Application Process

The Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District and Grossmont College do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including sexual harassment), handicap (including physical and mental disability, medical condition, age, status as a Vietnam-era veteran, marital status, or economic status in any of their policies, procedures, or practices. This nondiscrimination policy covers admission and access to, as well as treatment and employment in, the College's programs and activities, including vocational education.

PREREQUISITES

(Also degree requirements)

• High school diploma/ transcript, GED or proof of an associates degree or higher
• Biology 144 and 145 - Anatomy & Physiology I and II (or equivalent)
  OR
  Biology 140 (Anatomy), 141 (Physiology) or equivalent
• Total (minimum) units = 8
• Bio 144/145 or Bio 140/141 must be taken at a regionally accredited college.  Applicants taking anatomy and physiology in a part 1 and part 2 format are recommended to take both parts at the same institution.
• Bio 140 or Bio 145 must be completed no longer than 5 years from the date of application to the OTA Program. 
  

PICTURE at right: Three OTA students posing behind occupational therapy program table at career fair.

All communication between the program office and the student is by email. All emails sent to students on the waitlist and currently in the program are sent with a delivery and read receipt. If you choose not to check the read receipt, the program is not responsible if the student states that they did not receive the email.

It is extremely important that you maintain a valid email account with the OTA Office. If you have a Yahoo or Hotmail account, the OTA Program may not be able to successfully contact you with updated information or with an invitation to the program. Please obtain an alternate email account when applying to the OTA Program; we cannot accept your application if you indicate a Yahoo or Hotmail account.

In addition to the above e-mail requirements, students must have basic computer skills to be successful in the OTA Program.  The OTA Program utilizes Canvas for all courses. There are hybrid courses and online courses included in the OTA Program. Students in the OTA Program will need basic skills in and access to e-mail, the internet, Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.  The college does offer an open hours computer lab schedule in the Learning Resource Center and Health Professions Computer Lab.  To determine if you are ready for online learning, please click on the following link and go through the tutorials and questionnaire:http://www.gcccd.edu/online/student/default.html  Step 4 of the tutorial covers Canvas basics.  Please click on the Online Resources/Professional Resourses tab to the left.

Admission to the Program

***UNDER THE CORONAVIRUS RESTRICTIONS  APPLICATION PACKETS WILL ONLY BE ACCEPTED ONLINE - transcripts - once the physical office is open again, you will be given an opportunity to hand deliver your transcripts to the OTA Office.  The waitlist date will be back dated once we are back on campus and transcripts can be verified. All business is being done remotely and the division is moving forward with business as usual.  There may be a few hiccups that we will all work through together.  Please take care and reach out to denise.gilbert@gcccd.edu with any questions.  

To apply for admission to the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program, the following steps must be carefully taken:  

1. Application is open year round.

2. Complete prerequisite courses Biology 140 and 141 or Biology 144 and 145 (or equivalent) with a "C" grade or higher.

3. Complete Grossmont College admissions application through Admissions and Records Office or through OpenCCC - you will need your student ID number on the OTA Application.
          **You will need to reapply at time of acceptance to reactivate
              your student ID number.

4. Request two official college transcripts for all college credit earned. You will submit one to Grossmont College Admissions and Records. The second set of transcripts you will need to have mailed to you in an official sealed envelope. You will need to put in an envelope the following: Official sealed transcripts, completed OTA Program application, copy of high school diploma/ transcript or GED if you do not have proof of an associates degree or higher, immunizations outlined below. Do not send transcripts separately to the OTA Office to be held; they must accompany your application. The OTA Program office will obtain transcripts of courses taken at Grossmont or Cuyamaca Colleges

5. If you took the prerequisite courses outside of GCCCD, and the college is not listed on the Equivalency Chart, you must submit official transcripts and course descriptions to the OTA office with your application. International applicants are required to submit a Grossmont College accepted credential evaluation service, for review of transcripts for proof of high school and college/university coursework. Foreign transcripts:  Beginning July 2017, Grossmont College accepts the evaluations of foreign transcripts from only those agencies that are current members of NACES (National Association of Credential Evaluations Services). For a current list of agencies visit: www.naces.org.

6. Students wishing to apply to the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program must provide proof of completion for the following immunizations and /or tests to prove immunity at time of application:

   1. MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella)- 2 vaccinations or a Titer/test for immunity (if positive, MMR complete).  If negative titer, must provide 2 vaccinations of MMR, 2nd vacicine must be 1 month following 1st.  We will NOT accept MMR booster in place of 2 vaccinations.

   2. Hepatitis B - 3 vaccinations and a titer test for seropositivity(Hep B surface Antibody).  The HepB series and test for immunity takes approximately 7-8 months to complete.  Please plan accordingly.  Three doses at 0, 1, 6 months, and titer test 30 days after 3rd immunization.  *If you do not have proof of 3 immunizations, but you have a positive HepB titer test then that is sufficient.  If you have a negative titer, for a smooth experience with clinical placements, it is recommended you get a repeat of the series and repeat the titer test 30 days following the last HepB immunization or booster.  We will accept both Quantitative and Qualitative and Hep B surface Antibody and Antigen testing for Hep B seropositivity.  
   3. Tdap (Tetanus/Diphtheria/Pertussis) - 1 vaccination given 2011 or later and must have a follow up TD or Tdap if TD cannot be obtained 10 years following the initial vaccine and continue every 10 years. If your Tdap expires while on the waitlist, it is your responsibilityto update and submit evidence to the OTA Office.
   4. Varicella - 2 vaccinations or titer for seropositivity if known past history or unconfirmed documentation of the immunization. If titer is negative, must have a booster.
      
7. PLEASE MAKE ONLY ONE SIDED COPIES OF DOCUMENTATION. WE WILL NOT ACCEPT BACK TO BACK DUPLICATION.  PLEASE DO NOT USE STAPLES.
8. This completed envelope must be hand delivered to the OTA Office. If you live outside of San Diego County you may mail in your completed envelope. Application for OTA Program is available: download the OTA Application.
9. Individuals considering entering or currently enrolled in the OTA Program at Grossmont College who have been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony crime are urged to contact NBCOT at (301) 990-7979 for advisement and planning prior to continuing in the program. Persons on probation are not eligible to apply or be accepted into the OTA Program.  Failure to pass either or both the background check or drug screening procedures mayl interfere with clinical placements and may influence eligibility for licensure and/or NBCOT testing and/or employment. 

10. If a background check and/or drug screen is “flagged” as not clear of all convictions and/or drugs, the clinical facilities will review the flagged reports and determine if a student will be allowed to complete a clinical rotation at their respective clinical site. If a clinical facility does not clear a student to be at the site, the student will be unable to complete the clinical component of the OTA Program. This may occur at any point in the OTA Program, including during the final semester. As a result, the student will be dismissed from the OTA Program at the time the decision is made by the clinical facility. There are no written criteria for which flagged results will result in the denial of clinical placement by a clinical facility. The decision is made on a case-by-case basis.

     **Even if you have passed a prior background check, LiveScan often shows additional items from the past including expunged issues. Graduates are sometimes surprised that they are having difficulty obtaining employment due to not clearing a LiveScan for employment after clearing all the background requirements for the program clinicals, NBCOT testing, and CBOT licensing.**
11. Upon acceptance to the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program the student must submit the following: **Additional information will be provided to the student by the OTA Program on the following requirements when the invitation has been accepted into the program. DO NOT COMPLETE THESE ITEMS UNTIL GIVEN FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS

• A satisfactory physical examination
• Mantoux Tuberculin Skin Test
• Current American Heart Association CPR Card for health providers
• Evidence of malpractice insurance
• Background check and drug screen
• Proof of medical insurance
• Complete all Grossmont College Admissions requirements as noted in the catalog

• Please do not start this paperwork until you receive additional information at the new class OTA Program Orientation.

Student selection will be on a first come, first serve basis upon verified completion of entire OTA application packet.  Incomplete application packets will be shred after one week of student being notified of missing information.

It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the OTA Application Packet have been received by the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program office and that all information on the application packet is correct and kept up to date.

Effective January 01, 2012:
If you have accepted a seat into any other Grossmont College Health Professions Program, you will be ineligible to receive an invitation to the OTA Program. Students wishing to apply to the OTA Program must apply for an entry date which does not conflict with the completion of the Health Professions Program you are currently enrolled in.

OTA Program - 619-644-7304