Alabama has 1 ACOTE (Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education) accredited Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) Schools which provides an associate degree in Occupational Therapy Assistant. Plus, the state also has 4 ACOTE accredited Occupational therapy Schools in Alabama which provides an entry-level master degree or Doctor of Occupational therapy program. The license is required to practice as an OTA in Alabama; one can appear for the licensure examination after clearing the OTA associate degree from accredited OTA schools.
The only Occupational therapy assistant school in Alabama is-
- Wallace State Community College
Occupational Therapy in Alabama-
The occupational therapist (OT), Occupational therapy assistant (OTA) and OT/OTA students have their own state association, i.e. ALOTA (Alabama Occupational Therapy Association).
The ALOTA is a non-profit volunteer organization which provides a professional community for its members. The ALOTA is a state-based professional organization for the occupational therapy profession in Alabama.
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 Alabama. An OTA can also become an Occupational therapist by applying through a bridge program.
Occupational Therapy Assistance License in Alabama-
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 Alabama Board of Occupational Therapy for authorization to practice as a COTA (Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant) within the state of Alabama. 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.
- Application fees of $100.
Temporary OTA License / limited OTA license:
The board shall issue a limited permit to persons who have completed the educational and fieldwork experience requirements. This permit shall allow the person to practice occupational therapy under the supervision of an occupational therapist who holds a current license in the Alabama state.
Limited permits shall expire 120 days after issuance or upon notification of failure of examination by the NBCOT with the exception of those issued for a traineeship. Limited permits are not renewable.
#1 Wallace State Community College
This is the only OTA School running in Alabama. The school provides an Associate degree in Occupational Therapy. This OTA program gives an opportunity to work under the direction of occupational therapists to provide rehabilitative services to persons with mental, physical, emotional, or developmental impairments and help them to improve their quality of life and ability to perform daily activities.
| Wallace State Community College | |
|---|---|
| Degree offered | Associate degree in Occupational therapy (Entry-Level) |
| University Campus | Hanceville, AL |
| Public or Private- | Public Institute |
| Program Director- | Dr. Allen Keener |
| Course Duration- | 5 semesters (2 years) |
| Class Size | 40 to 42 students |
| OTA Admission | Once a year (Fall) |
| Application Procedure | Apply to the OTA program through the college’s website. |
| Minimum Requirement |
Pre-requisites:-
|
| Address |
Occupational Therapy Assistant Program P.O. Box 2000 Hanceville, AL 35077-2000 Email- [email protected] |
| Website | www.wallacestate.edu |
Occupational Therapy Schools in Alabama-
There are 4 Occupational therapy schools which offer an entry-level Master of Science degree in OT. Master degree / Doctorate degree in OT is required to become an Occupational therapist.
List of OT schools-
- Alabama State University
- Tuskegee University
- University of Alabama at Birmingham
- University of South Alabama.
Get complete info about the OT Schools in Alabama
Occupational Therapy Assistant Jobs in Alabama-
The job outlook for occupational therapy assistant is very good in Alabama. 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 480 employed and licensed occupational therapy Assistants in Alabama in May 2017 and the requirement of license practitioner is increasing. Huge opportunities are there in Alabama for the occupational therapist (OT/OTR) and occupational therapy Assistant (OTA/COTA).
Occupational Therapy Assistant Salary in Alabama-
Employment and salaries for Occupational Therapy Assistants vary based on work setting and geographical location. The current salary range in the local area is $40,000-$60,000 annually with an estimated 30% increase in jobs over the next 10 years.
As per indeed.com, the average salary of an occupational therapy assistant in Alabama was $56,000 per annum (in 2017) and According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual and hourly income of occupational therapy assistants were $ 56,610 and $27.22 respectively in May 2017.
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