Occupational Therapy Assistant Program, certificate

The Occupational Therapy Assistant Program's mission at the Community College of Rhode Island is to prepare students for successful completion of the NBCOT certification examination, obtain state licensure, and gain employment as Occupational Therapist Assistants in various health care settings, working with diverse patient populations.

Commitment to excellence in student preparation yields graduates who possess ethical practice standards, demonstrate outstanding clinical competence and incorporate clinical reasoning and critical thinking into all aspects of patient care.

The OTA Program promotes a commitment to occupational therapy, the importance of life-long learning, and the value of community service.

The program integrates classroom preparation and clinical practice. General education courses such as English Composition, Oral Communication, Anatomy, Physiology, Introduction to College Math, General Psychology, and Developmental Psychology enhance the core courses' occupational therapy assistant program. Courses include laboratory sessions to learn and practice the hands-on skills required to be an Occupational Therapy Assistant. Under the supervision of an Occupational Therapist or Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant, students participate in fieldwork experiences in various occupational therapy settings where skills learned in the classroom are practised.

The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) is the state's only public comprehensive associate degree-granting institution. We provide affordable open access to higher education at locations throughout the state. Our primary mission is to offer recent high school graduates and returning adults the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary for intellectual, professional, and personal growth through an array of academic, career, and lifelong learning programs. We meet the wide-ranging educational needs of our diverse student population, building on our rich tradition of excellence in teaching and our dedication to all students with the ability and motivation to succeed. We set high academic standards necessary for transfer and career success, champion diversity, respond to community needs, and contribute to our state's economic development and the region's workforce.

For 45 years, the College's challenge has been to provide academic transfer programs, career-oriented training, and student support services of the highest caliber.

The Community College of Rhode Island offers programs in academic and vocational-technical areas and a full complement of programs and services for full and part-time students, recent high school graduates, and older adult learners.

The student body at the Community College of Rhode Island enjoys considerable diversity in ages, cultures, and experiences.

Many graduating students transfer to four-year colleges and universities. Others complete career-oriented programs, which can lead to immediate employment in technical fields.

The Community College of Rhode Island's faculty totals approximately 300 full-time members.

The Community College of Rhode Island grants the Associate in Arts (A.A.), the Associate in Science (A.S.), the Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.), the Associate in Applied Science in Technical Studies (A.A.S.-T.S.), and the Associate in Fine Arts (A.F.A.) degrees. Several one-year certificates are also awarded.

The Community College of Rhode Island opens its facilities for public use sponsors programs on public concern issues, and offers workshops and seminars for small businesses, government agencies, and individuals seeking to improve their skills or enhance their lives.

In every sense, The Community College of Rhode Island strives to be Rhode Island's community college meeting the people of this state's educational needs.