Quinsigamond Community College’s Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) Program achieved a 100% pass rate in 2021 for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy. All 13 students in QCC’s OTA program passed the certification, which allows them to apply for state licensure to practice. The national pass rate for certification in 2021 was 92 percent. QCC’s passing rate is up from 2020’s rate of 80 percent.
Assistant Dean of the School of Healthcare Shanan Stratis commented on the importance of this accomplishment.
“It is not only a testament of students’ hard work, but that of the faculty and fieldwork educators who taught them. Occupational Therapy Assistants are an integral part of a healthcare team and work in many different settings. They work in skilled nursing facilities, rehabilitation centers, hospitals, schools, and homes. The Occupational Therapist evaluates and develops the treatment plan, but the OTA works with individuals to overcome the challenges of performing daily activities due to injury, illness, or disability," she said.
Assistant Dean Stratis also noted that during fieldwork, students gain valuable hands-on experience and are often offered jobs upon completion of their programs. Several QCC graduates have been hired at fieldwork locations such as Reliant Medical Center and Barrett Family Wellness Center. With the current need for more healthcare workers, QCC OTA students are graduating at just the right time to enter the workforce.
For more information, visit QCC’s Occupational Therapy Assistant Program.