South Carolina Occupational Therapy Degrees

Another important part of the Occupational Therapy profession is the Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant or COTA.    A certified occupational therapist helps clients with activities and exercises according to a plan developed under the direction of an OTR.  Most COTAs work in occupational therapists’ offices, nursing care facilities and hospitals.  The average income across the nation is $48,440 and in South Carolina, $46,220. 

South Caroline has a number of schools that offer an Associates of Science degree.  In South Carolina occupational therapy courses involve 73 hours of coursework plus 40 documented hours of observation or volunteer work, which must be done at two separate facilities; and a criminal background check.

After graduation, the state of South Carolina requires anyone working as a certified occupational therapy assistant to obtain a state license, by passing the NBCOT COTA examination.  For more information on educational programs, check out the college websites - Trident Tech at www.tridenttech.edu; Greenville Tech at www.gvltec.edu; or MUSC at www.musc.edu. 

Another related career is the occupational therapy aide. While both the COTA and an occupational aide work under a licensed and registered occupational therapist, an aide receives the majority of his/her training on-the-job rather than in a classroom setting.  Primary responsibilities of an aide are clerical duties and setting up and assembling equipment.  Most aides work in occupational therapists’ offices, hospitals and nursing homes.  The national average salary of an aide is $29,580 and the average salary in the state of South Carolina is $21,720.

Continuing Education Requirements for Occupational Therapists in South Carolina.  

License holders must meet the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy requirement of 36 units of continuing education in a three-year period with a maximum of 36 hours of online continuing education.  The state of South Carolina allows occupational therapists to receive 16 hours of online continuing education every two years with at least eight of those hours related to direct patient care. There are a variety of continuing education programs available, but OTs must make sure each specific program is approved by American Occupational Therapy Association for relicensure in South Carolina. 

License renewal in South Caroline is done every two years and requires documented proof of continuing education hours and current license. Any address or name change must be sent to the board within 30 days.  For additional information, contact NBCOT at 1-301-990-7979 or South Carolina Board of Occupational Therapy at (803) 896-4665 or http://www.llr.state.sc.us/pol/occupationaltherapy/.