What is Occupation?

Occupation refers to the meaningful activities of our daily lives. The activities we select as occupations in our lives are based on our values, beliefs, needs, and desires. Contexts influence how we perform these occupations. Contexts can be external factors such as place or thing, or can come from within ourselves such as our age and culture. We also perform occupations within various roles in our lives. A person can be a brother, son, father, husband, basketball player, neighbor, teacher, and carpenter in their life roles. Collectively occupations, contexts, and roles make up our daily lives.  Imagine being unable to engage in occupations. Be it with individuals or groups, occupational therapy practitioners help people develop or restore their abilities to engage in meaningful occupations, within chosen life roles and contexts. Occupational therapy helps people with living life to its fullest™.

The Occupational Therapy Assistant Program at Sacramento City College program prepares students for employment as an occupational therapy assistant. Occupational therapy assistants work with people of all ages who, because of physical, cognitive, developmental, social, or emotional problems, need specialized assistance in order to lead an independent, productive, and satisfying life. They may work in a wide variety of settings including hospitals, rehabilitation centers, skilled nursing facilities, home health agencies, school systems, psychiatric hospitals and private practice outpatient clinics.

Want to learn more?  Check out: Occupational Therapy 101 - What is OT? .  You may also find this video helpful: It Takes Occupational Therapy . 

Certification Exam and Licensure

Graduates of the program will be able to sit for the national certification exam for the occupational therapy assistant offered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT).  After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA).  NOTE: A felony conviction may prevent an individual from qualifying to sit for the certification exam.  Additional information about the "early determination" process can be found at www.nbcot.org.

Most states require licensure in order to practice and qualification is dependent on successful completion of the NBCOT Exam.  Graduates intending to practice in California are required to be licensed by the California Board of Occupational Therapy (CBOT).  NOTE: A felony or certain misdemeanors may prevent an individual from qualifying for a California license.  The evaluation process is not related to the NBCOT evaluation process nor is there an early determination process.  Additional information about California practice regulations can be found at www.bot.ca.gov .