Occupational Therapy Assistant Program Holds First Pinning Ceremony
Raritan Valley Community College held its first Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) Pinning Ceremony on October 1, celebrating the accomplishments of students in the College’s OTA program. Twenty-three members of the classes of 2020 and 2021 were honored during the program, which was held in the Event Center at the College’s Branchburg campus and live-streamed for online viewing.
The pinning ceremony is a healthcare tradition that marks the transition from classroom-learning to the clinical world.
The event featured keynote speaker Debra Gallagher, a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) who is employed at Midland School. A COTA for 20 years, Gallagher is a valuable part of the College’s OTA program as she and the Midland School provide opportunities for OTA students to complete their Level I pediatric clinical rotation at the school in the program’s second semester.
In 2018, RVCC became the only community college in New Jersey to offer an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree for an in-demand career as an Occupational Therapy Assistant. Occupational Therapy Assistants collaborate with Occupational Therapists to help people improve their functions so they can carry on daily life activities. They provide rehabilitative services to individuals with physical, emotional, mental or developmental impairments. From teaching a stroke victim to brush his teeth, to helping a child in a wheelchair navigate a school hallway, Occupational Therapy Assistants help people of all ages handle daily tasks and regain their independence.
The Occupational Therapy Assistant AAS program is designed for students interested in entering the workforce immediately after graduation. It combines classroom instruction with clinical training in a community setting. The 67-credit program is designed to be completed in two years, with three semesters of full-time coursework and one semester of full-time, 40-hours-per-week fieldwork. Federal and state financial aid options are available for students enrolled in the program.
In order to practice as an Occupational Therapy Assistant, students must graduate from a program accredited by ACOTE and successfully pass an exam administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT).
Applications are now being accepted for the next class of the OTA program that starts in January 2022. For information about the program, visit https://www.raritanval.edu/occupational-therapy-assistant or contact Program Director Beau Younker, 908-526-1200, ext. 8416 or beau.younker@raritanval.edu.
Ranked by WalletHub.com, Intelligent.com and Niche.com as the #1 community college in New Jersey, Raritan Valley Community College has been serving as an academic and cultural center for Somerset and Hunterdon County residents for over 50 years. The College has been nationally recognized for its service to the community, environmental stewardship, and commitment to diversity. It is home to a Planetarium, Science Education Institute, and an Honors College for high achieving students.
The College offers more than 90 associate degrees and certificates, as well as career training, small business assistance through the Small Business Development Center, and professional development courses. RVCC is located at 118 Lamington Road in Branchburg, NJ. For further information, visit www.raritanval.edu.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 11, 2021
PR #26
