• Medical terminology
• Anatomy & physiology
• Psychology
• Kinesiology
• Critical thinking
• Problem solving
• Professional behaviors

The World Federation of Occupational Therapists defines the profession as:

A client centered health profession concerned with promoting health and well being through occupation. The primary goal is to enable people to participate in the activities of everyday life. Occupational therapists achieve this outcome by working with people and communities to enhance their ability to engage in occupations they want to, need to, or expect to do by modifying the occupation or environment to better support their occupational engagement. (WFOT 2012)

This is a "hands-on" profession in which the OTR and COTA develop a therapeutic relationship with their patients. COTAs are in daily physical contact with a diverse group of people and a variety of types of machines and technology. The work requires frequent standing, bending, walking, and occasional heavy lifting, exposure to bodily fluids, as well as working closely with clients and other treatment team members under potentially stressful conditions. Click on the following link to assess your ability to meet the Essential Functions and Technical Standards for Occupational Therapy Assistant Students.

The OTA Program is accredited by the:
Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE)
c/o Accreditation Department
American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)
4720 Montgomery Lane, Suite 200
Bethesda, MD 20814-3449
www.aota.org or www.acoteonline.org
(301) 652-AOTA (or 2682)
FAX: (301) 652-1417

National Board of Certification for Occupational Therapy Results

For the three most recent calendar years, (2009, 2010, and 2011) the performance of Greenville Technical College OTA Program Graduates on the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) certification examination is listed below:

Greenville Technical College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award associate degrees, diplomas and certificates.

Occupational Therapy Assistant
Associate in Applied Science

This program prepares students for entry-level practice in the field of occupational therapy. Designed as a One-Plus-One program, Phase I includes all general education and related coursework and may be completed at Greenville Technical College or any articulating college. Students who anticipate completing all Phase I courses with the appropriate grades and technical GPA are eligible to submit a Weighted Admissions Form for entry into Phase II.

Phase II of the OTA program is only available at Greenville Tech’s Greer Campus. Students from articulating colleges must be able to travel to or locate to accommodations nearby.

Fieldwork course assignments during Phase II will require students to travel and arrange temporary accommodations away from home. Fieldwork assignments must be completed within 18 months following the completion of academic preparation.

Graduates are eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapy assistant administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). Most states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination.

Read more from our current catalog (pdf)…

Career Talk
Participating in a Career Talk session for your program is a requirement for all Health Sciences and Nursing Division students. Click here for the Career Talk monthly schedule.

OTA Career Talk

Also, you must comply with these policies before acceptance into a Health Science or Nursing Division program.

See catalog information for specific admission requirements for the program.

Phase I admission requirements:

• Complete Greenville Technical College’s application process.
• Meet with a Health Sciences advisor or OTA program director to plan course progression after acceptance to Greenville Technical College.

Phase II admission requirements:

• Attend a Career Talk session for the OTA program within two years of admission to Phase II.
• Meet all of the admission requirements for Phase I.
• Attain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50 for all Phase I courses and have passed all Phase I courses with a minimum grade of “C” or higher on the first or second attempt at Greenville Technical College.
• OTA 200 must be completed within one year of acceptance into Phase II.

Students are selected for OTA Program Phase II admission based upon weighted admissions process. The window for accepting applications is March 15 through May 15. All applications will be reviewed for accuracy. The top scoring 25-29 students will be offered seats in the fall cohort which will begin in August of that year. Students who complete all general education courses with a grade of “C” or better by the end of the spring term will be considered first. Students who complete the general education courses during the summer will be seated only when space is available. Weighted admission criteria can be obtained at a Career Talk session.

Occupational Therapy Assistant 2013 Weighted Admissions Form

After acceptance into Phase II of the OTA program, students will be required to

• Attend OTA Program new student orientation.
• Have a negative 10-panel drug screen.
• Complete the Healthstream online preclinical orientation.
• Submit documentation of current Healthcare Provider CPR certification.
• Have a crime-free criminal background report.
• Submit documentation of current physical exam and required immunizations.
• Be able to attend all fieldwork affiliations of a full-time basis during scheduled fieldwork affiliation dates.