The Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) has granted developing program status for the new Occupational Therapy Assistant(OTA) program at Harcum College, Bryn Mawr, Pa, according to Harcum College.
With developing program status, the program can begin in the fall 2009 semester, allowing Harcum students access to instruction and career preparation in the fast-growing field, according to the college. Students will also be eligible upon graduation to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapy assistant administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT), says Harcum.
The program is designed to prepare students for a career in occupational therapy. Occupational therapy assistants, under the supervision of registered occupational therapists, work in a variety of settings, such as hospitals, schools, rehabilitation facilities, mental health settings, and in community-based intervention.
Occupational therapy is a fast growing field; it has been named as one of the nation’s 50 best professions based on expected job growth, salary, working conditions, stress levels, and opportunities for advancement, reports Harcum. Employment is expected to grow much faster than average (25% from 2006 to 2016), as demand for occupational therapy services is rising and occupational therapists are in need of certified occupational therapy assistants (COTAs), says the college.
Harcum College is the Philadelphia region’s oldest independent, 2-year college, according to the school.
[Source: Harcum College]
