Applicants seeking admission to the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program must be able, with or without reasonable accommodation, to:

1. Visually observe and assess a patient, discriminate color and depth, read and accurately complete reports, and visualize diagnostic/monitoring equipment in dimmed light.
2. Auditorily monitor and assess patient health needs, monitor various equipment and background sounds, and communicate by telephone.
3. Verbally communicate in a clear and concise manner.
4. Communicate sufficient to interact with others in appropriate professional verbal and written form.
5. Read and interpret relevant medical data from patient charts, reports, and orders.
6. Safely lift and transfer patients to accomplish bed/chair/stretcher transfer with assistance or assistive devices.
7. Safely push a gurney or wheelchair.
8. Stand or sit for an extended period of time.
9. Demonstrate sufficient manual dexterity necessary to perform activities specific to this program.
10. Possess critical thinking skills sufficient to think clearly and act professionally, safely, and accurately in stressful situations.
11. Professionally interact with individuals, families, and groups from a variety of social, emotional, cultural, and intellectual backgrounds.

In addition to the above listed criteria, the following requirements are specific to the OTA Program, though examples may not be all-inclusive:

1. Possess manual dexterity sufficient to fabricate and modify splints and adaptive equipment, perform range-of-motion exercises/activities, position another person, and perform components of sensory, motor, and Activities of Daily Living (ADL) evaluations.
2. Possesses the ability to lift 15 pounds independently and place objects of this weight at various levels including floor level and overhead.
3. Possesses the ability to work in clinical environments which involve exposure to persons with physical and mental disabilities, such as pain, grief, death, stress, communicable diseases, blood and body fluids, and toxic substances.