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In what type of settings will I be able to perhaps obtain employment upon graduation and passage of the national certification exam?
Anticipated places of employment:
- Hospitals
- Home Health Agencies
- Mental Health Facilities
- Outpatient Clinics
- Pediatric Facilities
- Rehabilitation Centers
- Schools
- Skilled Nursing Facilities
- Community Agencies
When do you anticipate the OTA program to begin?
The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) has approved Virginia Western Community College’s application to offer the OTA program. Pending accreditation candidacy approval from the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE), and pending approval by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, the program will accept its first cohort of students in the fall 2025 semester.
How long is the anticipated program?
The Associate of Applied Science in Occupational Therapy Assistant program will be five semesters which will include a summer semester.
Will there be a limited number of seats available?
Yes, there will be a maximum number of students admitted each fall to the program. Admission criteria will be developed at a later date and posted to this website in summer/fall 2024.
When can I expect more information regarding the admission process to be posted on this website?
You can anticipate an admission checklist, application and information to be posted here in summer/fall of 2024 for the fall 2025 program.
Will there be college-level prerequisites for the program?
Yes, we anticipate having college-level prerequisites and more information will be posted in summer/fall 2024 in regards to those identified prerequisites.
Will there be additional cost associated with the program outside of tuition and books?
Yes, the cost of clinical attire, background check and drug screen, health examination, vaccines, board examination fees and other costs will be associated with this program.
When will the college be notified if the program is accredited and what is the accreditation?
Pending approval by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) has assigned the College a December 16, 2024 Candidacy Application due date. The College will be notified of the ACOTE Candidacy Decision in April 2025. At this time students may be notified of acceptance into the program and the first class will begin in August 2025.
Pending approval by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education.
ADVISING
healthprofessions@virginiawestern.edu
Fralin Center HP339
New Students: Chapman Hall
540-857-6644
Fax: 540-857-6640
Mailing address:
School of Health Professions
3091 Colonial Ave., SW
Roanoke, VA 24015
PROGRAM HEAD
Leah Savelyev, DHSc, OTR/L, OTA/L
Administrative Officer, Occupational Therapy Assistant
Certificate – Early Childhood Education, J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, 1996
A.A.S. – Occupational Therapy Assistant, College of Health Sciences, 2002
B.A. – Psychology, Mary Baldwin University, 2012
M.O.T. – Occupational Therapy, Cabarrus College of Health Sciences, 2016
D.H.S.C. – Doctor of Health Sciences, Radford University Carilion, 2022
SCHOOL OF HEALTH PROFESSIONS
Martha Sullivan, Dean