
Occupational Therapy Assistant
Associate Degree Program
A Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA), works with people of all ages with physical, developmental, social or emotional problems who need assistance to lead independent, productive and satisfying lives. The COTA, under the supervision of a registered occupational therapist, provides clients with occupation based activities which aid them in mastering the skills necessary to perform daily tasks at home, school and in the community. As an important member of the health care or educational team, you will work closely with doctors, nurses, physical therapists, teachers, speech-language pathologists and other allied health or educational professionals. You will also be able to provide instructions to clients, family members and caregivers on safe and effective methods to regain function, compensate for deficits and achieve health. The program will prepare you to be generalists by providing broad exposure to evaluative and treatment methods used in various practice settings.
Upon successful completion of this program, you will be eligible to sit for the National Certification Exam for the Occupational Therapy Assistant administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). View the Delaware Tech current pass rates on NBCOT examination.
Academically ready students can apply to the program following the guidelines of the Allied Health competitive admission process. Interested applicants should review the information provided here and contact their program advisor for application requirements.
Offered at the Georgetown and Wilmington campuses.
What You Can Do
In this program, you will gain the knowledge and skills to prepare you for positions in:
- Public Schools
- Rehabilitation Hospitals
- Mental Health Centers
- Nursing Homes
- Home Health Agencies
What You Will Earn
Competitive starting salaries range from $40,000 to $45,000.
What You Will Learn
Program Graduate Competencies
The Program Graduate Competencies listed below identify the major learning goals related to your specific program of study and identify the knowledge and skills you will have when you graduate to be successful in your chosen field.
- Demonstrate knowledge related to the occupational therapy assistant including patient/client interactions, therapeutic treatments, activity analysis, documentation, safety techniques, and therapeutic equipment.
- Exhibit effective nonverbal, verbal and written communication in patient/client and family interventions and education and professional relationships.
- Perform competently a full range of occupational therapy skills with patients/clients and various populations as occupational beings.
- Exercise independent judgment and critical thinking in performance of occupational therapy, according to the profession's standards of practice.
- Demonstrate professional patterns of behavior consistent with the profession's code of ethics.
Core Curriculum Competencies
The Core Curriculum Competencies listed below identify what you will be able to do as a graduate, regardless of your program of study. You will acquire these core competencies through general education courses and program-specific coursework. You will be expected to use relevant technology to achieve these outcomes:
- Apply clear and effective communication skills.
- Use critical thinking to solve problems.
- Collaborate to achieve a common goal.
- Demonstrate professional and ethical conduct.
- Use information literacy for effective vocational and/or academic research.
- Apply quantitative reasoning and/or scientific inquiry to solve practical problems.
Pursuing a Bachelor's Degree?
This is a Connected Degree program that enables you to complete your associate degree and then transfer to a four-year degree program as a junior. See a program advisor for details!
Contact Georgetown:
Joanne Cassidy
Department Chair
(302) 259-6675
jcassid3@dtcc.edu
The Occupational Therapy Assistant programs are currently accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association Inc., 4720 Montgomery Lane, Suite 200, Bethesda, MD 20814-3449, phone: (301) 652-6611 x2042, email: accred@aota.org, http://www.acoteonline.org
A felony conviction may affect a graduate's ability to sit for the National Certification Exam. After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) and eligible for state licensure. http://www.nbcot.org
Contact Wilmington:
Dr. Heidi Baist
Department Chair
hbaist@dtcc.edu
(302) 571-5355
The Occupational Therapy Assistant programs are currently accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association Inc., 4720 Montgomery Lane, Suite 200, Bethesda, MD 20814-3449, phone: (301) 652-6611 x2042, email: accred@aota.org, http://www.acoteonline.org
A felony conviction may affect a graduate's ability to sit for the National Certification Exam. After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) and eligible for state licensure. http://www.nbcot.org
- Program/Student Outcomes Data
- Allied Health Competitive Admissions Process (PDF)
- Ranking Worksheet (PDF)
- Program Application (PDF) (submission dates in effect)
- Quick Reference (PDF)
- Cost Analysis Sheet (PDF)
- Technical Standards (Word)
- Impact of a Felony Conviction (Word)
- Attend an Information Session
- Programs of Study
- Accounting
- Advertising Design
- Agribusiness Management
- Architectural Engineering Technology
- Associate of Science
- Automotive Technician Studies
- Automotive Technology
- Aviation Maintenance Technology
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Baking and Pastry Skills Certificate
- Baking and Pastry Skills Studies
- Biological Sciences
- Biotechnology
- Building Automation Systems Option
- Business Administration Transfer Option
- Cardiovascular Sonography
- Chemical Process Operator
- Chemical Process Operator Certificate
- Chemical Process Operator Studies
- Chemistry
- Chemistry Math Concentration
- Civil Engineering Technology
- Civil Transfer Option
- Commercial Transportation Certificate
- Commercial Transportation Studies
- Communications
- Computer Aided Drafting Design Technology
- Computer Engineering Tcy Option
- Computing and Information Science
- Construction Management
- Cooking Certificate
- Correctional Officer Certificate I
- Criminal Justice
- Culinary Arts
- Dental Hygiene
- Design Engineering Mechanical
- Developmental Math
- Developmental Reading
- Developmental Writing
- Diagnostic Medical Sonography
- Direct Support Professional Certificate
- Drug Alcohol Counseling
- Drug Alcohol Counseling Certificate
- Early Care and Education Birth to Second Grade
- Early Childhood Development
- Early Childhood Studies
- Electrical and Computer Engineering Transfer Option
- Electromechanical
- Electronics Engineering Tcy
- Electronics Engineering Technology Biomedical Option
- Electronics Engineering Technology Instrumentation Certificate
- Electronics Engineering Technology Instrumentation Option
- Electronics Engineering Technology Transfer Option
- Elementary Education
- Emergency Medical Technician Paramedic
- Emergency Medical Technician Paramedic Certificate
- Energy Management
- English
- English as a Second Language Certificate
- Entrepreneurship
- Entrepreneurship Certificate
- Environmental Engineering Technology
- Exercise Science
- Food Safety Certificate
- Food Science
- General Airframe Maintenance Certificate
- General Business
- General Powerplant Maintenance Certificate
- Geographic Information Systems Technology
- Health Information Management
- Histotechnician
- Homeland Security and Emergency Management
- Hospitality Management
- Human Services
- Information Technology and Networking
- Instruction, Design, and Technology Certificate
- Kitchen Skills Studies
- Landscape and Ornamental Horticulture
- Law Enforcement Option
- Legal Studies
- Logistics, Supply Chain, and Operations Management
- Machinist Training Level 1 Certificate
- Machinist Training Level 2 Certificate
- Management
- Marketing
- Math Secondary Education
- Mathematics
- Mechanical Engineering Technology
- Medical Assistant
- Medical Coding Studies
- Medical Laboratory Technician
- Middle-Level Math Education
- Multimedia
- Nuclear Medicine
- Nursing
- Occupational Therapy Assistant
- Office Administration
- Paraeducator
- Paralegal Certificate
- Photo Imaging
- Physical Therapist Assistant
- Practical Nursing Studies
- Production Agriculture
- Radiologic Technology
- Refrigeration Heating AC
- Refrigeration Heating AC Studies
- Renewable Energy Solar
- Respiratory Care
- Science
- Science Education Chemistry Physics
- Social Science
- Surgical Technology
- Surveying and Geomatics Engineering Technology
- Turf Management
- Veterinary Technology
- Registration Information
- Academic Calendar
- Transfer Options
- International Education
- High School Student Programs
- Instructional Technology & CCIT
- Learning Options
- Student Handbook
- College Catalog
- An Equal Opportunity Institution
- A Message From The President
- Board of Trustees
- General Information
- Services for Students
- Financial Information
- Academic Policies and Procedures
- Campuses
- Programs of Study
- Bachelor of Science Degree (B.S.) Programs
- Associate in Applied Science Degree (A.A.S.) Programs
- Associate of Arts in Teaching Degree (A.A.T.) Programs
- Associate of Science (A.S.) Programs
- Diploma Programs
- Certificate Programs
- Course Descriptions
- Administrative, Instructional, and Student Affairs Personnel