The Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation Sciences Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) track is a degree that will lead to direct employment of undergraduates into a rehabilitation career and will serve as an excellent base for graduate study in career fields such as Athletic Training, Occupational Therapy, or Physical Therapy.  The OTA program will combine classroom, laboratory, simulation, and fieldwork experiences to enable students to establish general entry-level skills to enter the profession. Students will also complete a capstone project focused on their own interests in one of the following areas: clinical practice skills, leadership and administration, and education. 

In the OTA track, graduates will be educated and prepared to serve as licensed practitioners who work under the direction of a licensed occupational therapist. Graduates of the OTA program will be prepared to be evidence-based practitioners, advocates, and leaders in the profession, the interdisciplinary healthcare team, and within the community. The Occupational Therapy Assistant Track of the Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation Sciences will enable graduates to be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapy assistant administered by the National for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA). 

Accreditation

The baccalaureate-degree-level occupational therapy assistant program has applied for accreditation and has been granted Candidacy Status by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA. The program must have a preaccreditation review, complete an on-site evaluation, and be granted Accreditation Status before its graduates 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, all states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure. 

• Students must complete 16 weeks of Level II fieldwork as well as a baccalaureate project within 18 months following the completion of the didactic portion of the program.

Scholarships and Financial Aid

Pre-OTA and OTA students are eligible for scholarships and financial aid offered to IU Kokomo students. Information may be found in the “Scholarships and Financial Aid” section of this bulletin. Information can also be obtained by contacting the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships in the Kelley Student Center.

Health Insurance

Students are required to have health insurance once admitted to the major and should carry their card with them during fieldwork rotations. Should an incident necessitating student treatment occur while in a fieldwork placement, associated costs will be the responsibility of the student and billed to the student’s insurance. Failure to maintain health insurance requirements may result in dismissal from the program.

Health and Safety Requirements

All students admitted to the OTA program must provide evidence of compliance with health and safety requirements (immunizations, drug and TB testing, physical examination, background check, CPR, and orientation requirements). Failure to adhere to the policy as stated in the student handbook may lead to serious consequences, including course failure or program dismissal. Requirements are subject to change at the discretion of fieldwork and capstone sites. Evidence of student compliance with each of the requirements will be provided to the site upon request. Notification of requirement changes will be forwarded as soon as they are communicated to the program. Submission of this documentation is a requirement of the fieldwork and capstone sites. Failure to submit additional documentation as required may result in a non-placement for fieldwork and/or capstone, thus prohibiting the student from successfully completing the required components of the program.

Lecture Attendance Policy:

The OTA program faculty recognizes that there is a correlation between student attendance and success in the academic program. Any class sessions missed by students diminishes the opportunity for learning and may affect meeting program learning outcomes.

Excused absences are defined as a documented excused absence from an appropriate source, i.e., health care provider, obituary, police report, court document, military papers, or the student is an active participant in an IU Kokomo school athletic event. Excused absences should be communicated in advance with the instructor. In the event of an emergency or illness, these should be communicated within 24 hours. Exceptions may apply in the event of serious illness or injury.

Unexcused absences are defined as but not limited to car issues/flat tire, employment issues, oversleeping, or any illness without a note from a health care provider. Excessive tardiness to class may also be deemed as an unexcused absence.

Students missing 20% or more of any lecture will receive a 10% grade deduction.

Lab Attendance Policy:

The OTA faculty recognizes that the laboratory component of didactic course work allows for learning and application of clinical skills. As such, lab sections missed by students significantly diminish their opportunity for learning and applying practice skills utilized in practice, as well as may affect their ability to successfully pass labs and meet program learning outcomes. Students are expected to attend all labs.

Students must communicate with instructors prior to an excused absence from labs to ensure that students can appropriately arrange to makeup missed content from lab. However, not all lab content is able to be made-up in the event of an absence, such as lab competencies, simulations, or specialty labs (guest lecturer, off-site lab, etc.), faculty reserve the right to not excuse a non-emergent absence, such as an athletic event, as these lab components are vital and not easily made-up. Communication with your instructor and/or lab instructor to determine if the lab can be made-up prior to the absence is imperative.

Students with an unexcused absence for a lab component will not be allowed to makeup missed any lab components. An unexcused absence from a lab competency will automatically result in a failure for the initial attempt and may remediate the lab competency with a 10% grade deduction for the competency.

Fieldwork Attendance Policy:

Students are expected to adhere to the schedule as set by the fieldwork site to ensure successful completion of Fieldwork I and Fieldwork II components of the curriculum. Any absence from a fieldwork experience must be approved by the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator and Fieldwork Educator. Unexcused absences may result in the failure of a fieldwork experience. Students may be required to make up missed time on a fieldwork experience as deemed appropriate by the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator and Fieldwork Educator.

Capstone Attendance Policy:

Due to the collaborative nature of the capstone project, students will be working with community partners and/or faculty members to successfully complete their project. As such, students are expected to adhere to the attendance expectations set by their site and/or faculty mentor. Any absences must be communicated in advance and will require the approval of the mentor(s) and Program Director to ensure successful completion of the capstone project. Unexcused absences may result in the failure of a capstone experience. Students will be required to makeup missed time for the capstone experience in order to meet the mandatory 128 hours.

Dress Code

As representatives of the IU Kokomo and SNAHP OTA program, students are expected to present themselves in a manner that demonstrates respect for the profession, the client/consumer of services, other students and professionals, faculty, staff, and campus at large. Students in the program are required to dress in a manner that reflects this expectation. Students admitted to the OTA program will be expected to purchase polo dress shirts bearing the program logo through the IUK bookstore. This polo is to only be worn when representing the OTA program in community-based projects, fieldwork, capstone, and other experiences as identified by faculty.

Each fieldwork or capstone site may have its own specific policies regarding acceptable dress code for students. Students are expected to abide by the site’s policies throughout the fieldwork or capstone experience. It is the student’s responsibility to clarify these expectations PRIOR to the start of their experience. If the site does not have a policy, students will be expected to wear their OTA Program polo shirt, khaki pants or dress slacks, and appropriate close-toed shoes. While in uniform students are expected to behave in a professional manner. Further dress code expectations can be found in the student handbook.

Eligibility for Licensure

Graduates must graduate from an accredited program to 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, all states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based upon the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT Certification Examination or attain state licensure. To see the program’s current accreditation status, please refer to https://www.iuk.edu/ota.

*Students must complete the 16 weeks of Level II fieldwork as well as the baccalaureate project within 18 months following the completion of the didactic portion of the program.

Sex Offenders Screening Policy

The Indiana Sex Offenders Registry is reviewed every semester for all enrolled students. Any student enrolled in the OTA program who has been convicted of a sex offense against children shall be dismissed from the program. Any student already admitted to the program whose name appears on the Registry during the time of enrollment in the OTA program shall be ineligible for continuation and completion of the program.

Degree Requirements 

Prospective students should study the requirements for admission to the OTA program, the specific curriculum requirements, recommended course sequence, and prerequisites required for admission to the program. Students must complete the general education core and prerequisite courses prior to starting the program. Students are responsible for meeting the degree requirements and submitting an application to the program by the established deadline. Details on the application process can be located on the program website. Enrollment in the OTA program is limited to IU Kokomo students admitted to the program. Exceptions/transfers will be considered by school administration on a case-by-case basis to ensure that prerequisites and general education core course requirements are met. Your advisor will apply relevant transfer credits to your planning sheet as you prepare to apply to the program. 

*Required prerequisite coursework may be completed at Indiana University or transferred from another college or university. If transfer credit, the student may not apply until this credit is evaluated and accepted by Indiana University. 

Semester 1 Courses: Pre-Occupational Therapy Assistant (15 hours) 

• AHLT-R 185 Medical Terminology (or HIM-M 195) (2 cr.) 
• ENG-W 131 Reading, Writing, Inquiry (3 cr.) 
• HSS-A 101 Freshman Seminar (1 cr.) 
• HSCI-H 212 Intro to Exercise Science* (3 cr.) 
• PSY-P 103 General Psychology* (3 cr.) 
• Humanistic & Artistic Ways of Knowing Elective (3 cr.) 

Semester 2 Courses: Pre-Occupational Therapy Assistant (15-17 hours) 

• ANAT-A 215 Basic Human Anatomy* (5 cr.) 
• HPER-E Elective (1 cr.) 
• MATH-M 118 Finite Math/ 125 Pre-Calculus/ 215 Calculus * (3-5 cr.) 
• SOC-S 100 Introduction to Sociology* (3 cr.) 
• SPCH-S 121 Public Speaking (3 cr.) 

Semester 3 Courses: Pre-Occupational Therapy Assistant (16 hours) 

• HSCI-H 2014 Motor Development* (3 cr.) 
• PHSL-P 215 Physiology* (5 cr.) 
• PSY-P 216 Lifespan Developmental Psychology* (3 cr.) 
• Humanistic and Artistic Ways of Knowing Elective (3 cr.) 
• Elective (2 cr.) 

Semester 4 Courses: Pre-Occupational Therapy Assistant (16 hours) 

• AHLT-H 322 Statistics/ SOC-S 355 Statistics for Social and Health Professionals/ PSY-K 300 Statistical Techniques * (3 cr.) 
• CHEM-C 109 Introductory Chemistry for Health and Nursing Sciences* (3 cr.) 
• CHEM-C 129 Chemistry Laboratory for Health and Nursing Sciences* (2 cr.) 
• HSCI-H 391 Biomechanics* (3 cr.) 
• PSY-P 324 Abnormal Psychology* (3 cr.) 
• Elective (2 cr.) 

Semester 5 Courses: Occupational Therapy Assistant (16 hours) 

• OCTH-K 320 Introduction to Occupational Therapy (3 cr.) 
• OCTH-K 341 Therapeutic Intervention I: Fundamentals of OT Practice (3 cr.) 
• OCTH-K 350 Health and Wellness for Individuals and Populations (3 cr.) 
• OCTH-K 355 Applied Kinesiology for Occupational Therapy Assistants (3 cr.) 
• OCTH-K 365 Evidence-Based Practice for Occupational Therapy Assistants (3 cr.) 
• OCTH-K 381 Level IA OTA Fieldwork and Seminar (1 cr.) 

Semester 6 Courses: Occupational Therapy Assistant (13 hours) 

• OCTH-K 331 Documentation and Professional Communication in Healthcare (3 cr.) 
• OCTH-K 342 Therapeutic Intervention II: Group Processes and Therapeutic Use of Self (2 cr.) 
• OCTH-K 360 Mental and Behavioral Health Practice for Occupational Therapy Assistants (3 cr.) 
• OCTH-K 371 Occupational Performance of Infants and Children (4 cr.) 
• OCTH-K 382 Level IB OTA Fieldwork and Seminar (1 cr.) 

Semester 7 Courses: Occupational Therapy Assistant (16 hours) 

• OCTH-K 432 Management, Leadership, and Advocacy for Occupational Therapy Assistants (3 cr.) 
• OCTH-K 443 Therapeutic Intervention III: Orthotics, Prosthetics, & Physical Agent Modalities (3 cr.) 
• OCTH-K 465 Occupational Therapy Assistant Capstone I (1 cr.) 
• OCTH-K 472 Occupational Performance of Adolescents and Adults (4 cr.) 
• OCTH-K 483 Level IIA Applied Fieldwork (5 cr.) 

Semester 8 Courses: Occupational Therapy Assistant (13 hours) 

• OCTH-K 466 Occupational Therapy Assistant Capstone II (2 cr.) 
• OCTH-K 473 Occupational Performance of Older Adults (4 cr.) 
• OCTH-K 484 Level IIB Applied Fieldwork (5 cr.) 
• OCTH-K 490 Specialty Considerations in Practice for Occupational Therapy Assistants (2 cr.) 

Admission & Eligibility Requirements 

The OTA program will admit one cohort every fall semester, with the application cycle open in the spring. Information regarding the application cycle and application can be located on the program website https://www.iuk.edu/ota.

Students must meet the following eligibility criteria for application to the OTA program of the BSRS degree: 

1. Be admitted to Indiana University Kokomo as a degree-seeking student and submit official transcripts from other universities attended. 
2. Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 
3. Have a minimum GPA of 2.7 in the pre-requisite courses for the OTA program (denoted by *). 
4. All pre-requisite coursework must have a minimum grade of C or higher. 
5. Matriculation to the program will be contingent upon successful completion of any outstanding pre- requisite courses in the spring semester prior to beginning the program. 

Additional rules for admission include: 

1. All prerequisites must be completed before you begin the program as denoted by the asterisks. 
2. Prerequisite courses older than 7 years must be retaken. An exception to this rule may be granted by the Program Director in special circumstances (e.g., the applicant's overall degree/coursework, background, or experience provides a reasonable fund of knowledge). 
3. Students who have been dismissed from another occupational therapy program are not eligible for admission. 
4. Students must have a Social Security Number at the time of application to meet fieldwork requirements. 
5. Students must be at least 18 years of age at the time of admission (due to clinical placement requirements). 

As part of the application process, the applicant must submit a Student Criminal Disclosure form to communicate any issues that would be documented on a national criminal background check. Students who have a criminal history that precludes clinical placement will not be eligible for admission. 

Applicants will be considered and ranked based upon a points system. Points will be assigned based upon:

1. Cumulative GPA
2. Pre-requisite GPA
3. Scores from two short essay questions
4. Interview with faculty

Progression in the Program

1. Due to the progressive nature of the program, students will not be allowed to progress in the program with a grade of C or below. Students will be required to repeat the course upon the next offering of the course before being allowed to continue in the program. 
2. Failure (C or below) of the same or a different course in the OTA program will result in dismissal from the program. 
3. Students may only have a total of two withdrawals during the entire OTA program. A student may only withdraw once from a course. These withdrawals include those with or without an instructor’s signature. If a student attempts a third withdrawal from an OTA course, he/she will be dismissed from the OTA program. 
4. For students who fail or drop an OCTH class, reentry to or continuation in the OTA Program is dependent on space availability and requires permission from the Program Director. 
5. Students are responsible to take any additional electives needed to complete the 120 credit hours required to graduate from the IU Kokomo OTA program.