The Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program prepares students for a profession serving people of all ages who experience illness, disease, disability, and challenging life circumstances to adapt by participating in meaningful occupations. The program cultivates OTAs as professionals who will contribute to the health and well-being of individuals, groups, and populations in New Jersey and beyond, practicing as dynamic and inter-professional team members within health care, educational, and other community settings.

Students may complete the liberal arts component of the program at Mercer County Community College and take the specialized OTA courses at Rutgers. Admission to the Rutgers program is competitive and not guaranteed. In addition to the pre-professional coursework at MCCC, a number of strict Rutgers entry requirements must be satisfied. Specific admission criteria are outlined in the Rutgers School of Health Professions catalog. In addition, Rutgers maintains student policies related to the OTA program. Contact the MCCC OTA program coordinator or division dean for details.

Upon completion of the program, students are eligible to sit for the national certifying examination offered by the National Board for Certifying Occupational Therapy. Those who pass the test are awarded the title Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA).

The OTA program at Rutgers is accredited by ACOTE (AOTA); (301) 652-AOTA; www.acoteonline.org

PROGRAM OUTCOMES

Have acquired an educational foundation in the liberal arts and sciences, including a focus on issues related to diversity;
Be educated as a generalist with a broad exposure to the delivery models and systems used in settings where occupational therapy is currently practiced and where it is emerging as a service;
Have achieved entry-level competency through a combination of academic and fieldwork education;
Be prepared to articulate and apply occupational therapy principles and intervention tools to achieve expected outcomes as related to the occupation;
Be prepared to be a lifelong learner and keep current with best practices;
Uphold the ethical standards, values, and attitudes of the occupational therapy profession;
Understand the distinct roles and responsibilities of the occupational therapist and occupational therapy assistant in the supervisory process;
Be prepared to advocate as a professional for occupational therapy services offered and for the recipients of those services.

OCC.THPY.AS - Occupational Therapy Assistant

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