Sabrina Abbondanza, Assistant Chair, 386-506-3624, Sabrina.Abbondanza@daytonastate.edu
Melissa Brown-Mack, Academic Advisor, 386-506-3052, Melissa.Brown-Mack@daytonastate.edu
Admission Note
Limited Access Program: Admission to this program is selective and requires completion of additional admission and enrollment requirements.
Program Overview
Mission:
The program prepares occupational therapy assistant generalists from diverse backgrounds to become competent entry-level practitioners who promote health and participation in daily life.
Description:
Occupational therapy is a health and rehabilitation profession that provides services to individuals who are physically, psychologically, or developmentally disabled or at risk. Occupational therapy practitioners assist clients in achieving maximum participation and functioning in daily activities.
Graduates are eligible to sit for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) examination to become Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants (COTA). State licensure is required to practice.
Program Accreditation: The Occupational Therapy Assistant Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814; telephone: 301-652-6611; website: www.acoteonline.org. Graduates are eligible to sit for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) examination to become Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants (COTA). Most states require licensure for practice.
College Accreditation: Daytona State College is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate and baccalaureate degrees. Questions regarding accreditation may be directed to SACSCOC at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097; telephone: 404-679-4500; or online at www.sacscoc.org.
Outcomes:
Graduates of the program will be able to:
- Demonstrate professional ethics and responsibilities.
- Apply occupational therapy concepts across practice settings.
- Explain occupation as foundational to health and participation.
- Apply occupational therapy theories and interventions.
- Establish client-centered, evidence-based care.
- Apply occupational therapy service delivery models.
- Participate in clinical fieldwork experiences.
Program Requirements
Admission:
This is a Limited Access Program.
- Standard high school diploma or GED.
- Minimum age of 18.
- Meet with the Assistant Chair for a pre-admission consultation.
- PERT scores at the 10th-grade level in reading, language, and mathematics, unless exempt.
- Satisfactory FDLE/FBI background check and drug screening.
- Basic Life Support (BLS) and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) certification through the American Heart Association or American Red Cross.
- Eligibility for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) examination as required by the Florida Board of Occupational Therapy Practice.
Enrollment:
Continuing enrollment approval is required prior to enrollment in program-specific courses.
- Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher for competitive ranking consideration.
- Earn a grade of “C” or better in the following courses:
- OTH1001 Introduction to Occupational Therapy
- ENC1101 Introduction to Composition
- PSY1012 General Psychology
- BSC1085C Human Anatomy and Physiology I with Lab
Completion:
- Earn a grade of “C” or better in all program-specific and prerequisite courses.
- Complete Level II Fieldwork within 18 months of completing academic coursework.
- Follow the policies and procedures outlined in the Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) Student Handbook and the Daytona State College Student Handbook.
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 grants, loans, and work programs available please see the Office of Financial Aid webpage at
daytonastate.edu/financial-aid/.
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/.
Career and Labor Market Information
Graduates may pursue employment in occupational therapy and rehabilitation services, including roles such as Occupational Therapy Assistant, Rehabilitation Therapy Assistant, OT Assistant, and Pediatric Occupational Therapy Assistant. In the Brevard-Flagler-Volusia workforce region, approximately 614 occupational therapy assistants are employed, with an average annual salary of $66,250 and approximately 35 annual job openings.
| SOC Alignment |
31-2011 – Occupational Therapy Assistants
|
| Average Hourly Wage |
$32.81 |
| Average Annual Salary |
$66,250 |
| Annual Job Openings |
35 |
| Regional Employment |
Approximately 614 employed |
Occupational Overview: Assist occupational therapists in providing therapeutic interventions that help individuals develop, recover, improve, and maintain the skills needed for daily living, work, and independent participation in home, school, and community environments.
Wage Distribution: 10th percentile: $57,930 | 50th percentile: $66,250 | 90th percentile: $75,370.
Data Sources: CareerSource Brevard Flagler Volusia Regional Demand Occupations List; FloridaCommerce Employment Projections Region 27; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) Deltona–Daytona Beach–Ormond Beach MSA; SOC 31-2011.
Note: It is never too early to prepare for your career. Log in to the Daytona State Career Services Student Job Board to create your account, submit your resume for review, search for employment opportunities, and practice your interviewing skills through Big Interview. For assistance, contact Career Services to connect with a Career Advisor.
16 Credits
Communication Core (3 credits)
Required General Education course:
| ENC1101 | Introduction to Composition | 3.00 |
Mathematics Core (3 credits)
Recommended Math Pathway:
Natural Sciences Core (4 credits)
Required course:
| BSC1085C | Human Anatomy and Physiology I and Lab | 4.00 |
Humanities Core (3 credits)
Recommended courses. Choose one:
Social Sciences Core (3 credits)
Required courses. Choose one:
| AMH2010 | United States History to 1877 | 3.00 |
| POS2041 | American Federal Government | 3.00 |
| AMH2020 | United States History 1865 to Present | 3.00 |
Program Specific Courses
58 Credits
| PSY1012 | General Psychology | 3.00 |
| BSC1086C | Human Anatomy & Physiology II and Lab | 4.00 |
| OTH1001 | Introduction to Occupational Therapy | 3.00 |
| OTH1003 | Human Occupation Across the Lifespan | 3.00 |
| OTH1006 | Documentation Through the Occupational Therapy Process | 2.00 |
| OTH1014C | Analysis of Human Movement and Lab | 3.00 |
| OTH1114C | Occupational Therapy Skills and Techniques I and Lab | 2.00 |
| OTH1800 | Occupational Therapy Practicum I | 1.00 |
| OTH1802 | Occupational Therapy Practicum II | 2.00 |
| OTH2261C | Occupational Therapy Skills and Techniques II and Lab | 3.00 |
| OTH2264C | Occupational Therapy Skills and Techniques III and Lab | 3.00 |
| OTH2300 | Psychosocial Occupational Therapy | 4.00 |
| OTH2410 | Conditions in Occupational Therapy | 3.00 |
| OTH2420C | Occupational Therapy for Physical Dysfunction and Lab | 4.00 |
| OTH2520C | Developmental Issues and Lab | 3.00 |
| OTH2704C | Advanced Practice and Professionalism for OTA | 4.00 |
| OTH2840 | O.T. Supervised Clinical Practice I | 5.00 |
| OTH2841 | O.T. Supervised Clinical Practice II | 5.00 |
| OTH2933 | O.T. Seminar for Clinical Practice | 1.00 |
Sample Program of Study
Prerequisite Courses
| ENC1101 | Introduction to Composition | 3.00 |
| BSC1085C | Human Anatomy and Physiology I and Lab | 4.00 |
| OTH1001 | Introduction to Occupational Therapy | 3.00 |
| PSY1012 | General Psychology | 3.00 |
Year 1
1st Semester
| Mathematics Core | 3.00 |
| BSC1086C | Human Anatomy & Physiology II and Lab | 4.00 |
| OTH1003 | Human Occupation Across the Lifespan | 3.00 |
| OTH1114C | Occupational Therapy Skills and Techniques I and Lab | 2.00 |
| OTH2410 | Conditions in Occupational Therapy | 3.00 |
2nd Semester
| OTH1006 | Documentation Through the Occupational Therapy Process | 2.00 |
| OTH1014C | Analysis of Human Movement and Lab | 3.00 |
| OTH1800 | Occupational Therapy Practicum I | 1.00 |
| OTH2300 | Psychosocial Occupational Therapy | 4.00 |
| OTH2261C | Occupational Therapy Skills and Techniques II and Lab | 3.00 |
Summer Semester
| OTH2420C | Occupational Therapy for Physical Dysfunction and Lab | 4.00 |
| Social Sciences Core - Civic Literacy course | 3.00 |
Year 2
1st Semester
| OTH1802 | Occupational Therapy Practicum II | 2.00 |
| OTH2264C | Occupational Therapy Skills and Techniques III and Lab | 3.00 |
| OTH2520C | Developmental Issues and Lab | 3.00 |
| OTH2704C | Advanced Practice and Professionalism for OTA | 4.00 |
2nd Semester
| Humanities Core | 3.00 |
| OTH2840 | O.T. Supervised Clinical Practice I | 5.00 |
| OTH2841 | O.T. Supervised Clinical Practice II | 5.00 |
| OTH2933 | O.T. Seminar for Clinical Practice | 1.00 |
Total Credit Hours: 74