Occupational Therapy Assistant AAS

The Occupational Therapy Assistant AAS degree (AAS_OCTA) is offered at LSC-Kingwood and LSC-Tomball and has additional entrance requirements. For more information, please contact the Occupational Therapy Department.

Program Description

Occupational therapy assistants, under the direction of a licensed occupational therapist, assist individuals with disabling conditions to achieve independence through the use of purposeful activity. The curriculum for the occupational therapy assistant program covers a period of two years and is designed to lead toward an associate of applied science degree. Students will engage in coursework for a period of four semesters followed by a fifth semester of full-time fieldwork at health care facilities in the community. The educational experience will include classroom instruction, laboratory activities and clinical work. Many clinical facilities will require students to successfully pass a background check. Students will be trained to work with all age groups in a variety of health care settings.

The LSC-Kingwood and Tomball occupational therapy assistant programs are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) located at 4720 Montgomery Lane, P.O. Box 31220, Bethesda, MD 20824-1220, 301.652.AOTA.

Graduates will be eligible for the national certification examination administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this examination, the graduate will be a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA). Most states, including Texas, require licensure to practice. Texas licensure is based on successful completion of the NBCOT examination. A felony conviction may affect a graduate's ability to sit for the NBCOT examination or attain a state licensure.

The general education core will transfer to a variety of colleges and universities. Contact a counselor or faculty member at any of the colleges for specific information. To obtain the recommended sequencing of courses, contact either program director at LSC-Kingwood or Tomball.

Admission Criteria

Applicants must meet the college's general admission criteria as well as program admission criteria and submit all documentation to the Occupational Therapy Assistant office at LSCKingwood or Tomball.

Program Admission Criteria

Apply for admission to the occupational therapy assistant department by submitting a formal application and all required official documents to the department.

• Top ranking candidates will be scheduled for a personal interview, a writing sample and completion of a health care admissions examination (paid for by applicant).
• Final acceptance into the program is contingent upon a satisfactory background check (as required by hospitals), which will be completed by an approved agency at the applicant's expense. If an applicant is convicted of a felony or misdemeanor they must contact NBCOT and ECPTOTE to determine certification and licensure eligibility. If a student is convicted of a felony or misdemeanor while enrolled in an LSCS occupational therapy program, the student must inform the director in writing and submit a current background check. Clinical facilities may also require completion of satisfactory drug screening.
• Applicants will be notified by mail of their admission status.

Minimum Academic Requirements

1. Submit Compass scores or other LSC approved test scores showing placement into ENGL 1301 and MATH 0310. English and math placement may also be satisfied by successful completion of ENGL 0305 or ENGL 0365, ENGL 0307 or ENGL 0375 and MATH 0308.
2. Completion of a minimum of ten hours of general education course credit with a minimum 2.5 GPA to include ENGL 1301, BIOL 2401 and 3 hours of a general education course required in the degree plan. The general education course required for Kingwood is PSYC 2301.

Students Must Have The Following Upon Admission To The Program

• Physical examination completed by a licensed physician;
• Verification of updated immunization record; regulations require that prior to patient contact, the student must have completed the Hepatitis B immunization series which is received over a 3 - 6 month period; and,
• Certificate of completion of CPR prior to Level I Fieldwork.

Incomplete applications will not receive a department review. Each applicant is responsible for contacting the OTA department to confirm that their application is complete. Applicants to the program will be ranked according to their level of achievement of the program admission criteria and will be accepted into the program on a competitive basis. Students must complete Level II fieldwork assignments within 18 months following completion of academic preparation. Additional information can be obtained from the occupational therapy assistant department at LSC-Kingwood and Tomball.

Program Plan

First Year Credits

Second Year Credits

Total Credits