Occupational Therapy Assistant

Standardized Testing Policy

All students enrolled in an MSN course will be required to utilize the standardized testing policy in place at the time of their course.

1. Standardized testing platform

1. The selected 3P exam: The minimum score for the exam is average/score identified by the vendor that equates with a minimum passing score of 80%.

1. The Pre-Predictor exam: A minimum score identified by the vendor that equates with a minimum passing score of 80%. The Pre-Predictor exam is 5% of the MSN FNP (NSG6440) and MSN AGPCNP (NSG6430) course grade. A score of less than the minimum passing score is 0 points. Students who scored lower than the minimum passing score on the Pre-Predictor can complete a faculty driven remediation plan to receive 2% of the MSN FNP (NSG6440) and MSN AGPCNP (NSG6430) course grade.  
2. The University Predictor: A minimum score identified by the vendor that equates with a minimum passing score of 80%. The University Predictor exam is worth 10% (100 points) of the final grade in MSN FNP (NSG6440) and AGPCNP (NSG6340).  Students who scored lower than the minimum passing score on the Predictor can complete a faculty driven remediation plan to receive 6% (60 points) of the final grade in MSN FNP (NSG6440) and AGPCNP (NSG6340). A score of less than the minimum passing score is 0 points.

1. Remediation
   1. Individualized and faculty driven remediation provides an opportunity for students to review study and acquire additional knowledge. Remediation is intended to help students recover important information that was missed when taking the assessment and improve the opportunity to be successful on the second attempt of any exam.
   2. In addition to faculty driven remediation, self-review is required for all standardized testing assessments. Students are required to use their test results to complete remediation.
   3. Failure to comply with the standardized testing policy may result in a course failure.
   4. Retesting is required for any student who scores lower than the minimum passing score on the 3P exam. Retesting of the 3P exam will take place during the final week of NSG6023.
   5. A different test version will be used for retesting. Students who score the minimum passing score or higher on the 3P exam in NSG6023 will receive an 80% for the grade. Students who do not score the minimum passing score will be dismissed from the MSN nurse practitioner programs.
   6. The Dean's or designee's approval is required for reordering of standardized testing products.  
2. Comprehensive Testing Program

The occupational therapy assistant works under the supervision of the occupational therapist to help individuals regain or accommodate to decreased range of motion, muscle strength, coordination, perception and activities of daily living, which includes dressing, eating, toileting, hygiene and home management.  

The Associate of Applied Science and the Associate of Science degrees in the Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) degree program are dedicated to providing educational opportunities of the intellectual, social and professional development of a diverse student population. Through its carefully balanced and sequenced curricular design over eight quarters or nine quarters, the Occupational Therapy Assistant program is designed to prepare qualified graduates to seek entry-level employment as occupational therapy practitioners. The program prepares students with knowledge and skills for competent entry-level practice in a variety of contexts for an ever-changing world. The Occupational Therapy Assistant program further seeks to lead the profession and community through its contributions in educational leadership, community and professional service, lifelong learning, and scholarship.

The Professional Phase of the Occupational Therapy Assistant program is delivered on campus at each of the campuses where the program is offered.  It is offered on the Virginia Beach campus in two modalities: fully campus-based or blended.  Students enrolled in the blended modality meet face-to-face in the classroom and asynchronously online over the 11-week quarter.

Program Student Learning Outcomes

The OTA program goals address student competency in the following areas

1. Prepare occupational therapy assistants who appreciate and adapt to diverse and alternative cultures, settings, systems, processes, and ideas. (adaptation thread)
2. Foster student skill in accessing relevant literature and information, using research-based evidence to make informed decisions in occupational therapy practice. (information literacy thread)
3. Cultivate student skill in effective critical thinking, problem-solving, and clinical reasoning with clients across the lifespan in diverse practice settings. (critical thinking thread)
4. Foster development of student's communication skills to promote effective, appropriate interaction with all stakeholders. (professionalism thread)
5. Instill in the student the values, attitudes and behaviors consistent with the occupational therapy profession's philosophy, standards and ethics. (professionalism thread)
6. Provide the student with opportunities to acquire skills in advocacy for the profession of occupational therapy to other professionals, service providers, consumers, third-party payers, regulatory bodies, professional associations and the public. (professionalism thread)
7. Provide the student with a challenging curriculum is designed to prepare graduates to deliver occupational therapy assistant services with entry-level competency under the supervision of an occupational therapist in a variety of practice settings. (professionalism and critical thinking threads)
8. Impart to the student a passion for lifelong professional development to meet changing societal needs. (lifelong learning thread)
9. Provide ongoing opportunities for stakeholders in the OTA program to have input into the development and evaluation of the OTA program to ensure the program remains true to its mission and philosophy. (information literacy thread)

Accreditation

The Occupational Therapy Assistant program at South University, Columbia, Richmond, Virginia Beach, and Tampa are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929.  ACOTE's telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA. http://www.acoteonline.org. Graduates of the program will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapy assistant administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA). In addition, most states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate's ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure. More information on ACOTE may be obtained at http://www.acoteonline.org.

Standardized Testing Policy

All students enrolled in an MSN course will be required to utilize the standardized testing policy in place at the time of their course.

1. Standardized testing platform

1. The selected 3P exam: The minimum score for the exam is average/score identified by the vendor that equates with a minimum passing score of 80%.

1. The Pre-Predictor exam: A minimum score identified by the vendor that equates with a minimum passing score of 80%. The Pre-Predictor exam is 5% of the MSN FNP (NSG6440) and MSN AGPCNP (NSG6430) course grade. A score of less than the minimum passing score is 0 points. Students who scored lower than the minimum passing score on the Pre-Predictor can complete a faculty driven remediation plan to receive 2% of the MSN FNP (NSG6440) and MSN AGPCNP (NSG6430) course grade.  
2. The University Predictor: A minimum score identified by the vendor that equates with a minimum passing score of 80%. The University Predictor exam is worth 10% (100 points) of the final grade in MSN FNP (NSG6440) and AGPCNP (NSG6340).  Students who scored lower than the minimum passing score on the Predictor can complete a faculty driven remediation plan to receive 6% (60 points) of the final grade in MSN FNP (NSG6440) and AGPCNP (NSG6340). A score of less than the minimum passing score is 0 points.

1. Remediation
   1. Individualized and faculty driven remediation provides an opportunity for students to review study and acquire additional knowledge. Remediation is intended to help students recover important information that was missed when taking the assessment and improve the opportunity to be successful on the second attempt of any exam.
   2. In addition to faculty driven remediation, self-review is required for all standardized testing assessments. Students are required to use their test results to complete remediation.
   3. Failure to comply with the standardized testing policy may result in a course failure.
   4. Retesting is required for any student who scores lower than the minimum passing score on the 3P exam. Retesting of the 3P exam will take place during the final week of NSG6023.
   5. A different test version will be used for retesting. Students who score the minimum passing score or higher on the 3P exam in NSG6023 will receive an 80% for the grade. Students who do not score the minimum passing score will be dismissed from the MSN nurse practitioner programs.
   6. The Dean's or designee's approval is required for reordering of standardized testing products.  
2. Comprehensive Testing Program

The occupational therapy assistant works under the supervision of the occupational therapist to help individuals regain or accommodate to decreased range of motion, muscle strength, coordination, perception and activities of daily living, which includes dressing, eating, toileting, hygiene and home management.  

The Associate of Applied Science and the Associate of Science degrees in the Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) degree program are dedicated to providing educational opportunities of the intellectual, social and professional development of a diverse student population. Through its carefully balanced and sequenced curricular design over eight quarters or nine quarters, the Occupational Therapy Assistant program is designed to prepare qualified graduates to seek entry-level employment as occupational therapy practitioners. The program prepares students with knowledge and skills for competent entry-level practice in a variety of contexts for an ever-changing world. The Occupational Therapy Assistant program further seeks to lead the profession and community through its contributions in educational leadership, community and professional service, lifelong learning, and scholarship.

The Professional Phase of the Occupational Therapy Assistant program is delivered on campus at each of the campuses where the program is offered.  It is offered on the Virginia Beach campus in two modalities: fully campus-based or blended.  Students enrolled in the blended modality meet face-to-face in the classroom and asynchronously online over the 11-week quarter.

Program Student Learning Outcomes

The OTA program goals address student competency in the following areas

1. Prepare occupational therapy assistants who appreciate and adapt to diverse and alternative cultures, settings, systems, processes, and ideas. (adaptation thread)
2. Foster student skill in accessing relevant literature and information, using research-based evidence to make informed decisions in occupational therapy practice. (information literacy thread)
3. Cultivate student skill in effective critical thinking, problem-solving, and clinical reasoning with clients across the lifespan in diverse practice settings. (critical thinking thread)
4. Foster development of student's communication skills to promote effective, appropriate interaction with all stakeholders. (professionalism thread)
5. Instill in the student the values, attitudes and behaviors consistent with the occupational therapy profession's philosophy, standards and ethics. (professionalism thread)
6. Provide the student with opportunities to acquire skills in advocacy for the profession of occupational therapy to other professionals, service providers, consumers, third-party payers, regulatory bodies, professional associations and the public. (professionalism thread)
7. Provide the student with a challenging curriculum is designed to prepare graduates to deliver occupational therapy assistant services with entry-level competency under the supervision of an occupational therapist in a variety of practice settings. (professionalism and critical thinking threads)
8. Impart to the student a passion for lifelong professional development to meet changing societal needs. (lifelong learning thread)
9. Provide ongoing opportunities for stakeholders in the OTA program to have input into the development and evaluation of the OTA program to ensure the program remains true to its mission and philosophy. (information literacy thread)

Accreditation

The Occupational Therapy Assistant program at South University, Columbia, Richmond, Virginia Beach, and Tampa are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929.  ACOTE's telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA. http://www.acoteonline.org. Graduates of the program will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapy assistant administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA). In addition, most states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate's ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure. More information on ACOTE may be obtained at http://www.acoteonline.org.