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Occupational Therapy Assisting

Overview Degrees/Certificates Courses Faculty

Associate Degree

A.S. in Occupational Therapy Assistant

The Occupational Therapy Assistant Associate in Science degree provides students with an understanding of human occupations as the valued and necessary skills of daily living across the lifespan. Injury, illness, disease, and developmental delays can prevent optimal performance in daily life tasks. Students will learn methods and interventions to establish or restore functioning with a range of populations with physical and behavioral conditions in a variety of settings. Also addressed are the essential professional skills of therapeutic communication, activity analysis and adaptation, assistive technology, client and caregiver education, cultural humility and health practices, and occupational justice, among many others. Through a rigorous learning program, students are provided training through lectures, labs, and fieldwork experiences. A significant portion of the program is offered through synchronous distance education when appropriate. With successful degree completion, students are eligible to pursue national certification and state licensure. To practice as an entry-level occupational therapy assistant, under the supervision of an occupational therapist, requires certification and licensure. Practice with an Associate of Science degree provides certified and licensed graduates with gainful employment with competitive salaries and job opportunities and does not require additional degrees unless desired.

The program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814. ACOTE’s telephone number, c/o AOTA, is (301) 652-6611, and its web address is www.acoteonline.org.

Catalog Date: August 1, 2025

Degree Requirements

Course Code Course Title Units
Courses Required for Program Application in addition to the Graduation Requirements listed in the Enrollment Limitations:
AH 106 Communication for Allied Health Careers 2
AH 301 Health Care in a Multicultural Society (3) 3
   or SOC 300 Introductory Sociology (3)
   or ANTH 310 Cultural Anthropology (3)
   or ANTH 481 Honors Cultural Anthropology (3)
AH 311 Medical Language for Health-Care Providers 3
BIOL 100 Introduction to Concepts of Human Anatomy and Physiology (3) 3 - 101
or [ BIOL 430 Anatomy and Physiology (5)
and BIOL 431 ] Anatomy and Physiology (5)
LIBR 307 Medical Information Resources 1
NUTRI 300 Nutrition (3) 3
   or NUTRI 480 Nutrition Honors (3)
   or HEED 300 Health Science (3)
OTA 100 Introduction to Occupational Therapy 1
PSYC C1000 Introduction to Psychology (3) 32
   or PSYC 480 Honors General Principles (3)
PSYC 370 Human Development: A Life Span (3) 3
   or EDUC 300 Human Development: A Life Span (3)
Semester 1 (Spring):
OTA 123 Fundamentals of Clinical Documentation 1.5
OTA 131 Occupational Therapy Theory and Process in Psychosocial Dysfunction 5
OTA 132 Introduction to Clinical Practice in Psychosocial Dysfunction (1) 1
or OTA 122 Introduction to Clinical Practice in Non-Traditional Settings (1)
OTA 150 Occupational Therapy Process and Practice in Developmental Disabilities and Pediatric Conditions 2.5
Semester 2 (Summer):
OTA 110 Functional Biomechanics for the OTA 3
OTA 111 Functional Biomechanics Lab for the OTA 1
OTA 152 Introduction to Clinical Practice in Pediatric Conditions 0.5
Semester 3 (Fall):
OTA 140 Theoretical Foundations of Physical Dysfunction 3
OTA 141 Occupational Therapy Process in Physical Dysfunction 4
OTA 142 Introduction to Clinical Practice in Physical Dysfunction (1) 1
   or OTA 122 Introduction to Clinical Practice in Non-Traditional Settings (1)
Semester 4 (Spring):
OTA 120 Fundamentals of Occupational Therapy Assistant Practice 2.5
OTA 160 Fieldwork Level II First Rotation for the Occupational Therapy Assistant 6
OTA 162 Practice Skills for First Rotation OTA Level II Fieldwork 0.5
Semester 5 (Summer):
OTA 121 Contemporary Models of Practice in Occupational Therapy 1
OTA 163 Practice Skills for Second Rotation OTA Level II Fieldwork 0.5
Semester 6 (Fall):
OTA 161 Fieldwork Level II Second Rotation for the Occupational Therapy Assistant 6
Total Units: 61 - 68

1Ten year recency required.

2Ten year recency required.

The Occupational Therapy Assistant Associate in Science (A.S.) degree may be obtained by completion of the required program, and either (a) the Local General Education Pattern or (b) the California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC), plus sufficient electives for a total of at least 60 units. See SCC graduation requirements.

Enrollment Eligibility

To be eligible for enrollment in the program, the student must meet the following criteria:

  • Interested students should attend a program information meeting prior to applying to the program.
  • Students may seek application assistance through the Health Professions Information, Application & Program Assistance (https://scc.losrios.edu/academics/health-professions-assistance).
  • Official transcripts for coursework outside of the Los Rios Community College District must be on file with the SCC Admissions & Records office at the time of application.
  • Students must have an overall GPA of 2.5 or higher. Courses passed with a grade "P" or "CR" will be calculated into the student's GPA as a "C" grade.
  • Students must be eligible for graduation except for OTA coursework but may apply with in-progress coursework during the semester of application with proof of enrollment.
  • Completion of courses required for the program: AH 106, AH 311, AH 301 or ANTH 310 or SOC 300, BIOL 100 or BIOL 430 and BIOL 431, LIBR 307, NUTRI 300 or HEED 300, OTA 100, PSYC C1000 or PSYC 480, and PSYC 370 or EDUC 300 with grades of “C” or better. BIOL 100 or BIOL 430 and BIOL 431 and PSYC 300 or equivalent courses must have been completed within the last 10 years at the time of application to and/or the time of enrollment into the program.
  • Completion of courses required for the program: AH 106, AH 311, AH 301 or ANTH 310 or SOC 300, BIOL 100 or BIOL 430 and BIOL 431, LIBR 307, NUTRI 300 or HEED 300, OTA 100, PSYC C1000 or PSYC 480, and PSYC 370 or EDUC 300 with grades of “C” or better. Completion of a local General Education pattern. See SCC graduation requirements.

Enrollment Process

Eligible students are selected for the program according to the following steps:

  • Applications are accepted twice a year for one new cohort of 30 students entering each January.
  • Qualified applicants from each application period are added to the program waitlist with the order determined by random selection.
  • Students are notified of their projected enrollment date at the completion of each application period.
  • If an earlier waitlist seat opens, the next eligible waitlist student will be offered the option to enroll early or retain their original enrollment date.
  • Students on the waitlist may defer enrollment for one enrollment cycle.
  • Students must maintain recency of BIOL 100 and PSYC C1000 within the last 10 years at both the time of application and program entry.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to:

  • ensure the safety of self and others during all professional activities, in compliance with all safety regulations and required documentation.
  • comply with all federal, state, and facility practice regulations and abide by professional codes of ethics.
  • articulate the profession’s values, beliefs, and the distinct nature of occupation, and its impact on health, wellness, and engagement in necessary and meaningful daily life activities.
  • communicate clearly and effectively with clients and their care partners, with consideration for psychosocial factors, health literacy, diversity factors, and cultural differences.
  • report accurate client status to supervising occupational therapist, client’s care partners, the inter-professional team, other relevant parties, and in written documentation.
  • demonstrate therapeutic use of self as a foundation of establishing effective therapeutic relationships with clients and their care partners.
  • administer assigned assessments using correct procedures and protocols, accurately reporting client’s expressed needs, and demonstrated occupational performance.
  • implement client-centered and occupation-based intervention plans, selecting effective therapeutic activities appropriate for the individual and the established goals.
  • modify therapeutic tasks and/or environments to maximize the client’s performance.
  • participate in and provide relevant recommendations for the discharge process, and related client and care partner education, and equipment needs.
  • articulate a clear and logical rationale for clinical decision-making, based on scope of practice, client status, treatment goals, professional evidence, and other relevant factors.
  • interact with members of an intra- and inter-professional care team, demonstrating knowledge of differences in scope of practice, levels of training, and professional roles.
  • demonstrate accurate billing and productivity procedures for occupational therapy services, in compliance with rules for federal, state, third party, and private payers.
  • demonstrate professional work behaviors and attitudes, and the ability to receive and apply constructive feedback for professional growth.
  • understand systems, legislation, regulations, and compliance requirements for certification, licensing, and continuing education.

Career Information

Occupational therapy assistants (OTA) work in a wide variety of settings including hospitals, rehabilitation centers, skilled nursing facilities, home health agencies, school systems, hand therapy clinics, community-based care programs, psychiatric hospitals, private practice outpatient clinics, education, and emerging practice areas. Under the supervision of an occupational therapist, the OTA may provide direct client care, training, and education; physical and cognitive rehabilitation; functional and community mobility training; fall prevention; contribute to home modification; adaptive equipment training; early intervention services; health, wellness, and prevention; and social/emotional skills training.