Nashville State Community College's Occupational Therapy Assistant program is a Full-Time
intensive commitment with multiple courses every semester including didactic, clinical,
and simulation. The academic and fieldwork training prepare you for a career in occupational
therapy.
All students graduating from the Nashville State Occupational Therapy Assistant Program
are eligible to sit for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy Certification Exam (NBCOT). Proof of successful completion of this exam is required for a license to
practice as an Occupational Therapy Assistant in the state of Tennessee.
Information regarding obtaining a license in the state of Tennessee or information
regarding the TN Board of Occupational Therapy can be found on the TN.gov website.
For information regarding qualifications and licensure requirements in all states,
refer to the AOTA State Licensure website.
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.
