​Program Overview Transcript

 

The Occupational Therapy Assistant program at LBCC uses a progressive approach to instruction, featuring a curriculum that combines classroom, laboratory, and fieldwork components for a comprehensive and practical education. This program will train students according to US standards, preparing them to sit for the national certification exam.

This program is based in Lebanon, Oregon, with Distance Education students attending classes online in real time. During the span of this two-year program, students will practice four fieldwork assignments in different locations around the Pacific Northwest. The exact location should vary each time, and students will be responsible for their own travel or housing arrangements and costs. Fieldwork is assigned by the fieldwork coordinator with a priority placed on the students’ preferences and learning needs.

LBCC only accepts as many students as there are fieldwork slots, so admission can be a competitive process, with a maximum of 24 students moving through this program as a cohort. This includes students from participating community colleges in Oregon. For more details on how admission is determined, see the program bulletin. Keep in mind that Distance Education students will be chosen according to their partner college’s selection process.

Students will be expected to follow and adhere to program regulations. First and foremost, you must be able to pass a background check. All healthcare providers and facilities require criminal background checks for all of their employees, including any student who wishes to work there. You may need to undergo a background check at several times throughout the program, and you will be responsible for absorbing the costs each time. If you have been charged with or convicted of a misdemeanor or felony, you might not be able to sit for the certification exam after graduation. If you have questions, you should contact the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (the NBCOT) to inquire about your eligibility before applying for admission to this program.

You must also pass a drug test. Immunizations, a CPR card, and first aid certification are required prior to the start of term, at an additional cost to you. Once you have been admitted, you must maintain 70% or better in all courses to continue in the program. You’ll need to follow a respectful dress code, and finally, you must practice professional behavior in class, in lab, on fieldwork assignments, and at any time you represent LBCC’s OTA program.

In order to participate in the program, you must have access to an upgraded computer and high-speed Internet. You need to be comfortable using the web and be able to read and print online documents. You will need to have an LBCC email account, a webcam, and a computer microphone, and be prepared to use all of these regularly. You will also need to be proficient in Microsoft Word and PowerPoint.

This program is eligible for financial aid. To determine if you are eligible, you must fill out a FAFSA form and list LBCC as a receiving school. Financial aid is limited by some restrictions, so you may need to contact the Financial Aid office to discuss your options. For more information, contact LBCC’s Financial Aid office or view the OTA program bulletin.

If you successfully complete LBCC’s OTA program and graduate with your associate degree, you will be eligible and prepared to sit for the national certification exam. It is the responsibility of each student to register and pay for the NBCOT exam. If you pass the exam, you will be eligible to apply for licensure at the state level.

If you earn your state licensure, you will have achieved the rank of a licensed occupational therapy assistant, and will be ready to function as an entry-level occupational therapy assistant in a variety of practice settings.

Program Overview​