OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
SKILLS FOR THE JOB OF
LIVING
Introduction of students
Why Occupational
Therapy
Assistant?
Definition of Occupational
Therapy
Restoration and development of a person’s
occupation (daily routines, activities and
social roles)
OT helps people fulfill their roles and
responsibilities as student, worker, friend,
parent, significant other
OT uses work, play, and self care
OT helps people achieve independence
OT helps people live productive and
satisfying lives
Films on Demand
http://www.witc.edu/pgmpages/ota/a
dmissions.htm
Can be seen from any WITC campus
22 minutes
Overview of what the OTA does
OT Practitioners
COTA
Certified Occupational
Therapy Assistant
Associate’s Degree
Work under the
supervision of the
Registered
Occupational
Therapist
OTR
Registered
Occupational
Therapist
Entry Level
Master’s Degree
What diagnoses can be treated
by Occupational Therapy?
Heart attack or stroke
Arthritis, multiple sclerosis and other
degenerative diseases
Children with birth defects, learning
difficulties or developmental disabilities
Mental health issues such as depression,
schizophrenia or bi-polar disorder
Substance abuse issues and eating
disorders
Burns, spinal cord injuries or amputations
Broken bones or injuries from falls, sports
or accidents
Work related or age related injuries
Low vision
Cognitive deficits such as brain injury or
Alzheimer’s Disease
Health promotion or wellness
Where do OT Practitioners
work?
Hospitals
Rehabilitation Centers
Skilled Nursing Facilities
School systems
Home health agencies
Community programs
Early intervention programs
Residential facilities
Hospice
Volunteer agencies
Private practice
Work hardening
Day programs
Assisted living
Sheltered workshops
Hand therapy
Description of OT—Faculty Perspective
• Laura Schulte
• Pediatrics, Mental Health
• Barb Kloetzke
• Assistive Technology,
Geriatric Practice
• Physical Rehabilitation
• Mari Jo Ulrich
2 areas of employment
• Traditional
• COTA
• Under supervision
of OTR
• Provide OT
services
• Hospital, School,
SNF
Emerging or Nontraditional
• No OTR needed
• Using skills from
this degree in
work setting
OT Practitioners
Must pass a national
certification exam to practice
(NBCOT)
Must attain state licensure
to practice
Must have a background check
What attracts students to
OTA?
Chance for direct service career
Diverse opportunities for employment
Possible progression to OTR
Fieldwork and practical based
curricula
Working directly with people
What attributes should an
occupational therapy assistant have?
Creativity
Flexibility
Desire to work with people
Patience
Warmth
Data
NBCOT
The National Board for Certification
in Occupational Therapy, Inc.
(NBCOT)
Credentialing agency that provides
certification for the occupational
therapy profession
NBCOT serves the public interest by
developing, administering, and
continually reviewing a certification
process
NBCOT
Prometric Test Centers
Online testing
200 Multiple Choice questions
4 hours
$500.00 online application
$540.00 paper application
NBCOT Results 2012
National Data
2010 Occupational Therapy
Compensation and Workforce
Study, AOTA
Primary Work Settings
2010 Occupational Therapy
Compensation and Workforce
Survey
Annual Salary Median
0-1 year
Experience
•$34, 298
1.1-2 years
Experience
•$41,000
Wisconsin
Average
•$37,000
2010 Occupational Therapy
Compensation and Workforce
Survey
General
Information
General Information
Calendar
Campus Contacts
Student Biographical Change Request
Student information sheet
Admission
Admission
Attend OTA orientation
High School Chemistry or College
Chemistry as a pre-req
to General A and P
Complete Criminal Background Check
Physical exam
Immunization Record
Admission
View Films on Demand from WITC
campus
Occupational Therapy Assistant
Curriculum
Plan
• Approx costs
Curriculum Plan
Curriculum Checklist E1
Must take all 514 courses at one time
Must be successful in all 514 courses
each semester to progress to the
next semester
Anatomy and Physiology is a pre-req
for 2nd semester of the OTA program
3 Year Plan
Some students take General Studies
courses prior to 514 (core) courses
Fieldwork
• Reliable transportation
needed Fieldwork I is 3rd
semester
• One day per week off campus
(6 hours)
• May be up to 2 hours from
your campus
Fieldwork II
4th semester
Full time (35-40+ hours per week)
2 different 8-week rotations
Training and supervision provided by
therapist at setting
Time commitment and travel make
employment difficult during FW II
What to
expect
Academic Rigor
3 hours outside work for every 1 hour
in class
Work load
Textbook readability (text list)
Learning Style
High expectations
Employment
Reliable Transportation
Missing labs/hands on
Computer use
Academic Rigor
3 hours outside work for every 1 hour in
class
Work load
Textbook readability
High expectations
Employment
Reliable Transportation
OTA Program Standards
Require a “C” or better in all courses
All OTA courses must be passed with
an 80% average on exams
Repeat Core or occupational support
course only once (G1)
Dress Code (D6)
ITV Courses
All lecture courses are ITV format
Lab courses are in person at each
campus
D4
Blackboard
Computer component to all OTA
courses.
Required to have 24 hour access to
Internet and computer
Will need to check Blackboard daily
Will need capability to print...will need
to print some things in color
Requirements
WI Caregiver Background Check
Must be completed before
September 1 2014, but no sooner than
30 days prior (August 1, 2014)
$10.00
Turn into Mari Jo Ulrich, Ashland
Campus
Background Check
Self Reporting Requirements
Dean’s Letter
Students who complete FW or off
campus activities in Minnesota
are required to have a Minnesota
Background Check
Students completing FW in other
states will be required to have
additional Background checks
Background Checks
The cost of background checks is
the responsibility of the student
Students can not participate in offcampus coursework until BG check is
completed
Students may not be able to meet
course competencies with negative
information on a BG check
Health Form --handout
1.Family History
2. Immunizations
3. Physical
4.CPR—(H4) Red Cross or American
Heart Association
Turn in all forms (4) to your academic
advisor on the first day of spring
semester
Physical
Must have a physical and form
completed by Physician, Physician’s
Assistant, or Nurse Practitioner
Form must be filled out
OTA WEB PAGE
Directions
Other information
Malpractice Insurance
Health Insurance
Name Badge
Powerpoint
Fieldwork
Send the following requirements
to Mari Jo between August 1 and
Sept 1 of 2014.
Caregiver Background Checks
Information and Statement of
Understanding for OTA students
Wisconsin Caregiver Background
Check, Self reporting document
$10.00 for Background check
Functional Ability Criteria for OTA
Program
Mari Jo Ulrich, OTR, MA
OTA Program Director
WITC
2100 Beaser Ave
Ashland WI 54806
marijo.ulrich@witc.edu
800.243.9482 Ext 3167
Give a man a fish
Feed him for a day…
Teach a man to fish
Feed him for a lifetime.
How many OTA’s does it
take to change a light bulb?
None
An OTA will teach the light
bulb to change itself!
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
SKILLS FOR THE JOB OF
LIVING