Occupational Therapy Assistant
18 courses · Santa Ana College · 2026-2027 Catalog
Classes: Fall 2026 · Spring 2027
OTA 100 Medical Terminology and Documentation for the Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA)
- Units
- 1
- Hours
- 18 Lecture
- Prerequisite
- Completion with a grade of "C" or better or a Passing grade in: BIOL 149 or BIOL 239 and BIOL 249 and Must be accepted into the Occupational Therapy Assistant program and have attended the mandatory OTA New Student Orientation.
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course will offer an introduction to basic medical terminology and documentation appropriate to practice needs of the occupational therapy assistant.
OTA 101 Foundations of Occupation and Occupational Therapy
- Units
- 4
- Hours
- 72 Lecture
- Prerequisite
- Completion with a grade of "C" or better or a Passing grade in: Must be accepted into the Occupational Therapy Assistant program and have attended the mandatory OTA New Student Orientation.
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course introduces, defines and explores occupation as it is used to provide the foundation for the study of occupational therapy. It further provides an overview of the history and development of the occupational therapy profession, and the dimensions of past and present practice.
OTA 101L Exploration of Occupation Through Activity
- Units
- 2
- Hours
- 108 Lab
- Prerequisite
- Completion with a grade of "C" or better or a Passing grade in: ENGL C1000 or ENGL C1000H and CMST 101 or CMST 101H or COMM C1000 or COMM C1000H or CMST 103 or CMST 103H or CMST 140 or CMST 145 Must be accepted into the Occupational Therapy Assistant program and have attended the mandatory OTA New Student Orientation.
- Transfers to
- CSU
In this lab class, students will explore the meaning and variability of occupation through self-analysis of occupational patterns, perform task analysis of varied activities, and have the opportunity to observe and practice teaching and learning skills.
OTA 102 Psychosocial Function and Dysfunction
- Units
- 4
- Hours
- 72 Lecture
- Prerequisite
- Completion with a grade of "C" or better or a Passing grade in: OTA 100 and OTA 101 and OTA 101L and OTA 110
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course will define and explore psychosocial phenomena commonly seen by the Occupational Therapy Assistant and will examine evaluation techniques, functional deficits, and methods of treatment.
OTA 102L Psychosocial Components of Occupation
- Units
- 2
- Hours
- 108 Lab
- Prerequisite
- Completion with a grade of "C" or better or a Passing grade in: OTA 100 and OTA 101 and OTA 101L and OTA 110
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course will explore the occupational therapy assistant's role in therapeutic relationships, in administering assessments used primarily in pediatric, adolescent, and adult psychosocial settings, and in therapeutic group design and facilitation.
OTA 103 Physical Function and Dysfunction
- Units
- 4
- Hours
- 72 Lecture
- Prerequisite
- Completion with a grade of "C" or better or a Passing grade in: OTA 120 and OTA 102 and OTA 102L and OTA 115 and OTA 111
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course will focus on the occupational function of the child, adolescent, adult, and older adult which emphasizes the physical components of development, the continuum of function/dysfunction of the client and the role of the occupational therapy assistant (OTA) in assessment and treatment of commonly seen physical dysfunction diagnosis.
OTA 103L Physical Components of Occupation
- Units
- 2
- Hours
- 108 Lab
- Prerequisite
- Completion with a grade of "C" or better or a Passing grade in: OTA 120 and OTA 102 and OTA 102L and OTA 111 and OTA 115
- Transfers to
- CSU
This lab course explores the Occupational Therapy Assistant's role in safety, assessments and treatment techniques commonly used by occupational therapists in physical dysfunction settings.
OTA 110 Human Occupation Across the Lifespan
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 54 Lecture
- Prerequisite
- Completion with a grade of "C" or better or a Passing grade in: Must be accepted into the Occupational Therapy Assistant program and have attended the mandatory OTA New Student Orientation.
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course will explore human occupation across the lifespan with an emphasis on the relationship between human development and occupational choice. Physical, cognitive, psychological, social, and linguistic developmental milestones, and changes will be covered from fetal development through late adulthood.
OTA 111 Applied Kinesiology
- Units
- 1
- Hours
- 18 Lecture
- Prerequisite
- Completion with a grade of "C" or better or a Passing grade in: OTA 100 and OTA 101 and OTA 101L and OTA 110
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course will focus on understanding human movement as an integral component of occupational performance and will examine how kinesiology and biomechanics are utilized in treatment by the Occupational Therapy Assistant.
OTA 115 Human Disease and Occupation
- Units
- 2
- Hours
- 36 Lecture
- Prerequisite
- Completion with a grade of "C" or better or a Passing grade in: OTA 100 and OTA 101 and OTA 101L and OTA 110
- Transfers to
- CSU
This class will explore diseases that are commonly seen in occupational therapy practice and the effect they have on participation in occupation. Each disease will be covered in terms of etiology, prognosis, prevention, pathophysiology, medical management, precautions, and lifestyle redesign required as a result of the disease.
OTA 120 Level I Fieldwork Part A
- Units
- 1
- Hours
- 54 Lab
- Prerequisite
- Completion with a grade of "C" or better or a Passing grade in: OTA 100 and OTA 101 and OTA 101L and OTA 110
- Transfers to
- CSU
The purpose of level I fieldwork is for the student to apply academic knowledge to OT practice. The student will develop their skills through directed observation and participation in a psychosocial setting or virtual standardized patient care.
OTA 125 Developing OTA Documentation Skills
- Units
- 1
- Hours
- 18 Lecture
- Transfers to
- CSU
The course is designed to improve the documentation skills of the occupational therapy assistant student through the use of lectures, standardized patients, and practice. Topics will include documentation formats and improving writing skills through the use of professional terminology, approved abbreviations, accurate levels of assistance and clinical reasoning.
OTA 130 Level I Fieldwork Part B
- Units
- 1
- Hours
- 54 Lab
- Prerequisite
- Completion with a grade of "C" or better or a Passing grade in: OTA 120 and OTA 111 and OTA 115 and OTA 102 and OTA 102L
- Transfers to
- CSU
The purpose of level I fieldwork is for the student to apply academic knowledge to OT practice. The student will develop their skills through directed observation and participation in a physical dysfunction setting or virtual standardized patient care.
OTA 135L Occupational Therapy Assistant Skills Laboratory
- Units
- 0.5
- Hours
- 27 Lab
- Prerequisite
- Completion with a grade of "C" or better or a Passing grade in: Enrollment in the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program or any OTA course.
- Transfers to
- CSU
Supervised use of the Occupational Therapy Assistant lab for supplemental learning assistance with the development of student clinical skill competencies with physical dysfunction techniques and content addressed in courses OTA 103, OTA 103L, and OTA 130. Open entry/open exit. Pass/No Pass. Lab hours verified by sign-in.
OTA 201 Contemporary Models of Occupational Therapy Practice
- Units
- 4
- Hours
- 54 Lecture, 54 Lab
- Prerequisite
- Completion with a grade of "C" or better or a Passing grade in: OTA 120 and OTA 102 and OTA 102L and OTA 111 and OTA 115
- Transfers to
- CSU
This lecture/lab course explores the multiple roles of the occupational therapy assistant in documentation, service management, professional behaviors, non-traditional roles, and contemporary models of practice.
OTA 202 Level II Fieldwork - Part I
- Units
- 6
- Hours
- 360 Lab
- Prerequisite
- Completion with a grade of "C" or better or a Passing grade in: OTA 130 and OTA 103 and OTA 103L and OTA 201
- Transfers to
- CSU
Supervised fieldwork experience in an occupational therapy practice setting that will provide the student appropriate opportunities to apply learned knowledge and skills.
OTA 203 Level II Fieldwork - Part II
- Units
- 6
- Hours
- 360 Lab
- Prerequisite
- Completion with a grade of "C" or better or a Passing grade in: OTA 103 and OTA 103L and OTA 201 and OTA 130
- Transfers to
- CSU
Supervised fieldwork experience in an occupational therapy practice setting that will provide the student appropriate opportunities to apply knowledge and skills learned in the classroom.
OTA 225 OTA Exam Preparation
- Units
- 1
- Hours
- 18 Lecture
- Transfers to
- CSU
The course is designed to supplement the preparation occupational therapy assistant students need when getting ready to take the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy. Students will practice interpreting and answering mock exam questions while assessing current knowledge and improving critical reasoning skills.