
• The application window for qualified applicants is available from 9:00 a.m. on September 1 through 11:59 p.m. on September 30.
• Selected candidates and alternates are notified via electronic mail in mid-October after the Selection Committee meets and reviews all completed applications.

OTA Program Policy on Transfer Credit

OTA Program Policies on Transfer Credit

The following information explains the OTA Program’s policies on transfer credit for OTH-prefix coursework. 

1. The OTA Program may accept transfer credits for required General Education courses pending review from the Polk State College Registrar. 
2. Only first-semester OTH-prefix courses, without a Capstone Project, are considered for transfer from non-regionally accredited institutions. Credit transfer in these cases is limited to courses that align their content and objectives with OTH 1001C Introduction to Occupational Therapy and Lab and OTH 2300C Psychosocial Occupational Therapy and Lab.   
3. OTH-prefix courses taken more than two years from the student’s admission date into the Polk State College OTA Program are not eligible for transfer to the program.   
4. For those courses taken at non-regionally accredited institutions, the OTA Program Director determines the eligibility of transfer credit for occupational therapy-related coursework using the following process:  

• A student requesting transfer credit for occupational therapy-related courses must meet with the Program Director prior to application.   
• The student must provide a copy of the previous program’s curriculum.  
• The student must provide a copy of the syllabus for each course to be reviewed, including course learning outcomes and course content.   
• The OTA Program Director reviews the content of the course(s) and makes the final decision on acceptance or denial of the transfer of credit.   
• Prior to accepting any transferable credit, the student must pass an exam(s) from each Polk State College course in which the individual is eligible for credit to ensure that the student can demonstrate the course knowledge for the transferred credit.   
• The OTA Program Director notifies the Polk State College Registrar of any transferable OTA Program-specific credit.  

Work Sites

Typical work sites for OTAs are traditional hospital and rehabilitation units as well as outpatient orthopedic centers, skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, home healthcare agencies, psychiatric units, mental health agencies, community-based agencies, developmental disabilities agencies, pediatric agencies, schools, higher education institutions (community colleges), and industrial settings.

Program Cost

The program’s cost is approximately $10,573.28. This estimate takes into account the cost of tuition, books, lab fees, uniforms, name tag, certification exam, Florida licensure, CPR and AIDS certifications, the physical exam, background checks, a drug screening, and fingerprinting.

Certification Examination

A graduate of the program is eligible to take the National Certification Examination for the Occupational Therapy Assistant administered by the National Board of Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT), 800 S. Frederick Ave., Suite 200, Gaithersburg, MD 20877-4150; telephone: 301.990.7979. The examination is offered online throughout the year, with a cost of $515 if taken within the United States. After successful completion of this exam, the graduate becomes a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA). A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT exam and the ability to obtain a state license.

Florida Licensure

Each graduate must apply for Florida licensure upon successful completion of the certification exam. The graduate must contact the Florida Board of Occupational Therapy to obtain the application documents for licensure. The current fee for Florida licensure is $180. A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to attain state licensure. A prospective student should be aware that a Social Security Number (SSN) is required to be issued a certificate or license by the Florida Department of Health, the state’s healthcare licensing authority.

Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs):
Upon successful completion of the program, the graduate is able to:
PLO 1: Respond to a request for services in accordance with service agency’s policies and procedures.
PLO 2: Assist with data collection and evaluation under the supervision of a registered occupational therapist (OTR).
PLO 3: Develop treatment goals under the supervision of a registered occupational therapist (OTR).
PLO 4: Implement and coordinate an intervention plan under the supervision of a registered occupational therapist (OTR).
PLO 5: Provide direct service that follows a documented routine and accepted procedure under the supervision of a registered occupational therapist (OTR).
PLO 6: Adapt the occupation, environment, and interventions according to the needs of the individual and his or her sociocultural context under the supervision of a registered occupational therapist (OTR).
PLO 7: Communicate and interact with other team members and the individual’s family or caregivers in collaboration with a registered occupational therapist (OTR).
PLO 8: Maintain records and documentation required by the work setting under the supervision of a registered occupational therapist (OTR).
PLO 9: Follow the policies and procedures required in a setting.
PLO 10: Perform continuous quality improvement activities or program evaluation in collaboration with a registered occupational therapist (OTR).
PLO 11: Maintain the treatment area, equipment, and supply inventory as required.
PLO 12: Monitor own performance and identify supervisory needs.
PLO 13: Identify and pursue personal professional growth and development goals.
PLO 14: Participate in professional and community activities.
PLO 15: Function according to the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice.