What is the difference between an occupational therapy assistant and an occupational therapist?

By law, an Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) must work under the supervision of an Occupational Therapist (OT). The OT will be the individual who leads the intervention process and is the occupational therapy practitioner most likely to evaluate, write treatment reports, create goals for intervention, and make final recommendations for discharge. The OTA and OT both work directly with patients to achieve their therapeutic goals. An effective OT/OTA team collaborates to provide the most effective treatment possible. An OTA will need to utilize clinical reasoning skills under the supervision of the OT to decide what methods will best help a client meet their OT goals.

I am interested in the BSOTA program, but I am unsure if I should enroll because the program is not yet fully accredited. What should I do?

The Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE®) has mandated that the entry-level degree for the occupational therapy assistant will move to the baccalaureate level by July 1, 2027. This means that all OTA programs in the United States will also be in the process of accreditation to meet this mandate. It can be uncomfortable thinking about pursuing education in a program that is not yet accredited, however the accreditation process is designed to support the university, faculty and students of the new program. Although Webber International University faculty, staff and administration cannot guarantee that we will achieve ACOTE accreditation, we have every confidence that the BSOTA program will achieve full accreditation before the first cohort of students graduate. Webber already passed step 1 of the accreditation process and were granted Candidacy status in December 2020 and is now seeking Preaccreditation status. If you are interested in the BSOTA program you can do the following things to gain further information to aid your decision: a) familiarize yourself with the process of accreditation by reading the information included on the BSOTA webpage . b) discuss with your admissions counselor and/or program directors regarding any of your concerns c) refer to BSOTA schedule of courses and admissions information

Is it possible to continue my education and become an occupational therapist after finishing the BSOTA program? What other options do I have for graduate education?

As a graduate of the Webber BSOTA program, you will have earned a 4-year Bachelor of Science Degree and will be eligible for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT®) certification exam. You will then be able to practice occupational therapy as an Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA). While there is no requirement to get any other degree in OTA beyond the bachelor’s degree (ACOTE Mandate of 2027) to practice, there are a number of options for students wishing to continue their education. Students wishing to become registered occupational therapists, may wish to apply to enter a full-time entry-level Masters or Doctorate (combined master and doctorate) program in occupational therapy. They may do this immediately after graduating from the OTA program or at some point later in their career. Students can also decide to pursue their entry-level Master’s or Doctorate degree in OT through a weekend program or hybrid program that allows them to work full time while going to school. Webber BSOTA graduates, can decide to finish a bachelor in Health Services Administration (HSA) as they will graduate with a minor in HSA. After graduating and successfully passing the national board certification examination, graduates often decide to work on obtaining certifications in specialized practice areas. Some of the certifications available are: CarFit, Physical Agent Modalities (CPAM), Assistive Technology Professional (ATP), Seating and Mobility Specialist (ATP/SMS), Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS), Certified Living in Place Professional (CLIPP), Certified Brain Injury Specialist (CBIS), Certified Stroke Rehabilitation Specialist (CSRS), Certified Lymphedema Therapist (CLT and CLT-LANA), Certified Health Coach (CHC), Certified Kinesio Taping Practitioner (CKTP)

I already have a Bachelor's degree in another field but I am interested in occupational therapy. Does it make sense for me to get my bachelors in OTA?

Students with Bachelor’s degrees in related fields such as psychology and kinesiology, sometimes want to pursue a degree in occupational therapy. For any Occupational Therapy program (OT or OTA), students need to meet an admission criterion and complete a list of pre-requisite courses. You will need to contact the school that you wish to attend for their specific requirements. Students that have bachelors in related areas, do not need to complete an OTA degree before applying to become an OT. Students just need to complete the pre-requisite courses and any other admission criteria to an entry-level Master’ or Doctorate program. Some students decide to complete an OTA degree first and work in the field prior to deciding if they will like to pursue graduate school to become OTs. This decision is a personal one based on factors such as time, cost, location, compensation, and other issues. It is important that anyone weighing these options gather information from both OT & OTA degree programs so they can make the decision that best meets their needs.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Program Overview

Webber International University is proud to announce its new Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. The BSN Program admits two cohorts each year. Admission into the program will occur in the Fall and Spring.

The Pre-licensure BSN program is 4 years in length and occurs in two stages. The first stage requires students to apply to and be accepted to Webber International University. Students will take fifty (50) semester/credit hours of lower-division work (general education and nursing prerequisites). You can complete the lower division semester/credit hours at any regionally accredited college or university. The second phase will require students to apply to and be accepted to the core curriculum of the nursing program. The BSN pre-licensure program is 122 semester/credits.

Upon completion of all courses required, students will graduate with the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree and are eligible to take the licensure exam. Graduation from the BSN program is distinctly different from passing the NCLEX-RN® exam. The Florida Board of Nursing will award a Registered Nurse (RN) license upon successfully passing the NCLEX-RN® and satisfactorily meeting all other Florida Board of Nursing licensure requirements.

Careers in Nursing

As a Registered Nurse (RN), you can work in a variety of different environments. You have the choice to work directly or indirectly with patients. An example of the different settings an RN may work in includes physician offices, urgent care, clinics, schools, ambulatory surgery centers, hospitals, insurance companies, home health, hospice, just to name a few. You can choose to work in a high paced environment with sick patients or work in a slower type of work environment such as a physician’s office. You have the option to work with babies, young children, or adults. Nursing is a profession that is constantly evolving and offers many opportunities for you to find your niche. The choice is yours.

Curriculum

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program is a 4-year bachelor degree program in 2 stages:

1st stage Pre-Requisites: 50 credit hours
Nursing Core Curriculum: 72 credit hours

Click Here for the Nursing Curriculum

Estimated Costs

Webber International University makes every effort to keep costs at a minimum while maintaining a high level of instruction and adequate facilities.

Click Here for the Estimated Costs

Nursing Applicants

The BSN program admits two (2) cohorts of 24 students each academic year during the Fall and Spring semesters.

Learn More

Admission Criteria

Candidates are required to complete specific criteria prior to applying to the Nursing program.

Learn More

Here are the next steps...

Required Forms & Documents

Nursing Physical Exam & Immunization Form

Nursing History Convictions_Felony Form

Acceptance Process

Qualified candidates must complete the ATI Test of Essential Academic Skill (TEAS) examination to be considered for the BSN program. Qualified candidates must attend a face-to-face interview. The BSN program will notify accepted candidates by email after the application process is completed.

Transfer Credits
The acceptance and evaluation of credit for transfer is based on various factors, including: the level, content, quality, comparability,
and degree program relevance of the proposed transfer credits; the institution’s accreditation; and assessment of course equivalency
through evaluation of the transcript. Transfer credits are accepted from Regionally Accredited Institutions for appropriate courses which
will pertain to the declared degree at Webber International University (Webber).

Application Deadlines
The Program operates on a rolling admission plan and will accept applications on a first-come-first-qualified basis. Documents received after June 1 may not be acceptable for any given Fall term. Documents received after October 31 may not be acceptable for any given Spring term.

Cohorts
When all 24 seats for any given class are assigned, the remaining applicants will be placed on the roster for the next cohort available and will receive notification of her/his admission status.

After Acceptance

Once the student receives notification of acceptance into the BSN Program, the student is required to complete the following requirements by a designated date. These requirements need to be updated by the students every year.

Immunization and communicable disease screenings·

One-Step Tuberculosis PPD·
Tetanus vaccination or booster within the last 5 years·
MMR vaccine (Measles/Mumps/Rubella) or an MMR titer·
Varicella titer·
Hepatitis B vaccination (optional but recommended).
Flu shots
Any immunization recommended by the fieldwork site.

Physical Examination
Cannot be older than one year. Required annually.

Drug Screening test (12 panel)
This test must be within 30 days PRIOR to the starting date in the program. Screening tests not complying with this guideline will not be accepted and your admission into the program will be rescinded. The BSN program will require students to complete additional drug screening test as needed during the program.

CPR
Must be completed within 30 days prior to the starting date and renewed prior to expiration date.

Background Check
Before clinical rotation as required by clinical site and as indicated by BSN program. Be aware that a background check containing misdemeanor and/or felony conviction(s) related to violence or abuse are grounds for rescinding your admission into the program.

AIDS/HIV
Before clinical rotation as required by clinical site and as indicated by BSN program.

Fingerprinting
Fingerprinting needs to be completed within 30 days prior to the starting date in the program.

FAQ

Q: What is the ATI TEAS test?

The ATI TEAS test is a timed entrance exam given to prospective nursing students for entry into a nursing program. The TEAS consists of four different areas: Science, Math, Reading, and English and Language usage.

Q: Is the TEAS test difficult to pass?

The TEAS test is a difficult exam. You want to be properly prepared for the exam to boost your chances of success. Timing is the most difficult with students not being prepared to pace themselves and they end up running out of time before the test is over.

You want to prepare by understanding what is on each of the four different areas of the test, focusing on the areas that you struggle with the most. There are several resources to help you including a study guide and practice tests.

Q: What is simulation-based clinical education in nursing?

Nursing programs utilize simulation in to teach students the concepts related to the care of patients. The mannequins are computerized and programmed to display a variety of patient situations.

By imitating real-world scenarios, students engage in realistic patient encounters learning necessary clinical skills without putting real-life patients at risk. A controlled, monitored environment is available for the simulation scenarios. The instructor can offer constructive feedback during debriefing sessions following each simulation.

Q: Can I work and/or play a sport during nursing school?

One of the most usual questions about nursing school is if you can continue to work and/or play a sport while enrolled in the program. Learning to balance school and work is a challenge many students face.

Many student nurses must work full or part-time while in nursing school due to financial obligations, however, this can be difficult to do. Maintaining the minimum grade requirements and attending clinical while working or playing a sport is extremely challenging.

For working students, time management and scheduling are imperative. Once students complete the nursing program, they will take the NCLEX exam, which takes dedication.