Fieldwork is clinical practice of the skills learned in class. A licensed OT practitioner supervises fieldwork. There are two levels of fieldwork experience in the OTA program. Level I Fieldwork consists of 3 clinical experiences connected to childhood, adulthood and elders courses. After a student completes pediatric classroom instruction, the student is placed in a pediatric site for a fieldwork experience. This is repeated for adulthood and elders courses as well. The student may need to take vacation time if working in order to attend fieldwork each for the first 3 semesters.

Level II fieldwork courses are eight (8) weeks long and a student must complete two (2), for a total of 16 weeks as required by ACOTE. These two courses consist of advanced direct patient intervention under the supervision of a licensed OT practitioner. The student will be in the clinical site for 40 hours per week for 16 full weeks the last semester of the program. The successful OTA student does not work during Level II fieldwork. Level II fieldwork must be completed within 18 months of completion of academic courses or the student will have to repeat academic courses. 

Level I and Level II Fieldwork WILL NOT ALL TAKE PLACE IN AMARILLO because of the number of students in the program and the number of  fieldwork educators available in Amarillo. Amarillo College cannot guarantee placement in Amarillo for ANY Level I or Level II experience.

"I got into OT because I want to make a difference in people's lives. OT can change how well a person with a disease or disability lives life."
-AC OTA graduate

"When I graduate, I'll have jobs to choose from - I might work with children, adults or elders. OTAs are really in demand all across Texas and the US."
-AC OTA student

"I didn't know what OT was until my child needed it. I saw what a benefit OT was in helping do everyday things that had been a struggle - getting dressed, learning in school, playing with others, making friends. Now I want to have a career where I can guide others in improving their independence and satisfaction with life."
-AC OTA student

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 passing this exam, you will be a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA).

In addition, Texas and most other states require licensure to practice. Texas and many other states use the certification exam results to determine who can be licensed to practice OT.

NOTE: A felony conviction may affect your ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or get a state license to practice OT. A graduate who is not allowed by NBCOT to take the certification exam because of a felony conviction will probably not be able to get Texas license as an OTA. Assistance with a felony conviction can be obtained through NBCOT at http://www.nbcot.org/ and ECPTOTE at http://www.ptot.texas.gov/page/home

• Al Roker Thanks Occupational Therapy
• OT Session for Autistic Child Abu Hurairah
• OT: Getting from Bed to Chair (Total Hip Replacement)
• Because of Occupational Therapy
• OT Assistant Program at LSC-Kingwood
• Occupational Therapy Practice: Mental Health
• Occupational Therapy and Stroke - Dina's Story

Costs for admission include APPROXIMATELY $200.00 for testing, drug screening and criminal background check. Students must be current in all state-required immunizations and health requirements as well as CPR at their own expense. A personally owned or rented laptop computer is required in class. The cost of completing the program is approximately $2000.00 per semester for books, materials, program uniform, supplies, and college fees for each of 4 semesters, totaling $8000.00. Cost of living is not included. Costs for travel to and from fieldwork are not included. 

Tuition and fees are subject to change, including fees associated with distance education (one fully online course currently required in the OTA program). 

Due to the many residency variables related to tuition, please refer to Amarillo College's Tuition and Basic Fees to calculate tuition cost for 3 semesters of 12 hours, 1 semester of 7 hours enrollment.

• A minimum of 60 semester hours, (courses with numbers which begin with zero cannot be included in total hours)
• The general education requirements as specified,
• Satisfactory completion of the competencies set forth in the syllabus for each course specified for the particular degree or certificate will constitute successful completion of program competencies.