Section IV

Occupational Therapy Assistant Program

3.8.1 System Guidelines

Enrollment in the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program may be limited because of available facilities within the community and the college.

Technical Standards

The occupational therapy assistant, under the supervision of a professional occupational therapist, works to promote and maintain the holistic health of individuals in the community. The program strives to fill a growing need for professionals able to contribute to all facets of occupational therapy from assessment to treatment termination. Therefore, in order to work successfully with clients, all applicants should possess sufficient performance skills in the areas of:

1. Sensory functions including visual acuity, such as observation skills necessary for administering client care and reading equipment gauges and settings used in treatments;
2. Sensory functions including auditory perception to receive verbal communication and to execute client care through the use of monitoring devices;
3. Strength and gross and fine motor coordination and motor praxis skills to respond promptly and to implement client care skills, such as the manipulation of equipment, and positioning and lifting clients;
4. Communication and social skills (speech, reading, writing) to interact with the individuals and to communicate their needs promptly and effectively, as may be necessary in the client’s interest; and
5. Intellectual, cognitive, and emotional functions to implement the plan of care.

Selection of students for the occupational therapy assistant program will be made by the president of the college or the president’s designee after considering the recommendations of an Admission Committee. Membership for this committee will be:

• Occupational Therapy Assistant Program Coordinator
• Occupational Therapy Assistant Program Faculty Member
• Occupational Therapy Assistant Clinician (voluntary faculty member)
• Admissions Officer or Counselor
• General Education Faculty Member

In order to be considered by the Admissions Committee, after admission to the college each applicant to the program for the fall semester must submit the following credentials by March 1 and for the spring semester class, if applicable, by October 1.

1. Official transcripts of all postsecondary education, if applicable.
2. ACT or tool according to KCTCS assessment and placement policy score report.
3. Documentation of completion of all prerequisite courses with a “C” or better before beginning program course work.
4. Documentation of attendance at a mandatory OTA preadmission conference with the program coordinator or designee.
5. Documentation of completion of required observation, volunteer, and/or experience in a minimum of two settings and a minimum of ten hours.

Preference

Preference may be given to:

1. Kentucky residents.
2. Applicants with a cumulative college GPA of 2.5 or better.
3. Applicants with a GPA in prerequisite college courses of 3.0 or better.
4. Applicants with an ACT composite score of 19 or above or equivalent by a tool according to KCTCS assessment and placement policy.
5. Applicants with a documented degree from an institution whose courses are accepted for transfer to KCTCS.
6. Applicants with documented employment in a related field.

Readmission

In order to be considered for readmission by the Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) Admissions Committee, the applicant must:

1. Submit a written request to the OTA Program Director by October 1st for the spring semester and March 1st for the fall semester, which must include which course(s) readmission is being requested and what steps the applicant has taken to be successful;
2. Meet current admission guidelines; and
3. Attend an interview, if requested, by the OTA Admissions Committee.

Students who have been admitted into the OTA program and who have not successfully completed the program may be readmitted to the program one time following academic failure or withdrawal from the initial admission. A grade of “W”, “D”, or “E” is considered a program attempt.

If more than one (1) year has elapsed since the last day of attendance in an OTA course, the applicant is not eligible for readmission, must reapply to the program, and repeat all OTA courses.

Readmission may be limited due to available spots in the program and is not guaranteed.

The OTA Admission Committee will convene to review readmission applications.

Applicants will be notified in writing of their acceptance or denial of readmission into the OTA Program with a projected readmission date within two (2) weeks of the OTA Admission Committee review and final decision.

3.8.2 College Guidelines

3.8.2.1 Jefferson Community and Technical College

The System Guidelines for Admission will be followed except that:

1. In order to be considered by the Admissions Committee, students must be in a position to complete thirty-two (32) hours of prerequisite courses that are required in the first year of the program by the end of the spring semester for summer admission or by the end of the fall semester for spring admission. PSY 223, Elective(s), and Heritage/Humanities may be taken as outlined in the OTA curriculum.
2. Admission to the OTA Program is conditional, pending successful completion, with a grade of “C” or better, of all prerequisite courses (excludes PSY 223, Elective(s) and Heritage/Humanities).
3. Preference for admission to the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program will be given to:
   1. applicants with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or better;
   2. applicants with a GPA in prerequisite courses of 3.0 or better;
   3. applicants with an ACT composite score of 19 or above or equivalent according to the JCTC assessment and placement policy;
   4. qualified applicants from underserved areas or underrepresented populations of Kentucky.
4. Preference may be given to applicants who are veterans, active duty personnel, their spouses, and also displaced workers who qualify under the Trade Adjustment Act
5. In order to be considered for readmission by the OTA Admissions Committee, the applicant must submit a written request to the Admissions Committee.

3.8.2.2 Madisonville Community College

The System Guidelines for Admission will be followed with the following exceptions:

1. OTA 101 Introduction to Occupational Therapy must be completed, with a grade of “C” or better, before admission to the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program.
2. The top candidates determined from the established points system will be required to participate in a formal interview with the Admissions Committee to determine the final students selected for the OTA Program. The Admissions committee will be establish specific interview criteria for the formal interview process.