Occupational therapy assistants are directly involved in providing therapy to patients under the direction of occupational therapists. Students enrolled in this program obtain didactic, observational and direct clinical experience at a variety of local institutions. These experiences could include acute hospitals, rehabilitation hospitals, long-term care facilities, day care centers, skilled nursing facilities, psychiatric facilities, pediatric centers and school systems.
Graduates of this program have a comprehensive understanding of the theory and practice of how engagement and occupation, developmentally across the lifespan from birth to the end of life, can give meaning, fulfillment and quality to an individual’s life. In addition to traditional classroom lectures and clinical experiences, students participate in laboratory practicums, group work and cultural experiences.
Due to the limited number of spaces available in this program, selection is on a competitive basis. Interested individuals must follow the procedures in the health professions admission information packet. Admission occurs once per year for a cohort that begins in the fall. In order to be considered for admission in the fall, prospective students must complete the admission requirements by the second Friday in July.
| Prospective student meetings: |
| Wednesday, March 13 at 9 a.m. |
| Tuesday, April 9 at noon |
| Thursday, April 25 at 2 p.m. |
| Thursday, May 9 at 11 a.m. |
| Tuesday, May 21 at 10 a.m. |
| Wednesday, June 5 at 9 a.m. |
| Monday, June 17 at 10:30 a.m. |
Bring your questions! Reserve your seat by email or phone at mhulme@worwic.edu or 410-572-8740. Please indicate which meeting you would like to attend. All meetings will be held on campus in Room 203 of Shockley Hall.
The occupational therapy assistant program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. ACOTE’s telephone number is 301-652-AOTA and its Web address is www.acoteonline.org. Graduates of the program 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). After successful completion of this exam, graduates become certified occupational therapy assistants (COTAs). In addition, states require licensure in order to practice. However, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT certification examination. A felony conviction could affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification exam or attain state licensure.
The overall mission of the OTA program is to recruit, educate and graduate a diverse group of students who are prepared to:
- pass the national certification exam for occupational therapy assistants;
- obtain state licensure as occupational therapy assistants; and
- enter the workforce as certified and licensed occupational therapy assistants.
Wor-Wic Community College’s occupational therapy assistant program aims to deliver a learner-centered society by providing residents of Maryland's Lower Eastern Shore with access to a comprehensive, quality and affordable education in the field of occupational therapy as occupational therapy assistants. We intend to uphold the philosophical beliefs of the profession of occupational therapy by creating strong leaders in occupational therapy. We seek to develop diverse students who will advocate for a meaningful life through engagement in occupation for all clients, whether or not they have health restrictions.
The program aims to empower learners through engagement in scholarship, leadership, professional and ethical behavior, and clinical reasoning. We also seek to develop practitioners who will contribute to enabling in all recipients of OT services the ability to lead purposeful and meaningful lives across the lifespan. Graduates of the program will be competent generalists who will promote individual and population health through occupational therapy practice, education and advocacy.
The overall mission of the OTA program, which is aligned with the mission and goals of Wor-Wic Community College, is to provide an affordable and comprehensive educational experience in recruiting, educating and graduating a diverse group of students who are prepared to successfully pass the NBCOT exam for occupational therapy assistants, obtain state licensure as occupational therapy assistants and enter the workforce as certified and licensed occupational therapy assistants. Students enrolled in this program obtain didactic and direct clinical experience at a variety of local institutions. These experiences may include acute hospitals, rehabilitation hospitals, long-term care facilities, day care centers, skilled nursing facilities, psychiatric facilities, pediatric centers and the school system. Students develop foundational knowledge and entry-level skills to facilitate their ability to function as integral members of the healthcare team in providing occupational therapy services at the individual, group and population levels to clients across the life span.
National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) pass rates for Wor-Wic graduates are available on their website at https://www.nbcot.org/Educators-Folder/SchoolPerformance.
Other occupational therapy assistant program outcome data are provided on admission, graduation, certification and employment.