Arizona has 2 ACOTE (Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education) accredited Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) School which provides an associate degree in Occupational Therapy. Plus, the state also has 3 ACOTE accredited Occupational therapy Schools in Arizona which provides an entry-level master degree or Doctor of Occupational therapy degree. The license is required to practice as an OTA in Arizona; one can appear for the licensure examination after clearing the OTA associate degree from accredited OTA schools.
The list of Occupational therapy assistant schools in Arizona is-
- Pima Medical Institute (Mesa Campus)
- Pima Medical Institute (Tucson Campus).
Occupational Therapy in Arizona-
The occupational therapist (OT), Occupational therapy assistant (OTA) and OT/OTA students have their own state association, i.e. ArizOTA (Arizona Occupational Therapy Association).
The ArizOTA is a non-profit volunteer organization which provides a professional community for its members. The ArizOTA is a state-based professional organization for the occupational therapy profession in Arizona.
Occupational therapist and Occupational therapy assistant work closely with the patient to facilitate the recovery. OT assistant works on all therapy setup and assists OT on assessment and intervention implementation.
The Occupational therapist Assistant has good job opportunities in Arizona. An OTA can also become an occupational therapist by applying through a bridge program.
Occupational Therapy Assistance License in Arizona-
Graduates of the OTA Program are required to sit for the certification examination administered by the NBCOT (National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy). Upon successful completion of the NBCOT exam graduates must apply to the Arizona Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners for authorization to practice as a COTA (Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant) within the state of Arizona. An OTA becomes COTA after passing the NBCOT exam.
The minimum requirements for the license are –
- An Associate degree in Occupational therapy assistant.
- NBCOT exam’s passing certificate.
- Obtain professional recommendations from two health professionals.
- Complete your Statement of Citizenship form.
- Request verification of licensure from all states you have held a medical professional license, including those that are expired.
- Application fees of $100 and Initial License fee: $70 (OTA) and $135 (OT).
Temporary OTA License / limited OTA license:
A temporary or limited OTA license can be issued by the authority if the applicant has completed an OTA program and has not taken the NBCOT exam. The application required a notarized Direct Supervision Agreement and 2 professional recommendations from health professionals. If an applicant failed in the NBCOT exam, the limited license is immediately void.
Application fee of $35
OTA Schools in Arizona-
#1 Pima Medical Institute (PMI)-
PMI’s OTA program is offered on various campuses in different states. In Arizona, the program is offered at Mesa and Tucson campuses. Other campuses include Denver (Colorado), Las Vegas (Nevada), El Paso & Houston (Texas), and Renton (Washington).
The OTA Program is 80 weeks in length. The total number of program hours is 1,712 at all campuses except Las Vegas. The graduates will receive an Occupational therapy Associates degree.
WHY prefer an OTA program at PMI?
- Expert and experienced faculty;
- On-campus labs mimic a real-world occupational therapy room;
- Different Clinical Externship options.
| Pima Medical Institute | |
|---|---|
| Degree Offered– | Associate degree in Occupational Therapy (OTA-entry level) |
| University Campuses |
|
| Public or Private- | Private Institute |
| Program Director- |
|
| Course Duration- | 20 months |
| Class Size | —- |
| OTA Admission | —- |
| Application Procedure | Apply to the OTA program through college’s website. |
| Minimum Requirement |
|
| Address |
Mesa Campus Occupational Therapy Assistant Program Tucson Campus Occupational Therapy Assistant Program |
| Website | https://pmi.edu/OTA |
“Applicant” Occupational therapy Assistant schools in Arizona-
This one is a new OTA educational program in Arizona seeking accreditation (not yet holding Candidacy Status). Until Candidacy Status has been granted by ACOTE, this school cannot admit students into the OTA program in Arizona.
#1 East Valley Institute of Technology/ GateWay Community College
1601 W. Main Street
Mesa, AZ 85201-6910
[email protected]
www.gatewaycc.edu
ACOTE’s Status: Applicant OTA – entry-level Occupational Therapy Assistant Program
Occupational Therapy Schools in Arizona-
There are 3 Occupational therapy schools which offer an entry-level Master of Science degree in OT or OTD. Master degree / Doctorate degree in OT is required to become an Occupational therapist.
List of OT schools-
- Northern Arizona University
- Midwestern University
- A.T. Still University
Get complete info about the OT Schools in Arizona
Occupational Therapy Assistant Jobs in Arizona-
The job outlook for occupational therapy assistant is very good in Arizona. Overall employment of occupational therapy assistants is projected to grow 28 percent from 2016 to 2026, much faster than the average for all occupations. Occupational therapy will continue to be an important part of treatment for people with various illnesses and disabilities (as per the United States’ Bureau of Labor Statistics).
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were about 570 employed and licensed occupational therapy Assistant in Arizona in May 2017 and the requirement of license practitioner is increasing. Huge opportunities are there in Arizona for the occupational therapist (OT/OTR) and occupational therapy Assistant (OTA/COTA).
Occupational Therapy Assistant Salary in Arizona-
Employment and salaries for Occupational Therapy Assistants vary based on work setting and geographical location. The current salary range in the local area is $37,000-$55,000 annually with an estimated 30% increase in jobs over the next 10 years. (Retrieved from http://swz.salary.com)
As per indeed.com, the average salary of an occupational therapy assistant in Arizona was $62,000 (in 2017) and According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual and hourly income of occupational therapy assistants were $ 62,090 and $29.85 respectively in May 2017.
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