RAASOTA - AAS_Occupational Therapy Asst

The A.A.S. in Occupational Therapy Assistant transfers into a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences (B.A.A.S.) degree program at ENMU.

Occupational Therapy Assistants (OTAs) work under the direction of an Occupational Therapist in treating individuals with injuries, illnesses, or disabilities through the therapeutic use of everyday activities (occupations). OTAs assist individuals in developing, recovering, and improving the skills needed for daily living and working. They work with individuals across the lifespan in various settings: hospitals, clinics, schools, and nursing homes, as well as in their homes, places of employment, and other community settings. Upon successfully completing the program, students are eligible to take the national exam given by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) to become a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant. The state of New Mexico requires a license to practice. Licensure involves a separate application process based on successfully completing the NBCOT Certification Examination.

Program Accreditation

The associate-degree-level occupational therapy assistant 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-AOTA and its web address is www.acoteonline.org.

Graduates of the program will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapy assistant administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA). In addition, all states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination.

Note: A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.

General Admission Policies

Selective admissions and retention rules apply. The number of students enrolled in OTA core courses at all levels is limited. It is the STUDENT’S RESPONSIBILITY to see that all the required information is on file with the Office of Admissions & Records. The following must be submitted before the application deadline:

1. Occupational Therapy Assistant Admission Application signed and turned into Admissions and Records Department

2. Submit ALL official transcripts to Admissions and Records at 575.624.7370

3. Evidence of good standing with the University (academic and financial)

4. One-page paper “Why do I want to become an occupational therapy assistant?”

5. Attend interview.

Mandatory/Periodic Drug Screening and Background Check

Mandatory Drug screening and background checks are required during the program's first week and will be scheduled by the Division of Health faculty. Students must pass the mandatory and periodic drug screenings to remain in the program. There will be periodic drug tests throughout the program. Students exhibiting signs of impaired clinical judgment related to suspected use of chemical substance(s), legal or otherwise, will be removed from the classroom, laboratory, or clinical setting immediately and complete mandatory drug screening. Appeals can be made according to the process outlined in the OTA Student Handbook.

Pre-Admission Information

Students must take the TEAS Test for Allied Health and obtain at least a performance total score of 58.7 %, which is required to be considered for progression into the OTA core courses. TEAS test for Allied Health scores must be completed within one year of the OTA program application deadline. Applicants are allowed two attempts per application cycle to achieve the required minimum score. Students are required to complete the following requirements before entry into the program within 5 years of the OTA application date:

1. All pre-admission courses must be completed with a grade of “C” or higher, with an overall minimum of 2. 75 GPA in these courses:

2. Any General Education Math (course recommended for continued OT education) (3-4 credits).

3. Choose one of the following: course, course, or course (3 credits).

4. course – Introduction to Psychology (3 credits).

5. course – Introductory Sociology (3 credits).

6. course / course- Human Anatomy and Physiology I (4 credits).

Academic Progression Policy and Procedure

ADMISSION POLICIES: Student enrollment in OTA core courses at all levels is limited. Students ENTER the Occupational Therapy Assistant program under the CURRENT Catalog. Students entering the program at all levels should understand the following guidelines:

1. It is important for students to contact an advisor in either the OTA program or Advising Services.

2. Students might need to submit an admission application to Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell if they are not already an ENMU-Roswell student. ENMU-Roswell applications are only valid for a limited time; please contact the Office of Admissions & Records for more information.

3. In addition to special requirements for the OTA program, students must meet general entrance requirements for the University.

4. Students will need to submit an application to the OTA program.

5. The applicant must have an official high school transcript (or GED certificate) and college transcript (not accepting transfer from other OTA program credits) in the Office of Admissions & Records by the required date. Transfer of education credit(s) is evaluated by the Office of Admissions & Records.

6. Students will be required to submit information for a background check. Any pertinent information found that may affect licensure or employment guidelines could affect the student’s standing in the OTA program. A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or to attain state licensure.

7. Mandatory drug screening is required during the program's first week and will be scheduled by the Health Sciences faculty. Students must pass all mandatory/periodic drug screenings to remain in the program. Drug screening may be repeated based on the requirements of clinical site contracts.

8. All first-year Level I required core courses must be completed chronologically to progress into Level II core courses of OT 214L, 216L, 240, 242, 244, 246.

9. Orientation 101 can be taken before admission into the OTA program or during Fall 1 (Level 1).

10. See the advisor if the student needs additional credits; recommend SPAN 1410 for health care professions (4 credits) or SPAN 1110 (3 credits).

11. If needed, recommend visiting the EL Lab for English as a Second Language support.

Special Requirements for Progression into Occupational Therapy Assistant Core Courses

Occupational Therapy Assistant Program students who want to progress into the Occupational Therapy Assistant core courses should be aware that the program consists of a two-year program of study after the student has completed the required pre-admission courses (which may take one year or more to complete). Students entering the OTA program do so under the current catalog guidelines.

The degree plan for OTA program courses follows a sequential timeline and, with no exception, is only offered according to the ENMU-Roswell schedule. The first-year (Level 1) courses consist of selected academic courses in preparation for progression in the OTA program.

To continue in the program, students must maintain a “C” or better grade in each consecutive Occupational Therapy Assistant course and non-OTA courses in the degree plan. If these requirements are not met, the student cannot move forward in the program:

• Students must enroll in and successfully complete courses with a fieldwork component each semester to continue in the OTA program.

• The following conditions are grounds for program dismissal and inability to reapply to the OTA program:

  • Inability to maintain a GPA of 2.5 or higher in the OTA curriculum

  • Failure to meet the minimum grade of “C” (75%) in OTA academic course or fieldwork level 1 placement

  • Failure to meet fieldwork site requirements (professionalism, ethics, and safety) and/or meet the minimum grade “C” (75%) in 2 out of 3 fieldwork level 2 placements

  • Failure to uphold the AOTA Code of Ethics or pass professional development plans in the OTA program

• All first-semester OTA core courses (OT 101, OT 110L, OT 112, OT 114L), PSYC 2120, and BIOL 2225/L must be completed to progress to the second-semester OTA core courses.

• All second-semester OTA core courses, OT 118L, OT 120, OT 130, OT 140L, and OT 116L, must be completed to progress to the third-semester OTA core courses. Students must enroll in and successfully complete the therapeutic intervention component to progress to the third-semester OTA core courses.

• Third-semester requirements include current adult, child, and infant CPR and AED certification from the American Heart Association. Up-to-date laboratory tests (titers) and immunizations are required.

• All third-semester OTA core courses, OT 216L, OT 240, OT 242, OT 244, OT 246, and OT 214L, must be completed sequentially to progress to the fourth-semester OTA core courses.

• The fourth semester Level II fieldwork in OT 250, 260L, and OT 262L meet the criteria established in the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) Standards. Students must go prepared to the Fieldwork Level II site for at least 16 weeks (640 hours). The availability of appropriate sites will play a role in placements.

• Students must keep up-to-date laboratory tests on file: tuberculin skin tests (PPD) after July 1 each year, TD immunization or booster within the last ten years, MMR vaccine for individuals born after 12/31/1956, Rubella Titer, Hep B Vaccination recommended, and Varicella Titer. It is also required to provide proof of current American Heart Association Healthcare Provider (Adult, Child, and Infant CPR Certification).

• To continue in the program, the student must demonstrate appropriate professional behaviors as evidenced by passing the minimum requirements on the Professional Behavior Evaluation completed each semester.

• *OTA Clinical Competency Policy: Students must pass the clinical competency skill assessment with a “C” (75%) or better to progress into Fieldwork Level II.

  • This is scored as a “Pass/Fail” competency. Initial skills are assessed in OT 140L. The student will receive an earned grade in OT 140L that reflects the student’s first attempt. Should the student’s clinical assessment score combined with their academic work result in a failing score, the student will fail the course. However, if the combined grade for OT 140L is passing, the student will be given the opportunity to demonstrate competency in the clinical assessment. Only students who pass OT 140L are given subsequent opportunities to achieve clinical competency should they fail their initial attempt. Once clinical competency is achieved, the assessment result will be placed in the student’s permanent file.

• Students who do not successfully complete/pass the Level I Fall Core Courses or subsequent semesters will be dismissed from the program but can re-apply to the program. If the student does reapply and is accepted, the student must begin with Level 1 Core Courses with the new cohort.

• Students who are entering the OTA program must do so under the current academic catalog.

• Fieldwork Level II must be completed within 20 months of completing Level II Fall coursework to ensure continuity of academic concepts. Each student will be given a Fieldwork Manual, which can be used as a guide to success in meeting Fieldwork I and Fieldwork II requirements.

• Students who do not successfully complete Level II Fieldwork will be given one additional opportunity for a total of three site placements. Failure to complete these affiliations will result in the termination of an OTA student from the OTA program and delayed graduation.