For more info., contact: Cassady Hoff• 307-268-2867

Liesinger Hall, Rm. 113B choff@caspercollege.edu

orAcademic Assistant • 307-268-2235

caspercollege.edu/occupational_therapy

POINTS OF PRIDE• The OTA program has state-of-the-art equipment which

provides students exemplary training experiences.• The OTA program has a strong advisory board with

community input concerning current local trends. This allows the program to provide learning opportunities that meet the needs of the community and state.

• The program has three full-time dedicated faculty with advanced master’s degrees in occupational therapy.

• The class sizes are small with 12 students in lab courses. This enhances students’ learning opportunities.

• Ongoing and frequent communication with clinical fieldwork supervisors allows for a strong clinical experience for students as they complete the final step of their education.

• Feedback from fieldwork sites indicates that students in the Casper College Occupational Therapy Assistant Program are well prepared for clinical work.

PR 07/15

School ofHealth Science

Occupational Therapy Assistant Program

Major Requirements• Introduction to Occupational Therapy • Human Occupations and Life Roles • Functional Kinesiology• Psychosocial Aspects• Group Dynamics• Leadership Skills • Therapeutic Approaches and Media I• Therapeutic Approaches and Media II• Therapeutic Approaches and Media III• Fieldwork Integration I• Fieldwork Integration II• Fieldwork Integration III• Fieldwork Integration IV• Clinical Theory and Practice I• Clinical Theory and Practice II • Clinical Conditions • Health Care Systems • Fieldwork A • Fieldwork B• Fieldwork options • Independent studyGeneral education courses:• At least 32 additional credits of general education

coursework. See college catalog or website for details.

Admission to the Program

• Students are admitted provisionally the fall semester.

• At the end of the fall semester applications are accepted and reviewed.

• Twenty four students are admitted each year. Qualified students who cannot be granted immediate admission will be placed on a waiting list.

• A student must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5 in each of the behavioral and biological sciences, English composition, and all occupational therapy coursework.

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School ofHealth Science

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JOB OUTLOOK AND SALARIESOccupational therapy is one of the fastest growing

professions in the nation. Occupational therapy assistants work in a wide variety of settings, however they are primarily employed in hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, rehabilitation hospitals, community programs, and public schools. Jobs are available throughout the U.S. and salaries are very competitive, ranging from approximately $29,000 to $40,000 a year as an entry-level salary for full-time positions. These salaries vary greatly depending on geographical location and type of setting. The U.S. Department of Labor predicts OTA jobs will continue to be in demand..

The Occupational Therapy Assistant Program began offering classes in 1996 and graduated its first class in 1997. Initial accreditation was obtained in 1997. Students have successfully completed the certification exam and obtained employment without difficulty after graduation. The total number of graduates who passed the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) certification examination as first-time test takers in 2011-2013 was 46 of 49, graduates completing the exam. During that three-year time period, the program had 54 graduates. The current pass rates of students for the 2013 school year is 100 percent. To find the most current pass rates for the program go to caspercollege.edu/ocupational_therapy/index.html and click on National Board for the Certification of Occupational Therapy. Of the students who have contacted us, 97 percent have taken jobs in the occupational therapy assistant field within a few months of graduation. Feedback from fieldwork sites and employers indicate that graduates are well prepared for the positions they have been hired to work.

NOTE: To ensure that occupational therapy practitioners meet ethical and professional standards prior to entering the profession, all applicants for initial

certifications are required to provide information and documentation related to any illegal, unethical, or incompetent behavior. Persons with a felony history may not be eligible to sit for the certification examination. When you apply to take the certification examination with the National Board of Certification of Occupational Therapy, you will be asked to answer questions related to the topic of felonies. For further information on these limitations you can contact NBCOT at: National Board of Certification of Occupational Therapy, 800 S. Frederick Avenue, Suite 200, Gaithersburg, MD 20877-4150

The Casper College Occupational Therapy Assistant Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education of the American Occupational Therapy Association, located at 4720 Montgomery Lane, Suite 200, Bethesda, MD 20814-3449. The phone number is 301-652-2682 and website located at acoteonline.org.

FIELDWORKFieldwork is an important part of the occupational therapy assistant

program curriculum and is required to complete the program. There are several types of fieldwork:

• Community experiences provide the students exposure to a variety of service programs and clientele within the community. The student is required to complete 20 hours during each of the first two semesters.

• Level I fieldwork is completed as an integrated part of course work. These placements are completed in the fall and spring semesters of the second year. During this time, the students will spend 40 hours in an assigned facility which has agreed to work with the Casper College Occupational Therapy Assistant Program as a training site. Placements will include psychosocial, physical disabilities, geriatric, pediatric, and developmental disability facilities.

• Level II fieldwork consists of two eight-week clinical experiences. During this time the student will spend 40 hours per week at a contracted facility. Additional hours are frequently required to complete assignments at the various contracted fieldwork sites. Level II fieldwork is completed after all academic course work is completed.

WHAT IS OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY?Occupational therapy uses purposeful activity with individuals who are limited by physical injury,

illness, psychosocial dysfunction, developmental or learning disabilities, or the aging process. The goal in occupational therapy is to increase independent function, prevent disability, and enhance quality of life. Purposeful activities may include self-care skills, leisure play activities, skills to complete educational activities, and social and work skills or prework skills.

WHAT IS A CERTIFIED OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSISTANT?A certified occupational therapy assistant (OTA) is an individual who has graduated from an accredited

program and has successfully completed the national certification exam. Working in collaboration with a registered occupational therapist (OTR), an OTA assists with developing treatment plans and independently treats clients in groups or in individual treatment sessions.

Depending on the work setting, an occupational therapy assistant might:• Guide children with developmental delays to dress themselves.• Teach individuals with arthritis how to cook and maintain their homes with special tools and equipment.• Help individuals recovering from head injuries relearn the skills necessary to care

for themselves independently.