Contact
Christine Gunnigle
Director/Instructor
Tech (Building 9), room 134B
919-536-7200, ext. 8102
gunniglec@durhamtech.edu
Admissions Questions
Donna Alston
Admissions Counselor
919-536-7200, ext. 1122
alstond@durhamtech.edu
Plan of Study
(Courses by Semester)Occupational Therapy Assistant
Long Term
Course work includes human growth and development, conditions which interfere with activities of daily living, theory and process of occupational therapy, individual/group treatment activities, therapeutic use of self, activity analysis, and grading/adapting activities and environments.
Graduates may be eligible to take the national certification examination for practice as a certified occupational therapy assistant. Employment opportunities include hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, long-term/extended care facilities, sheltered workshops, schools, home health programs, and community programs.
The Occupational Therapy Assistant program is accredited 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 and its web address is www.acoteonline.org.
The national certification examination for the occupational therapy assistant is administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the graduate will be a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA). In addition, most states, including North Carolina, require licensure to practice as a COTA; licensure in North Carolina is based on 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. These processes are separate from the college’s program and graduation requirements. Students are encouraged to contact NBCOT for additional information.
View program results from the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) and Durham Tech program outcomes.
Students may become members of the Student Occupational Therapy Association (SOTA).
How to Apply
Program applications are due by April 2 for a program start the following summer.
- Before you Apply
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View the Admissions Checklist. Students are required to attend an information session (recommended). The are listed in the Upcoming Events section below.
- Apply to the College
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New students who are not currently enrolled at Durham Tech should apply to the College using the Health Tech Students then Steps to Apply.
- Apply to the Program
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Once prerequisites are completed, Apply to the OTA program using the Program Admissions Application.
Submit program applications electronically to Admissions, Registration, and Records (not Health and Wellness). Drop off locations are also listed on the Electronic Document Submission webpage.
Upcoming Program Events
Estimated Tuition & Fees
Degree Type
Minimum Credit Hours
Location
First-Semester Courses
Suggested Paths
Short Term
(12 months or less)Long Term
(More than 12 months)University Transfer
Career Explorer
“I moved from Asheville just to come to this program because Durham Tech has one of the best Occupational Therapy Assistant programs in the state. Our instructors stress the fact that the OT field is a very close knit community and I’ve really enjoyed getting to know my classmates. The instructors are really incredible. They provide a vast amount of information that you don’t typically see at community colleges.”
—Hanna Robinson