Occupational Therapy Assistants work with people throughout their lifespan helping to promote health, and teach life skills so individuals can function as independently as they can in their own environment after an injury, illness, or disability.

Upon completion of the program, the graduate is eligible to sit for a National Examination and will become licensed in the state of New York to practice.

1. Occupational therapy is a profession that helps people of all ages. It is a rewarding and satisfying career. As an OT practitioner you will have a strong heartfelt feeling when you see the positive impact you will have on a person’s life.  
2. The program prepares students with the education and clinical skills to work with people of all ages across their lifespan and at all levels of functioning.
3. Forecasted job outlook for this healthcare profession is strong.

Students will:

• learn problem-solving and clinical reasoning
• build on knowledge, practice skills, theory and critical thinking applications
• apply these multiple skills and insights to adapt to and cope in this novel and diverse world
• think and act with flexibility, to think “outside the box"
• welcome change and growth in themselves, their clients and the organizations they serve

After completing the required coursework, you will be assigned two eight-week affiliations where your education continues and you work side by side with a practitioner in that setting

After taking and successfully completing the national examination you become a certified occupational therapy assistant (COTA). You will be licensed to practice in New York State

You can be a part of a professional organization and participate in continuing education, advocacy, and many other activities with others in the field.

Academic Requirements:

• High school diploma or HSE
• Eligible to take ENG 101 (Freshman English I)
• Eligible to take MAT 101 (Elementary Algebra) or have successfully completed MAT 020 (Fundamentals of Algebra)
• Completed High School AP Biology (score of 3, 4, or 5) or a passing grade in the Biology CLEP examination; or Introduction to Biology or Anatomy & Physiology 1 with a grade of 2.0 or better (within 5 years of program entry)
• Students must attain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.4

Department-Specific Requirements:  

• Watch assigned videos of Occupation Therapy in three different practice settings, including Physical Disabilities, Pediatric/Developmental, and Mental Health. Write a reflection paragraph on each setting. The required Pre-Admission Observation Form must be completed to document observations. (Pre-admission observation forms are available online at: www.sunyorange.edu/admissions/healthforms.shtml) 

• Interview with Department Chair and selected OTA faculty, a group problem-solving activity and related essay
• Attendance at a pre-admission orientation (includes interview, problem solving activity and discussion). At this orientation, students will receive and sign off on information pertaining to health forms, drug testing, and criminal record policies. Dates for pre-admission orientation are posted on Admissions and OTA Dept. websites.

Note: Admission to this program is selective. In addition to an application to the College, students must apply for acceptance into this program through the Admissions office. Consideration for admission is based on the completion of all mandatory academic and departmental-specific requirements, highest combination of CGPA and credits completed towards the degree, and seat availability. All requirements must be completed and an eligibility form must be submitted to the Admissions Office before February 1 in order for a student to be considered for acceptance into this program for the Fall semester.

While the A.A.S. is a degree leads to immediate job placement upon graduation and successful completion of the National Certification exam, SUNY Orange has special relationships with weekend college programs for transfer to a B.S./M.S. degree at:

• Dominican College
• Mercy College

Career opportunities exist in the following areas:

• hospitals, inpatient and outpatient mental health facilities
• rehabilitation centers and skilled nursing facilities
• schools, developmental disabilities service sites
• home and community health agencies
• accessibility and home modification specialists
• assistive technology specialists
• health and wellness centers
• advancement to OTR

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The OTA program is competitive and there is a process for applying to the program. The program is available during the daytime on the Middletown campus.