Cheryl A. Wambold, COTA/L
2009, Associates Degree
Occupational Therapy
“The Occupational Therapy Assistant Program at Penn State-Berks prepared me well to work in my current settings of pediatrics and geriatrics. The small class sizes and ability to get to know my classmates and professors one-on-one allowed me to get a more in depth, personalized education making me a well-rounded therapy practitioner."
"The professors and staff at Penn State-Berks make it so easy for the non-traditional student to transition back into the classroom setting.”
Stephanie Schmuck COTA /L
2009, Associates Degree
Occupational Therapy
“The Penn State Berks OTA program prepared me to work in both the adult rehabilitation and pediatric setting in many ways. The small classes allowed for frequent one on one attention. The professors first prepared us educationally, filling us with the appropriate knowledge needed for our field. After preparing us educationally, they then gave us opportunities to apply our knowledge by role-playing case studies with our classmates to further prepare us for ‘on the job’ situations.”
“My professors frequently encouraged me to use my clinical reasoning skills to do my best to treat, not only the patient's diagnosis, but the patient as a whole.”
“I have been a COTA /L for 3 years now. The professors at Penn State Berks continue to allow me to contact them with questions, ideas, opportunities to mentor current students, and job opportunities.”
Recommended Academic Plan
Undergraduate Bulletin
Curriculum Checklist
Consider our Occupational Therapy program if....
You want to prepare to be an occupational therapy assistant who is qualified to be employed by agencies that provide occupational therapy services. Occupational Therapy is a growing healthcare field in the United States with increasing employment opportunities expected to steadily increase through 2020. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) includes occupational therapist assistant among its list of fastest growing occupations and predicts much faster than average growth (36% or more) for assistants. Penn State Berks offers an associate degree program that helps students prepare for careers as certified occupational therapy assistants.
Careers for Occupational Therapy program graduates
Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants (COTA's) work in a variety of settings, under the supervision of occupational therapists. Young or old, we all have a job to do--the job of living. Learning, growing, playing, working, managing our homes, and caring for our families and ourselves are among the "occupations" of life. Sometimes physical, emotional, or other challenges prevent people from participating fully in the job of living. Stroke, injury, depression, and developmental disabilities, for example, can make it difficult for people to do everyday tasks or be as active and as independent as they'd like. Occupational therapy makes it possible for people to regain independence and to enjoy life to its fullest. By choosing a career in occupational therapy, you will make a difference. You will improve the lives of children, young people, and adults alike. Following graduation, students are eligible to take the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) exam.
Career Opportunities for a graduate with an associate degree in occupational therapy may include working in public and private schools, early intervention programs, general, psychiatric, and pediatric hospitals, day treatment centers, hospices and home health agencies, rehabilitation hospitals and centers, skilled and intermediate care facilities, community living programs, community wellness centers, work hardening and adjustment programs, and/or hand therapy clinics.
The program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) through the 2014-2015 academic year.
For more information about our Occupational Therapy program, please contact program coordinator: David Kresse, 610-396-6425, E-mail: dck12@psu.edu.
The Penn State Occupational Therapy program is also available at Penn State Mont Alto and Penn State DuBois.
Professional Organizations
American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)
4720 Montgomery Lane
PO Box 31220
Bethesda, MD 20824-1220
Phone: 301-652-AOTA
http://www.aota.org/
Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE)
4720 Montgomery Lane
PO Box 31220
Bethesda, MD 20824-1220
Phone: 301-652-2682
http://www.acoteonline.org/
National Board for the Certification of Occupational Therapy, Inc. (NBCOT)
800 South Frederick Avenue
Suite 200
Gaithersburg, MD 20877-4150
Phone: 301-990-7979
Fax: 301-869-8492
http://www.nbcot.org/