Graduation, NBCOT and Career Info
Upon successful completion of coursework & fieldwork experiences, students will receive an Associate of Applied Science Degree.
To be eligible for graduation the student must:
- Have a grade point average of 2.0 or above
- Complete all general, related and occupational therapy assistant courses with a "C" or above
- Successfully complete two level II fieldwork experiences within 18 months of classroom coursework.
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). In addition, most states require licensure to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT certification examination. A felony conviction may affect a graduate's ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.
| Year | Number of students in program Entering/ Graduating | Graduation Rate | Percentage of Graduates who passed the exam (within 12 months of graduation) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 11/ 10 | 91% | 70% |
| 2020 | 18/ 14 | 78% | 70% |
| 2021 | 12/ 6 | 50% | 100% |
| 3 Year Total | 41/30 | 73% | 80% |
After graduation and successful completion of the national board examination and licensure in the state of choice, the graduate is considered an Occupational Therapy Assistant who will be able to:
- With appropriate supervision and in accordance with state licensure laws, plan and carry out occupational therapy interventions to prevent deficits and to maintain or improve function in daily living skills and underlying components, such as muscle strength, range of motion, coordination, cognition, and visual-spatial perceptions.
- Participate in managing Occupational Therapy services.
- Direct activity programs.
- Incorporate values and attitudes congruent with the profession's standards and ethics.
Career Information
The job outlook for Occupational Therapy Assistants is excellent. Occupational Therapy Assistants are employed in both traditional and nontraditional settings including acute care hospitals, rehabilitation centers, schools, nursing homes, home health agencies, and mental health facilities. The median national salary is $45,050. for the State of Ohio $47,400. and $46,000. for the Youngstown-Warren area. Additional career information can be obtained through the career center at the East Liverpool Campus. The career center houses information on selecting occupational therapy assistant as a career, yearly updates on employment trends, and yearly updates on graduate employment outlooks. General information on occupational therapy assistant programs is also available.