Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.)
Contact Information:  Piper Sesnan, OTD, OTR/L 615-353-3383,Office H-103,  Program Site, https://www.nscc.edu/academics/programs/occupational-therapy-assistant/index.php, E-mail: OTA@nscc.edu

The Occupational Therapy Assistant Program prepares students for a career in Occupational Therapy. The program includes academic and fieldwork training over a two-year course of study. This program trains students to work with persons of varied ages, cultures, and abilities to enable participation in life activities.

Graduates of the program should be able to:

• Work under the supervision of a Registered Occupational Therapist to implement intervention plans for persons of varied ages, cultures and abilities, enabling participation in life activities;
• Interact with health care providers and OT clients in a professional and meaningful manner; and
• Be eligible for certification through the National Board of Certification for Occupational Therapy.

Applications are available beginning early spring semester for the program beginning the following fall. Students should review the Occupational Therapy Assistant program site https://www.nscc.edu/academics/programs/occupational-therapy-assistant/index.php for application information.

Students should complete all required pre-requisite courses with a grade of “C” or better before beginning the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program.

Admission Requirements:

• Complete admission requirements to Nashville State Community College 

• Complete online application to NSCC OTA program, available Spring of each year. 

• All learning support coursework (if required by the college) must be completed before program application. 

• Applicants must have an overall cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher to apply to the NSCC OTA Program. NSCC defines overall cumulative GPA as GPA based on all classes taken at NSCC and any transferred undergraduate courses including learning support classes. 

• Applicants are required to participate in an admission interview, additional details on website.  

Note: Students accepted to the OTA Program will be required to complete a criminal background check and drug screen. NSCC does not background checks or drug screens as criteria for admission to the program. Background checks are required by some clinical sites as a condition of participation. Students are required to successfully demonstrate clinical practice skills through a variety of clinical experiences to complete the program. 

Criteria for Successful Completion  

To progress through the Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) Program, students must successfully complete both the didactic and fieldwork components of each semester with a grade of “C” or better. Successful completion of all required academic coursework and fieldwork is necessary to advance within the program. 

Level II Fieldwork serves as the capstone experience of the NSCC OTA Program. Upon completion of all academic coursework and attainment of a satisfactory rating on the Professional Behaviors Competence Document, students engage in a total of 16 weeks of full-time Level II Fieldwork. These placements occur within the United States and are designed to integrate academic learning with professional practice, fostering competence in clinical reasoning, treatment planning, and therapeutic intervention. 

Students have a maximum of 12 months to complete the Level II Fieldwork portion of their OTA education, beginning when they first become eligible to start this experience. Students are expected to begin fieldwork during the first month of eligibility. Postponement requests must include documentation of hardship, a physician’s statement, or other supporting evidence, and require faculty approval along with a written plan outlining the completion schedule. 

Throughout all fieldwork experiences, students are expected to perform tasks appropriate to their level of training and to demonstrate professionalism, ethical behavior, and skill development consistent with entry-level OTA practice.