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OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSISTANT PROGRAM
STUDENT INFORMATION COVER SHEET
FOR ADMISSION SEPTEMBER 2013
Please complete this form carefully. Incomplete or illegible applications will not be reviewed.
Name
BANNER ID @
Address
City
State
Phone number (home)
Zip ___________
Phone number (work)
Phone number (cell)
E-mail
How did you hear about the program?
Please list all required prerequisite courses you have completed. (See the bottom of page 2 of this application). All
courses must be completed with a grade of C or higher by May 30, 2013.
Course name
Catalog Number
Name of College
Semester/Yr Taken
Grade
Please attach a copy of the transcript from each of the schools from which you have transfer credits. Official
transcripts from these same schools must also be on file and evaluated by the Advising office prior to May 30, 2013.
You must attach a printout from HCC that shows that these courses have been accepted as transfer credits.
Semester and Year you completed computer fundamentals course or test____________
Signature from testing coordinator /proctor (if you took the test)___________________________
Date you attended an OTA information session________________________________
Date you took OTA Admissions Essay Test _____________
You must attach a copy of the letter you received indicating your score on the Essay test.
Admission to the two year program is selective and competitive and is determined programmatic by GPA, courses
completed prior to admission and if necessary date of application to the program. Programmatic GPA will be
calculated using ALL attempts at each course.
Please indicate here if you are interested in completing the curriculum full time.______ Openings in the full time
program may be limited.
This application must be postmarked no later than June 1, 2013 to be considered for September 2013 admission.
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ADMISSION TO THE OTA PROGRAM
The Occupational Therapy Assistant program is open to students from outside the college as well as from the
student body currently attending HCC.
In order to apply for admission all students must first meet these BASIC REQUIREMENTS
1.
Be admitted to the college (see college catalog for this process).
2.
Have a Banner ID number.
3.
Have transcripts from all previous schools sent to the HCC admissions office and evaluated by the advising
office (203-332-5215) so that they appear on the HCC transcript.
4.
Take the placement test and place above developmental levels of both Math and English or have
successfully completed Developmental Math and English courses.
5.
Complete the computer fundamentals course with a C or higher or pass the computer fundamentals test at
HCC.
6.
Successfully complete the OTA Clinical Writing test. You can schedule the test by calling 203-332-5019.
7.
Earn a programmatic GPA of 2.8 or higher (all attempts at all courses applicable to the program will be
used in this calculation). Please see the college catalog for courses applicable to the OTA program
http://www.hcc.commnet.edu/academics/programs/OTA/index.asp
8.
Attend a program information session within 12 months prior to the anticipated entrance date.
9.
Please see the website below for information session dates.
10.
Complete a minimum of 6 of the following 9 courses with a grade of C or
higher (Use the course elective codes on page 39 of the HCC catalog to determine which courses fulfill
these requirements) If you are unsure about which courses transfer in to fulfill these requirements contact
Mr. Tracy Chavis at 332-5215
English 101
English 102
Math 103 or higher
Psychology 111
Psychology elective (200 level)
Fine Arts
Social Science Elective ( this is generally NOT a sociology course)
Biology 105 (Recommend a B or higher)
Biology 117
11. Complete both exploratory assignments with college level writing. You should contact the OTA program
director for approval of your volunteer/worksite experience. See attached for a full explanation of the
exploratory assignments
Applications are ranked according to English 101 grades, programmatic GPA, writing scores and exploratory
assignments. Please be aware that completion of the basic requirements does not guarantee admissions. Students
who meet minimum requirements will be asked to a group interview conducted by the faculty. Final determination
for acceptance will be made by the interviewers.
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Exploratory Assignments
All applicants must successfully complete the following 2 exploratory assignments. Assignments must be typed and
submitted using specific forms and guidelines in this packet.
1. Exploratory Assignment 1: Three (3) hours of documented observation of an OTR or OTA and completion
of a written report describing this experience. This report must be completed according to the outline in
the packet.
2. Exploratory Assignment 2: Twenty (20) hours of paid or volunteer experience working directly with
people with disabilities. These hours SHOULD NOT be completed in an Occupational Therapy
Department. The setting must be approved by the OTA Program Director prior to beginning the volunteer
work.
Applications without completed documented exploratory assignments will be considered incomplete and will not be
reviewed.
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Student Name
BANNER ID @
EXPLORATORY ASSIGNMENT 1
OBSERVATION OF A THERAPIST:
DIRECTIONS FOR WRITING THE ESSAY
As an exploratory assignment for entrance into the program, you must write a paper describing your observation of
an Occupational Therapist (OTA or OTR) using the guidelines below. Using your own initiative, organizational
skills and resourcefulness, you are responsible for contacting the therapist, setting up times and completing the
observation. Use the questions below as guidelines for writing a well organized essay about your visit. It is
important that you do not copy chart notes. Put the information you have learned in your own words. The essay must
be a minimum of 2 pages typed double spaced. Please respect confidentiality by using only initials for the patient’s
name.
List the following facts at the beginning of your paper:
• Therapist’s Name
• Name of this facility
• Phone number and therapist’s extension
• Date of Visit
• Patient’s Initials
• Patient’s gender
• Diagnosis
• Date of onset of primary diagnosis
• Date of admission to this facility
Write an essay presenting the following information. Write well and check your work. Use the order of the list
below to organize your essay:
• Reason for referral to OTA
• Activities the therapist selected for treatment
• Reason the activities were used
• Identify at least one goal for the patient
• Did the therapist have to make any adaptations to the activity so the patient could participate?
• Were there any precautions that needed to be observed with this patient?
• Has the patient made any progress since his/her admission? If so, describe this progress.
• What is the goal for the outcome of therapy?
• How did the patient and the therapist interact? Was the therapist directive? Did the therapist and patient
work as a team? Did the patient have anything to say about the direction or goals of the treatment session?
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EXPLORATORY ASSIGNMENT 2
DOCUMENTATION OF
DIRECT EXPERIENCE WITH DISABLED POPULATION
Student Name
BANNER ID @
These hours should be completed through a volunteer department or a work setting and can be completed with any
disabled population. They need not be done in an OT setting. Applicants are encouraged to go through the volunteer
department of the facility. Have the supervisor you work with fill out this form. Include the completed form in your
application packet. Please print legibly.
Facility Name:
Supervisor’s Name:
Job Title:
Phone Number: (
)
Area Code
Facility Address:
Street Address
City
State
Zip
Name of student volunteer/employee:
Start date of volunteer or work experience:
End date of volunteer or work experience:
Number of hours volunteered or worked:
Please list the duties of this volunteer/worker:
I certify that the above named volunteer/worker completed
hours of (volunteer) work at my facility.
Supervisor’s Signature _____________________________________Date_________________________
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ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSISTANTS Applicants to the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program at HCC must possess the following general qualities: critical thinking, sound judgment, emotional stability and maturity, empathy, physical and mental stamina, and the ability to function in a wide variety of didactic and clinical settings including those which put the practitioner in very close proximity to patients and their bodily fluids. The Occupational Therapy Assistant Program educates students as generalist practitioners, in accordance with the requirements of the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE). Occupational Therapy is a profession that includes a number of practice settings, e.g. hospital-­‐based, school system, mental health etc.. The various settings encompass unique skill sets . For this reason, occupational therapy students must have knowledge and entry-­‐level competencies that span all settings, so that they are prepared for employment in all areas of practice. Graduates must have the minimal skills, essential functions and knowledge to function in a broad variety of clinical and community settings. Upon completing the academic and fieldwork components of this accredited program, students are prepared to sit for the national certification examination and perform as entry-­‐level occupational therapy assistants. The Occupational Therapy Program at HCC is committed to the education of all qualified individuals, including persons with disabilities who, with or without accommodations, are capable of performing the academic and technical standards of the Program. It is the policy of the Occupational Therapy Program to comply with federal and State laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of disability. In accordance with federal regulations established by the ADA, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and state and local requirements regarding students and applicants with disabilities, the following standards are described to assist each candidate/student in evaluating his/her prospect for academic and clinical success. ACADEMIC AND TECHNICAL STANDARDS OF THE RPOGRAM A. OBSERVATION SKILLS 1. The OTA/student must be able to acquire a defined level of necessary information as presented through educational experiences in pre-­‐professional, professional, and continuing education courses. 2. The OTA/student must perceive, assimilate, and integrate information from a variety of sources. These sources include lectures, conversations, printed materials, visual and auditory media, clinical experiences, and hands-­‐on demonstrations. 3. The OTA/student must demonstrate adequate functional use of visual, tactile, auditory and other sensory and perceptual abilities, to enable such observations and information acquisition necessary for academic and clinical performance. B. INTELLECTUAL/CONCEPTUAL ABILITIES 1. The OTA/student must demonstrate critical thinking skills so that s/he can problem-­‐solve creatively, master abstract ideas, and synthesize information present in clinical settings which may present gray areas and ethical dilemmas. 2. The OTA/student must be able to measure, calculate, reason, analyze, process, integrate, synthesize, apply and retain facts, concepts, and data related to the art and science of health care. 3. The OTA/student must be able to comprehend three-­‐dimensional relationships and understand the spatial relationships of anatomic structures. 4. The OTA/student must be able to apply theoretical knowledge and current research evidence to specific client populations and diagnoses, and justify the rationale for medical and therapeutic interventions. 5. The OTA/student must develop a sense of socio-­‐medical ethics, and recognize and apply pertinent legal and ethical standards. 6
C. COGNITIVE DEMANDS 1. The successful OTA/student maintains a high level of alertness and responsiveness during classroom and fieldwork situations. 2. The OTA/student must possess the ability to focus on a task for a prolonged period of time to allow for successful learning to take place. 3. The OTA/student must be able to recall information and organize information in an efficient and useful manner. This includes the ability to acquire, retain, and prioritize informational data, conceptualize and integrate abstract information, apply theoretical knowledge to specific client populations and justify a rationale for therapeutic interventions, and problem-­‐solve to create innovative and practical solutions. D. COMMUNICATION SKILLS 1. Effective communication is critical for the OTA/student to build relationships with patients, clinical supervisors, other professionals, and care givers, in his/her various roles of learner, peer, colleague and professional. 2. The OTA/student must be able to gather, comprehend, utilize and disseminate information effectively, efficiently, and in accordance with professional standards. Students are required to communicate in the English language both verbally and in writing at a level consistent with competent professional practice. 3. The OTA/student is expected to use grammar and vocabulary proficiently. The OTA student must be able to elicit information, gather information, and describe findings verbally and in writing (e.g. reports, treatment plans, progress notes, and discharge summaries), that are comprehensible by clients, care-­‐givers, professionals and non-­‐
professionals. 4. The OTA/student must have the ability to use keyboards and accessories and computers for searching, recording, storing, and retrieving information as well as the ability to hand write legibly in charts. E. CULTURAL COMPETENCY 1. The OTA/student must be able to communicate accurately, sensitively and effectively with clients and professionals from different cultural and social backgrounds. The OTA student should be able to observe, recognize and understand non-­‐verbal behavior. The OTA student must be able to establish rapport with clients and communicate evaluation and treatment information effectively, while adhering to principles of confidentiality. F. BEHAVIORAL AND SOCIAL SKILLS 2. The OTA/student must demonstrate emotional stability and be capable of developing mature and effective interpersonal relationships with other peers, coworkers, clinical supervisors, and other professionals. 3. The OTA/student must be able to tolerate physically and emotionally taxing workloads and to function effectively under stress. 4. The OTA/student must be able to adapt to changing environments, display flexibility and function in the face of real-­‐
world ambiguities. 5. The OTA/student must exhibit the ability and commitment to work with individuals in fast-­‐paced, demanding settings. 6. The OTA/student must acknowledge and manage personal biases in order to meet the needs of people from diverse cultures, age groups, and socioeconomic levels. 7. The OTA/student must be prepared to work with individuals who are severely medically involved, injured or disabled; be limited by cognitive, emotional and functional impairments; and exhibit extreme behavior that may elicit an aversive reaction. The ability to successfully interact with such individuals without being judgmental or prejudicial is critical to establishing a therapeutic relationship and maintaining one’s professionalism as indicated in the OT code of ethics. 7
8.
The OTA/student must demonstrate attributes of empathy, integrity, concern for others, interpersonal skills, interest, and motivation 9.
The OTA/student must possess the emotional well being required for use of his/her intellectual abilities, the exercise of care of patients, and the development of mature, sensitive, and effective relationships with patients. 10. The OTA/student must be able to adapt to ever-­‐changing environments, display flexibility, and learn to function in the face of uncertainties and stresses which are inherent in the educational process, as well as the clinical problems of many patients. G. PHYSICAL/MOTOR SKILLS & ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS 1. The OTA/student must possess sufficient motor abilities, including physical strength and coordination to effectively operate and maintain equipment, safely handle, transfer, and move clients, carry out medical procedures, perform evaluations, provide treatment intervention with a variety of clients, and in multiple, non-­‐isolated settings. 2. The OTA/student must demonstrate good gross and fine motor skills including but not limited to, the ability to walk, balance, bend, climb, stoop, kneel, and crouch, rotate, coordinate arms, and reach overhead. 3. The OTA/student are required to use multiple grasp and pinch patterns, including dexterity for writing and keyboard function, and firm grasp for sustained hand/arm use as in lifting, push/pull, twisting, transferring and carrying. Students must regularly lift and/or move objects up to 10 pounds, occasionally lift and/or move objects at 25-­‐50 pounds, and infrequently lift/move objects at greater than 50 pounds. 4. The OTA/student must have a comfort level and the safety awareness to avoid negatively impacting patient care when dealing with hazardous conditions s/he may be exposed to on the job. These include but are not limited to the following: wet or humid internal environments; proximity to moving mechanical parts, fumes or airborne particles, hazardous materials, body fluids and blood borne pathogens; risk of electrical shock, objects of hot/cold temperature, or vibration. REFERENCES American Occupational Therapy Association (1997), Educating College Students With Disabilities, AOTA, Bethesda, MD. American Occupational Therapy Association (1996). Reference Manual of the Official Documents of the American Occupational Therapy Association, AOTA, Bethesda, MD. Wells, S.A. & Hanebrink, S. (1998), A Guide to Reasonable Accommodation for Practitioners with Disabilities: Fieldwork to Employment. AOTA, Bethesda, MD. 8
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE
NON ACADEMIC ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS OF STUDENTS
The OTA student is required to meet criteria outside of the academic requirements. These criteria are summarized as
the essential functions of Occupational Therapy Assistants. These are the non academic skills required of students
and are reflective of the essential skills needed to complete the OTA program in preparation for employment.
Your ability to meet these requirements will be monitored by the faculty throughout your time in the program. Those
students failing to meet the requirements will be asked to counsel with a faculty member and /or counselor in an
effort to meet the requirement. In some infrequent cases of egregious behavior, a student could be dismissed from
the program for failure to meet the non academic essentials.
Failure to fully and consistently meet non academic essential requirements by the final academic semester of the
program will result in the inability to register for Level II Fieldwork. Students who cannot meet these requirements
will be referred to the program director to determine if a referral to a different course of study is appropriate.
I understand that, in addition to meeting the academic requirements of the program, I will be expected to meet the
non academic essential requirements as a prerequisite to entering a Level 2 Fieldwork setting. I am willing to
participate in evaluations of these skills as part of my classroom and fieldwork experiences. If, in the clinical
judgment of the faculty, I do not meet the criteria of the non academic essentials, I understand that I will be placed
on a clinical improvement plan and /or a clinical warning that might jeopardize my status in the program.
Print Name:
Signature
Date
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Make sure your application is complete.
Completed applications must be postmarked by June 1th prior to the September start date for which the
student is applying. All supporting documentation must be included in the applicant’s packet. The packet
should be sent directly to the program director in one envelope. Students are encouraged to obtain a postal
receipt when mailing their application package.
A completed application includes the following:
___ Student information cover sheet correctly and fully filled out
___ Letter acknowledging successful completion of the OTA admissions essay
___ Unofficial copies of transcripts from all schools attended must be attached to this application
___ Official copies of transcripts must be evaluated and on file in the Advising Office.
(It is the student responsibility to make sure the evaluation is complete and on file)
___ Signed Acknowledgement of Non Academic Essential Requirements
___ Documentation of volunteer/paid hours working with people with disabilities
___ Documentation of completion of Computer Literacy test or course
___ Report of Observation of an OT
Of special note:
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Incomplete or illegible applications will not be reviewed.
The number of students admitted to the program varies each year according to space available in
classes and laboratory courses.
Each applicant who meets the criteria and submits a complete, legible, satisfactory application
will be invited to complete a formal interview with the admission committee and demonstrate the
skills, behaviors and attitudes outlined in the interview standards. Applicants who do not pass the
interview may not reapply to the program in subsequent semesters.
Applicants will be ranked according to G.P.A., number of program courses already completed
OTA clinical writing test score and, in case of tie ranking, the postmark of the application packet.
The faculty will determine if full time or part time options will be offered based on the number of
interested and qualified applicants.
In order to be eligible to take the two-year option, students must have a programmatic GPA of 3.0
and have completed six (6) of the nine (9) non-OTA courses including English101, English 102
and Bio105 with a B or higher .
A grade of C or higher in Biology 105 is required for admission to Biology 117, however due to
the rigorous coursework based on the basic biology, a grade of B or better is highly recommended
Any attempt to falsify information in the application will render the applicant ineligible
for program admission for the current or any subsequent semester.
Completion of prerequisite requirements does not guarantee admission. Admission is selective
and competitive.
Students will be notified via certified letter of their application status by July 5, 2013. The office
will NOT have decisions on status before then. Please do not call. Students will be contacted and
must schedule an interview within 10 days of receipt of their this letter
Students who have interview and are accepted into the program must attend all three days of a
mandatory summer orientation in order to begin the program.
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Graduates of the program must sit for the national certification examination before becoming
licensed to practice Occupational Therapy. Students who have been convicted of a felony may
not be eligible to take the national certification exam.
It is possible that students may have to wait up to one year form the time they complete their
academic work to be placed in a fieldwork assignment.
INTERVIEW ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
In order to be successful in the OTA program, entering applicants must have basic skills in communication and
appropriate behaviors. The following standards are used during the interview to make sure the applicants have the
skills necessary to be successful in the OTA program. Applicants will be assessed according to the following
criteria during an interview with the program director.
1.
The applicant demonstrated professional behavior if s/he was going to be late or absent (called ahead, made
arrangements).
Circle one:
Met
Unable to Observe Not Met
Comment if not met: ______________________________________________
2.
The applicant demonstrated the ability to know when and how to enter conversations with another person and
when to remain silent.
Circle one:
Met
Unable to Observe Not Met
Comment if not met: ______________________________________________
3.
The applicant demonstrated the initiative and ability to know when and how to engage another person in
conversation.
Circle one:
Met
Unable to Observe Not Met
Comment if not met: ______________________________________________
4.
The applicant used verbal and nonverbal communication that reflected interest, respect, engagement and
courtesy.
Circle one:
Met
Unable to Observe Not Met
Comment if not met: ______________________________________________
5.
The applicant used common courtesies such as saying please and thank you, holding doors for others, etc.
Circle one:
Met
Unable to Observe Not Met
Comment if not met: ______________________________________________
6.
The applicant avoided mannerisms, gestures, and habits that were distracting, impolite or immature, including
but not limited to gum chewing, yawning, and cell phone use.
Circle one:
Met
Unable to Observe Not Met
Comment if not met: ______________________________________________
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7.
The applicant demonstrated good hygiene, dressed appropriately, and moved and conducted him/herself
modestly.
Circle one:
Met
Unable to Observe Not Met
Comment if not met: ______________________________________________
8.
The applicant demonstrated familiarity with strategies to cope with stress, including but not limited to
changes in schedule and juggling multiple priorities.
Circle one:
Met
Unable to Observe Not Met
Comment if not met: ______________________________________________
9.
The applicant understood the directions given by the interviewer. The applicant’s verbal and written
communication was easily understandable.
Circle one:
Met
Unable to Observe Not Met
Comment if not met: ______________________________________________
10. The applicant indicated the ability and willingness to take supervision and follow directions, including
multiple-step directions.
Circle one:
Met
Unable to Observe Not Met
Comment if not met: ______________________________________________
11. The applicant maintained the confidentiality of patients and colleagues and refrained from making negative
comments about instructors, peers, supervisors, patients or facilities.
Circle one:
Met
Unable to Observe Not Met
Comment if not met: ______________________________________________
12. The applicant was able to articulate a basic understanding of Occupational Therapy.
Circle one:
Met
Unable to Observe Not Met
Comment if not met: ______________________________________________
13. The applicant gave the interviewer no concerns about his/her ability to be completely truthful and honest.
Circle one:
Met
Unable to Observe Not Met
Comment if not met: ______________________________________________
Based on the official standards of the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education. Items taken from:
Palladino, Judith and Jeffries, Ruth N., (2000) Manual for Assessing Professional Skills. Philadelphia: F.A. Davis
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