Program Information
A.S. Degree - Code 221500 - Catalog 2025/2026
Sabrina Abbondanza, Assistant Chair, 386-506-3624, Sabrina.Abbondanza@daytonastate.edu
Melissa Brown-Mack, Academic Advisor, 386-506-3052, Melissa.Brown-Mack@daytonastate.edu
Program Mission, Description, and Outcomes
Mission:
Our mission is to train occupational therapy assistant generalists, who come from diverse backgrounds and experience, to successfully become competent entry-level practitioners and meet the needs of their community, using occupation to promote health and participation in daily life.
- We seek to maximize student success (opportunity, mastery of skills, and satisfaction) through excellent, innovative learning practices and up-to-date technologies and evidence.
- We provide both academic and clinical experiences to provide a strong professional foundation.
- We strive to develop effective, responsible, and contributing practitioners who can continue life-long learning.
Description:
The program trains and qualifies graduates to work in occupational therapy. Occupational therapy is a health and rehabilitation profession that provides services to individuals who are physically, psychologically or developmentally disabled or are at risk for these. Occupational therapy aims to help clients achieve a maximum level of participation and function in their daily activities (occupations).
Job title: Occupational Therapy Assistant.
Program Accreditation: The Occupational Therapy Assistant program is currently 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 phone number is 301-652-6611 and Web address is http://www.acoteonline.org/. Graduates of the program will be able to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapy assistant administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc. (NBCOT). (Their phone number is 301-990-7979 or http://www.nbcot.org/.) After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA). Most states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination.
College Accreditation: Daytona State College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associates and baccalaureate degrees. Daytona State College also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of Daytona State College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).
Outcomes:
Graduates of the program will be able to:
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Demonstrate the professional ethics, values, and responsibilities consistent with practice in occupational therapy (OT) in the role of an occupational therapy assistant (OTA).
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Use skills in various occupational therapy applications/situations based on foundational concepts learned about communication, clinical reasoning, human body structures and functions, development, pathology, and behavior, and sociocultural conditions and health.
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Explain how occupation is inherent to human health and participation in life, and is a foundation for OT knowledge and service delivery.
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Apply the most appropriate occupational therapy theories, evaluation methods, intervention rationales and approaches, and expected outcomes in the process of client care.
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Establish a client-centered, evidence-based approach to service delivery.
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Apply the concepts of occupational therapy to a variety of delivery models and systems where OT is both currently practiced and emerging.
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Participate in clinical fieldwork and OT advocacy and awareness events
Financial Aid
This program is eligible for federal financial aid and state Bright Futures Scholarship Program.
Financing Options: All students are encouraged to apply for federal and state student financial assistance by completing the FAFSA at studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa. For more information on grant, loans, and work program available please see the Office of Financial Aid webpage at daytonastate.edu/finaid. Students are also encouraged to apply for one of the many Daytona State College Foundation scholarships offered each semester. For more information see: daytonastate.edu/scholarships/.
Approximate Costs
| Program Tuition and Fees*: |
$7,576.12 |
| Access Fee: |
$94.72 |
| Assessment Fee: |
$34 |
| Lab Fees: |
$326.09 |
| Textbook Estimate: |
$1,800 |
| Health Screening and Immunizations (depending on applicant's health care provider): |
$275 |
| FDLE Background Check and Drug Screening: |
$180 |
| Licensing Exam Fees: |
$540 |
*In-state tuition only; out-of-state tuition will be higher
Additional Admission Requirements
This is a limited access program.
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Have a standard high school diploma or GED.
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Be at least 18 years of age.
- Meet with the assistant chair for a pre-admission consultation.
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Complete the Postsecondary Education Readiness Test (PERT) with a minimum 10th grade level for reading, language and mathematics. See an Academic Advisor to determine developmental course requirements.
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Exemptions include:
- Florida public high school students who graduated after the year 2003 and earned a Standard High School diploma
- Active duty military applicants
- Those who have successfully completed college level English and/or Math
- Provide satisfactory results of a Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) background check and drug screen.
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Possess Basic Life Support (BLS) certification for the Health Care Provider and Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) through the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross.
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Meet eligibility requirements for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) by having no criminal record, or if a convicted felon, by having your civil rights fully restored, as required by the Florida Board of Occupational Therapy Practice.
- Complete the following course with a grade of 'C' or better:
- OTH1001 Introduction to Occupational Therapy
- ENC1101 Introduction to Composition
- PSY1012 General Psychology
- BSC1085C Human Anatomy and Physiology I and Lab
Continuing Enrollment Requirements
Continuing enrollment approval will be required to enroll in the program specific courses based on a selections process after completing the required general education courses. Student selection for continuing enrollment is based on specific admission criteria and a points system. Applications for continuing enrollment are accepted January 1st through April 30th. Selection is made once per year.
Additional Completion Requirements
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Earn a grade "C" or better in all program specific and prerequisite courses.
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Complete Level II Fieldwork within 18 months following completion of academic course preparation.
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Adhere to the policy and procedures of the Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program as outlined in the OTA student handbook, as well as those outlines in the Daytona State College Student Handbook.
General Education
16 Credits
Communication Core (3 credits)
Required General Education course:
| ENC1101 | Introduction to Composition | 3 |
Mathematics Core (3 credits)
Recommended Math Pathway:
Natural Sciences Core (4 credits)
Required course:
| BSC1085C | Human Anatomy and Physiology I and Lab | 4 |
Humanities Core (3 credits)
Recommended courses. Choose one:
Social Sciences Core (3 credits)
Recommended courses. Choose one:
| AMH2010 | United States History to 1877 | 3 |
| POS2041 | American Federal Government | 3 |
| AMH2020 | United States History 1865 to Present | 3 |
POS2041, AMH2020, AMH2010: These courses satisfy the Civic Literacy Competency graduation requirement.
Note: Prior to enrollment in college-level English or math courses, some students may be advised to complete college preparatory/developmental course work. See an Academic Advisor to determine developmental course requirements.
Program Specific Courses
| PSY1012 | General Psychology | 3 |
| BSC1086C | Human Anatomy & Physiology II and Lab | 4 |
| OTH1001 | Introduction to Occupational Therapy | 3 |
| OTH1003 | Human Occupation Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| OTH1006 | Documentation Through the Occupational Therapy Process | 2 |
| OTH1014C | Analysis of Human Movement and Lab | 3 |
| OTH1114C | Occupational Therapy Skills and Techniques I and Lab | 2 |
| OTH1800 | Occupational Therapy Practicum I | 1 |
| OTH1802 | Occupational Therapy Practicum II | 2 |
| OTH2261C | Occupational Therapy Skills and Techniques II and Lab | 3 |
| OTH2264C | Occupational Therapy Skills and Techniques III and Lab | 3 |
| OTH2300 | Psychosocial Occupational Therapy | 4 |
| OTH2410 | Conditions in Occupational Therapy | 3 |
| OTH2420C | Occupational Therapy for Physical Dysfunction and Lab | 4 |
| OTH2520C | Developmental Issues and Lab | 3 |
| OTH2704C | Advanced Practice and Professionalism for OTA | 4 |
| OTH2840 | O.T. Supervised Clinical Practice I | 5 |
| OTH2841 | O.T. Supervised Clinical Practice II | 5 |
| OTH2933 | O.T. Seminar for Clinical Practice | 1 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 58 |
Sample Program of Study
Prerequisite Courses
| ENC1101 | Introduction to Composition | 3 |
| BSC1085C | Human Anatomy and Physiology I and Lab | 4 |
| OTH1001 | Introduction to Occupational Therapy | 3 |
| PSY1012 | General Psychology | 3 |
Year 1
1st Semester
| Mathematics Core | 3 |
| BSC1086C | Human Anatomy & Physiology II and Lab | 4 |
| OTH1003 | Human Occupation Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| OTH1114C | Occupational Therapy Skills and Techniques I and Lab | 2 |
| OTH2410 | Conditions in Occupational Therapy | 3 |
2nd Semester
| OTH1006 | Documentation Through the Occupational Therapy Process | 2 |
| OTH1014C | Analysis of Human Movement and Lab | 3 |
| OTH1800 | Occupational Therapy Practicum I | 1 |
| OTH2300 | Psychosocial Occupational Therapy | 4 |
| OTH2261C | Occupational Therapy Skills and Techniques II and Lab | 3 |
Summer Semester
| OTH2420C | Occupational Therapy for Physical Dysfunction and Lab | 4 |
| Social Sciences Core - Civic Literacy (AMH2010, AMH2020 or POS2041) | 3 |
Year 2
1st Semester
| OTH1802 | Occupational Therapy Practicum II | 2 |
| OTH2264C | Occupational Therapy Skills and Techniques III and Lab | 3 |
| OTH2520C | Developmental Issues and Lab | 3 |
| OTH2704C | Advanced Practice and Professionalism for OTA | 4 |
2nd Semester
| Humanities Core | 3 |
| OTH2840 | O.T. Supervised Clinical Practice I | 5 |
| OTH2841 | O.T. Supervised Clinical Practice II | 5 |
| OTH2933 | O.T. Seminar for Clinical Practice | 1 |
Total: 74