Occupational Therapy Assistant (Associate of Applied Science) - Memphis

Program offered at: Memphis, Tennessee

Occupational Therapy Assistant (Associate of Applied Science) Mission Statement

The program provides students theoretical knowledge, technical skills, and professional attributes that provide graduates with the expertise needed to practice as entry-level occupational therapy assistants in settings where occupational therapy is currently established and where it is emerging as a service. Occupational Therapy Assistant graduates from an educational program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) are eligible to sit for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) OTA Certification Examination.

Program Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, students are expected to be able to:

• Apply professional actions aligned with the AOTA Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice to uphold ethical behavior in workplace settings consistently. 
• Analyze foundational concepts, theories, and tenets of occupational therapy to inform professional decision-making.
• Facilitate communication and teamwork within interprofessional, intraprofessional, and community collaborations.
• Create a professional development plan to foster reflective practice and lifelong learning.
• Perform assessments, interventions, and documentation to deliver evidence-based, entry-level occupational therapy services.
• Evaluate the needs of underserved populations to advocate for occupational therapy’s role in improving health, wellbeing, promotion of safety, and quality of life.
• Design holistic interventions that address the biological, physical, social, behavioral, and environmental needs of diverse clients.
• Synthesize evidence-based research to deliver client-centered occupational therapy interventions that enhance participation in meaningful occupations.

Career Overview

Occupational Therapy Assistants work with clients of all ages and diagnoses. They provide quality occupational therapy services to assigned individuals under the supervision of a registered Occupational Therapist and work in hospitals, clinics, schools, client homes, community settings, even prisons. Licensure is required within the state where the COTA will practice. In addition, most states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT (OTA) Certification Examination. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT (OTA) Certification Examination or to attain state licensure.

Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE): 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929; ACOTE c/o AOTA: 301-652-AOTA; www.acoteonline.org; email: accred@aota.org

In order to graduate from the Occupational Therapy Assistant (Associate of Applied Science) program, students must successfully complete the following curriculum: