AAS – Occupational Therapy Assistant

Associate of Applied Science – Occupational Therapy Assistant Hybrid Program


Would you be excited to…
help a child with balance and coordination problems to play on playground equipment because of occupational intervention? …provide home modifications to a mother with a recent spinal cord injury so she can go home and return to her role as a mom? …help an elderly person remain in his/her home by providing adaptive equipment to ensure safety and independence?

The Missouri Health Professions Consortium (MHPC) Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) Program offered through MACC prepares students to work under the supervision of Registered Occupational Therapists. Assistants work with people of all ages who, because of physical, developmental, social or emotional deficits need specialized assistance to lead independent, productive and satisfying lives.

The MHPC Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) 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 c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA and its Web address is www.acoteonline.org. Graduates of the program will be 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, the individual will be a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA).

For more information on the MHPC OTA program visit the MHPC website at: https://mhpc.sfccmo.edu/ota/

Program Outcomes
When students complete an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) degree at MACC they will be able to: AAS-OTA-program-outcomesThis is our program promise.

The AAS in Occupational Therapy Assistant is a one-plus-one degree program which prepares students to practice as a certified occupational therapy assistant (COTA) after meeting certification and state licensure standards. Moberly Area Community College is one of three colleges in the Missouri Health Professions Consortium (MHPC) currently selected to offer the hybrid program coordinated through State Fair Community College. MACC will offer and enroll students in the general education coursework; sophomore level (professional level) coursework will be taught to MACC students at a classroom located on the Columbia campus. Interactive television and internet based technologies will also be readily utilized to convey course content. Through the combination of general education, professional level coursework, classroom and laboratory practice, and clinical fieldwork experiences, students will learn the profession of occupational therapy assistant. The Professional Year does not run on a traditional MACC academic cycle. Classes will begin August and will run through the end of the Fall Semester. Completion of professional year coursework takes one full calendar year.

Accreditation

The MHPC Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) 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 c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA and its Web address is www.acoteonline.org. Graduates of the program will be 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, the individual will be a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA). Even with successful coursework completion students may be prohibited from sitting for the NBCOT Certification Exam if they have a felony conviction. In Missouri, state licensure is required in order to practice and acquisition of a license is contingent upon passing the NBCOT Certification Exam. For more information regarding accreditation, please contact the American Occupational Therapy Association:

ACOTE
Accreditation Department
American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)
6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200
North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929
Phone number: (301) 652-2682
TDD (800) 377-8555 TDD

www.acoteonline.org

Graduates that satisfactorily complete the degree requirements and clinical affiliation requirements from an accredited Occupational Therapy Assistant program will be eligible to sit for the National Certification Exam that is administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). Contact information: NBCOT, 800 South Frederick Avenue, Suite 200, Gaithersburg, MD 20877-4150, (301) 990-7979, www.nbcot.org

Following successful completion of this exam the individual will be a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA). In addition, Missouri requires licensure to practice; however acquisition of a state license is based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT Certification Exam or attain State Licensure.

Program Questions

It is the intent of the Missouri Health Professions Consortium (MHPC) and all the cooperating schools to create the highest quality occupational therapy assistant program available. If you have questions about the admissions process, contact Moberly Area Community College Admissions Office. If you have questions or concerns regarding the program or any of its components, program policies or practices, please contact the Dean of Health Sciences, Michelle Frey.

Appeals Process

Any concerns regarding the program’s compliance with its accrediting agency’s policies and/or college policies are subject to the Student Grievance Procedure as stated in the Student Handbook and available on the College’s website.

For more information
Contact the MACC
(660) 263-4100 ext. 11251
or email: ota@macc.edu

Program Mission

Therapy Assistant Program is to educate and prepare occupational therapy assistants to provide occupational therapy interventions to the citizens of Missouri and neighboring states, especially those in rural and underserved areas. We educate and prepare generalists, to have the knowledge, skills and professional behaviors that are necessary to work in both traditional and emerging areas of practice.

The OTA Program’s vision is to be recognized a leader in innovative strategies for occupational therapy assistant education. Through a combination of distance and on-site education opportunities and experiences, we envision a cadre of highly skilled and educated occupational therapy assistants who will serve the citizens of Missouri and neighboring states.

Admission to the OTA Program is competitive, requires an additional admission application, and class size is limited. You must apply both to MACC and to the OTA Program and meet the following admission requirements:

  • Minimum 2.5 grade point average in required general education coursework
  • Minimum of a C grade in required general education classes
  • Observation, volunteer or work experience under the supervision of a licensed OT or OTA
  • Note—additional admission requirements may be added


*Admission to MACC does not guarantee entrance into the OTA program. 

Program Prerequisites/General Education Courses

Students must complete all general education coursework PRIOR to entry into the professional level. Transcript evidence of satisfactory completion of general education/prerequisite coursework must be received with the application packet. Students may complete remaining coursework in the spring/summer prior to entry into the second year. Under these circumstances, program admission would be contingent upon successful completion and the required GPA.

Selection Process

Enrollment in the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program is limited. Moberly Area Community College may not be able to offer admission to all qualified applicants. Only students meeting all admission criteria and submitting all required documentation to the Selection Committee will be considered. Students who are not selected and meet admission requirements will be placed on an alternates list. In the event that one of the original members of the class declines their position, an alternate will be selected in the order of their numerical rank. Admission decisions of the Selection Committee are final.

Michelle D. Frey, MSN, RN
Dean of Health Sciences
Moberly Area Community College
101 College Avenue
Moberly, Missouri 65270
Phone: 660-263-4100 ext. 11249

STUDENT AFFAIRS: General information on program admissions, costs, and other features of Moberly Area Community College.

FINANCIAL AID: Financial assistance is available in the form of grants, loans, work study, and scholarships or a combination of these. Additional information is available from the Financial Aid Office.

Financial Aid Office
101 College Ave.
Moberly, MO 65270
(660) 263-4110 ext.11296 or
(800) 622-2070, ext.11296
https://www.macc.edu

Nondiscrimination Statement
Moberly Area Community College is committed to a policy of non-discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, marital or parental status, religion, genetics, ancestry, or veteran status, in admissions, educational programs, activities, and employment.

Inquires concerning Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which guarantees access to education regardless of disability, should be directed to:

Stacy Donald
Director of Access and ADA Services
601 Business Loop 70 West, Suite 216
Columbia, MO 65270
573-234-1067, ext.12120

All other inquires concerning nondiscrimination, including equal opportunity and Title IX, should be directed to one of the following people:

Todd Martin
Vice President for Instruction
101 College Avenue
Moberly, MO 65270
660-263-4110, ext.11264

Career and Placement Services
101 College Avenue
Moberly, MO 65270
660-263-4110, ext.11232

To meet the requirements for graduation from Moberly Area Community College, a student must meet the requirements of the degree or certificate and:

  1. complete 15 semester hours of college-level credit applicable to a degree at Moberly Area Community College;
  2. complete the required course sequence for the degree or certificate program;
  3. achieve a minimum cumulative 2.0 grade point average;
  4. submit an application for graduation; and
  5. pay in full all balances due to Moberly Area Community College.


Students seeking any Associate’s degree must also meet the following requirements:

  • pass the Missouri Higher Education Civics Achievement Exam as specified in Senate Bill 807 with a score of 70% or higher (beginning Fall 2019);
  • complete the state Constitution requirements as specified in Section 170.011 RSMo (Supp. 1987). This requirement is met by taking HST105, HST106, PSC103, or PSC105 or transferring an equivalent MOTR course. Students transferring an appropriate government or political science course from another institution may take an example to satisfy this requirement.


Occupational Therapy Assistant graduates must also meet the following requirements:

  • achieve a minimum cumulative grade point average of
    2.5; and
  • earn a grade of “C” or above in all general education coursework; and earn a “C” or above in all professional coursework once accepted into the program.

Median annual earnings of occupational therapist assistants were $45,050 in May 2007. The middle 50 percent earned between $36,300 and $54,140. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $27,800, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $62,292. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of occupational therapist assistants in May 2007 were:

Home health care services $56,780

Offices of occupational therapy practitioners $47,970

Nursing care facilities $46,810

General medical and surgical hospitals $42,970

Specialty hospitals $45,060

SALARY DATA PROVIDED BY U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS

MHPC uses Canvas, a web-based learning management system (LMS). Students and faculty use it to access and manage online courses and to communicate about course content, assignments, exams, and more. To deliver online courses and to enhance on- ground and hybrid classes.If you have any technical questions or concerns, please call the 24/7 Help Desk at 1-866-295-3070!

Just log in to mySFCC and click the Canvas icon on the Welcome page. That’s how easy it is to take MHPC OTA online hybrid courses. Instructors cover the same content as in on-campus classes; the only difference is that you do the work using a computer and the internet without coming to campus.

  • Take courses both online and on campus to complete OTA degree requirements
  • Access course syllabi and information, post comments and turn in assignments from anywhere you have access to a computer and the internet
  • Connect directly with online instructors and advisors when you have questions or concerns
  • Access MHPC OTA ready, our student orientation module, at your convenience and as often as you want

 

Hybrid Definition

Classes combine classroom and online coursework and typically meet only once week on campus.

Technical Requirements

If you’re planning to enroll in MHPC OTA program, you’ll need regular access to a computer with internet access. The following suggested and required computer
standards can help you avoid some common technical problems.

  • Internet Access
  • DSL, cable or higher bandwidth is required.
    If you have dial-up (56K or less for bandwidth), you may need to use the computers at a local library or in one of MHPC OTA Program home campuses computer labs to download large documents required by some OTA courses
  • Hardware
    • Windows with Pentium I5 or equivalent
    • Macintosh I3 or higher
    • IOS or Android tablets with Wi-Fi or 3G+
    • 4 GB or higher recommended
    • Monitor resolution of 1024 x 768 or higher recommended
  • Software
    • Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 8, or Macintosh with OS X 10.5 or
      higher
    • Browser and plugin support
    • Cookies- and JavaScript-enabled browsers required
    • Java – most recent version
    • Pop-up blockers disabled\
  • Microsoft Word/Office is suggested for most courses and required for others; review each course syllabus for specific course requirement
  • Adobe Acrobat Reader and Flash Plugin – both the reader and browser
    plugins are free
  • Security software – Keep all your definitions for both spyware and virus software updated

OTA Degree Map


Additional Graduation Requirement

Missouri law, included in Senate Bill 807, requires every college student pursuing an associate’s or bachelor’s degree at a public institution to pass the Missouri Higher Education Civics Achievement Examination with at least a 70 percent to graduate. The rule will apply to the incoming class of first-time college students in the fall of 2019 and all students thereafter.

This academic map is not a contract, either expressed or implied, between MACC and the student, but represents a flexible program of the current curriculum which may be altered from time to time to meet the academic objectives of the college. MACC specifically reserves the right to modify, delete, or add to any academic map at any time within the student’s period of study at the college.

Deadline to apply for Fall 2023 start is March 1, 2023.

Due to COVID 19 limitations for observation experiences, students should print the following information, complete it, sign the attestation form, and send it in with their application.

MHPC Form

2023 OTA Application

MACC Admission Application