Occupational Therapy Assistant Course

Lesson 1 • Professional Standards and Ethics

Introduces the professional code of ethics, core values, and standards of conduct. Students apply ethical reasoning to common dilemmas encountered in OTA practice.

Lesson 2 • Healthcare Team Collaboration

Defines interprofessional roles and communication strategies within rehabilitation teams. Students practice collaborative documentation and referral processes.

Lesson 3 • OTA Role and Scope of Practice

Clarifies OTA responsibilities, supervision requirements, and boundaries versus the OT's role. Ensures students understand legal and ethical limits before entering clinical settings.

Lesson 4 • Core Concepts and Terminology

Defines occupation, activity, function, and participation using standardized frameworks. Builds shared language essential for clinical documentation and team communication.

Lesson 1 • Sensory Systems and Perception

Explores visual, auditory, tactile, proprioceptive, and vestibular systems and their roles in occupation. Links sensory deficits to functional limitations addressed in OT.

Lesson 2 • Developmental Anatomy Across the Lifespan

Describes anatomical and physiological changes from infancy through older adulthood. Grounds lifespan-specific OTA interventions in biological development.

Lesson 3 • Cardiopulmonary and Metabolic Systems

Reviews cardiovascular, respiratory, and metabolic functions affecting activity tolerance. Students learn to monitor vital signs and recognize contraindications during therapy.

Lesson 4 • Musculoskeletal System Essentials

Covers bones, joints, and muscles critical to upper extremity and postural function. Connects anatomy to movement analysis used throughout OTA practice.

Lesson 1 • Adult Roles and Occupational Balance

Analyzes work, leisure, and self-care roles in young and middle adulthood. Students assess occupational balance disruptions caused by illness or injury.

Lesson 2 • Developmental Theories and Frameworks

Surveys major developmental theories including cognitive, psychosocial, and motor development models. Provides theoretical grounding for selecting age-appropriate interventions.

Lesson 3 • Pediatric Occupational Development

Details play, self-care, and school-based occupational milestones from birth through adolescence. Students identify developmental delays that trigger OT referral.

Lesson 4 • Aging and Occupational Adaptation

Addresses physical, cognitive, and psychosocial changes in older adults and their effect on daily occupations. Students plan adaptations that support aging in place.

Lesson 1 • Pediatric and Developmental Conditions

Examines autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, and sensory processing disorders. Students identify how each condition affects childhood occupational performance.

Lesson 2 • Musculoskeletal and Orthopedic Conditions

Reviews arthritis, fractures, amputations, and repetitive strain injuries affecting occupational performance. Students apply weight-bearing and movement precautions during intervention.

Lesson 3 • Mental Health and Psychiatric Conditions

Introduces mood disorders, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, and substance use conditions. Students connect psychiatric symptoms to occupational role disruption and recovery goals.

Lesson 4 • Chronic and Complex Medical Conditions

Addresses diabetes, cardiac conditions, cancer, and chronic pain as they affect daily function. Students recognize medical precautions that guide safe OTA intervention.

Lesson 1 • Observational and Functional Assessments

Trains students to observe task performance and identify performance skill deficits in natural contexts. Observational data supplements standardized scores for a complete clinical picture.

Lesson 2 • Pediatric and Mental Health Screening

Introduces age-appropriate developmental screenings and mental health functional assessments. Students apply population-specific tools within their supervised data collection role.

Lesson 3 • Assessment Principles and OTA Role

Clarifies the OTA's role in data collection versus the OT's evaluative role. Students understand which assessments OTAs may administer and how to report findings.

Lesson 4 • Standardized Assessment Administration

Covers administration protocols for common OT assessments of ADL, cognition, and motor function. Students practice standardized procedures to ensure valid and reliable results.

Lesson 1 • Therapeutic Use of Occupation and Activity

Teaches purposeful activity selection, grading, and adaptation to promote occupational performance. Students practice grading tasks to match client capacity and therapeutic goals.

Lesson 2 • ADL and IADL Training Techniques

Covers evidence-based methods for training self-care, home management, and community skills. Students practice hands-on ADL training using compensatory and restorative approaches.

Lesson 3 • Therapeutic Exercise and Physical Agent Modalities

Introduces range-of-motion exercises, strengthening, and approved physical agent modalities within OTA scope. Students apply these techniques safely under OT supervision.

Lesson 4 • Intervention Planning Fundamentals

Explains the OTA's role in contributing to and implementing the OT's intervention plan. Students learn to align activities with client goals, priorities, and evidence-based approaches.

Lesson 1 • Adaptive Equipment for Daily Living

Covers adaptive utensils, dressing aids, bathing equipment, and kitchen tools for ADL independence. Students practice fitting and training clients on common adaptive devices.

Lesson 2 • Mobility Aids and Seating Systems

Reviews manual and power wheelchairs, walkers, canes, and custom seating systems. Students perform basic wheelchair fitting and pressure relief education.

Lesson 3 • Assistive Technology Principles

Defines assistive technology categories, funding pathways, and the OTA's role in device training. Students understand the continuum from low-tech to high-tech solutions.

Lesson 4 • Home and Community Environmental Modifications

Teaches home assessment techniques and modification recommendations for safety and accessibility. Students conduct simulated home assessments and prioritize modification recommendations.

Lesson 1 • Electronic Health Records and Health Information

Introduces electronic health record navigation, privacy regulations, and secure communication practices. Students practice entering documentation in simulated EHR environments.

Lesson 2 • Discharge Planning and Summary Writing

Covers the OTA's role in discharge planning, home program development, and summary documentation. Students draft discharge summaries that communicate outcomes and follow-up needs.

Lesson 3 • Principles of Clinical Documentation

Establishes documentation standards including accuracy, timeliness, objectivity, and legal compliance. Students understand how documentation supports reimbursement and continuity of care.

Lesson 4 • Reimbursement and Billing Fundamentals

Explains insurance, billing codes, medical necessity, and productivity expectations in OTA practice. Students identify documentation elements that support reimbursement claims.