Occupational Therapy Assistant Program

Western New Mexico University Occupational Therapy Assistant Program admitted its' first class in 1993, making it the oldest Occupational Therapy Assistant Program in New Mexico.  Since its inception, the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program has graduated over 200 students.  Graduates of the Program can be found in many different work setting and in many different roles:  school based clinicians, skilled nursing facilities, home health providers, community based practitioners, service delivery management, case management, outpatient clinics, early intervention specialists, developmental specialists, senior center coordinator, just to mention a few. 

 

Mission of the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program
Consistent with the missions of Western New Mexico University, School of Health Sciences and Human Performance  and the Department of Allied Health, the Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) Program prepares students to meet the challenges of providing entry-level occupational therapy services in established and emerging areas of practice.  Emphasis is placed on cultural diversity, rural and regional healthcare, an appreciation for life-long learning, and effective implementation of evidence based practice. 

 

Accreditation

 

The OTA Program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education ( ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) (www.aota.org) located at 4720 Montgomery Lane P.O. Box 31220 Bethesda, MD 20824-1220 ( #301 652-2682 or TDD 1-800-377-8555).

Certification

 

Graduates of the program receive an Associate of Science Degree and are eligible to sit for the national certification exam administered by National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (www.nbcot.org ). After successful completion of this exam, they receive the title of Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA).

Our Student Success Rates 

Over the past three years (2009, 2010, 2011), thirty-one students graduated, thirty-one students took the National Certification examination for Occupational Therapy Assistants. Twenty-five took NBCOT exam for the first time, twenty-three of them passed that exam their first attempt (90%). Over the past 16 years, we have had an overall pass rate of 99%.


Licensure

Many states have some form of regulation in order to practice. In New Mexico occupational therapy personnel must be licensed with the New Mexico Board of Examiners for Occupational Therapy.  For more information about New Mexico licensure go to (http://www.rld.state.nm.us/OccupationalTherapy/index.html ).

 

To contact the Allied Health Department

 

Call 575-574-5170 or contact Gwen Cassel.

 

To Admissions

 

Call 575-538-6000 or request admissions information