Occupational Therapy Assistant
School of Health Sciences
Breuder Advanced Technology & Health Sciences Center, Rm. W245 · (570) 321-5549
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is Occupational Therapy?
A: Occupational therapy practitioners contribute to improving independence and quality of life for people of all ages in a variety of settings concerned with healthcare, education, community and social services. OTAs work in collaboration with supervising occupational therapists to serve individuals or groups who experience impairment, loss of activity or ability to participate fully in meaningful occupations secondary to genetic disorders, chronic conditions, illness, accidents, mental impairment, or social conditions such as poverty and violence.
Q: How long is the program?
A: General program information and the sequence of study are found in the College catalog. A five-semester course of study, including up to 18 credit hours for four academic semesters, in addition to Level II fieldwork (which consists of up to 16 weeks of full-time clinical work in the community). The major includes:
- 31 credits of required related coursework in liberal arts, science, mathematics, and technology, and
- 44 credits of professional core study in courses specific to occupational therapy.
Q: How does the selective admissions process work?
A: Pennsylvania College of Technology practices an open enrollment policy. Application can be made through the College Admissions Office. Following application, students are scheduled to take College Placement Exams. They may then schedule the appropriate classes, based on the test results, that will prepare them for the process of selective admission to the OTA major. Students are required to remediate all developmental coursework prior to their eligibility for OTA admission.
The OTA major, within the School of Health Sciences, uses this selective admission process when the number of eligible applicants exceeds the class capacity of 32 students. A point system, as described on the applicant admissions ranking, has been designed to rank the student based on objective criteria. Due to the sometimes competitive nature of the admission process and the rigor of the program, many students have opted to complete college-level work from the list of prescribed "point courses," which are part of the 31 credits of required liberal arts, science, and mathematics in the first year. This coursework may be transferred from other colleges or universities and/or taken at Penn College as a pre-OTA student.
Applicants with less than 10 college credits will accrue points based on the criteria listed in Category 2 of the applicant admissions ranking system. The maximum number of possible points in this section, however, may not be sufficient to compete with students who have earned greater than 10 credits and are ranked according to the list of criteria in Category 1. This, therefore, may make it necessary for applicants to complete one or two semesters of work as a student registered in pre-OTA prior to their admission to the OTA major. Opportunity is available to also work during this time on credits toward a Bachelor in Applied Health Studies. Following graduation, after the third year, with the A.A.S. degree, this study can be completed in a fourth year, while you work as a COTA. (See the program director for more information.)
Q: I am a transfer student. How are my credits evaluated?
A: Since a transferred course receives credit but no grade on a Penn College transcript, courses that are equivalent to the "point classes" will accrue one-half (0.5) point per course, regardless of the grade earned.
Q: When are admissions decisions made?
A: The OTA course sequence of coursework begins in the fall of each year. Decisions related to admission to the OTA major are made in January and June. Up to one-half of the class capacity of 32 students are offered acceptance in January. The remainder of the class positions are filled following the spring term. Students accruing points by taking summer coursework will benefit only if those points are accrued prior to the June acceptance date. Points accrued for summer coursework taken following that date will be applied to the admission process for the following year.
Q: Who should I call for further information about the OTA major?
A: Further questions can be answered by program director. The College faculty and staff look forward to further assisting you in making decisions that will benefit your educational and career outcomes.