OTA Attendance Policies

Class Hours

Students must refer to their schedule for the actual class dates.

Theory classes occur three or four days per week, depending on term: (Monday through Thursday or Tuesday through Friday). Theory class schedule is 8:00 A.M. to 2:30 P.M. PST (tutorial periods for theory classes are scheduled between 2:30 P.M. and 4:30 P.M. PST). OTA Laboratory days are 8:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. PST. Students must complete fieldwork days and hours based on the practices at each individual location, which is typically Monday through Friday from 8:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. PST. Students must be prepared to follow earlier or later starts as required by the particular practices of the location. Typically, fieldwork days are Monday through Friday from 8:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. PST (Terms 3, 4, 5, and 6). Part-Time OTA evening classes are Tuesday and Thursday evenings or Monday and Wednesday evenings from 6:00 P.M. to 10:00 P.M. PST and Saturdays from 8:00 A.M. to 2:30 P.M. PST.  Part-time OTA Laboratory (Saturdays) days are 8:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. PST.  All full-time class hours for the OTA program are in effect for the Irvine Campus and the Los Angeles, Alhambra Branch Campus.

Part-Time OTA students must complete fieldwork days and hours based on the practices at each individual location, which is typically Monday through Friday from 8:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. PST. Students must be prepared to follow earlier or later starts as required by the particular practices of the location. Typically, fieldwork days are Monday through Friday from 8:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. PST.  Part-time program hours are in effect for the Irvine Campus and Los Angeles, Alhambra Branch Campus.

Note:  Alternate days or different shifts may be required for certain OTA fieldwork experiences, due to clinical facility student census restrictions or facility availability.  Some fieldwork may be offered on a 10 or 12 hour shift to match clinical facilities’ schedules.

In support of the requirements for OTA programs, OTA students may not graduate without completing the objectives for theory classes, performing fieldwork objectives and completing a minimum of two weeks of Level I fieldwork and 16 full-time weeks of Level II fieldwork. No part of Level I fieldwork can be substituted for any part of Level II fieldwork.

Theory Classes

Remediation and Limit of Theory Absences

Absences from theory classes will be remediated by completion of an assignment associated with the theory objectives for the day of absence.  A maximum of 3 sessions of theory absence may be remediated in a single term.

Makeup of Course Examinations Due to Absence

Any examination(s) missed due to absence from a theory class must be made up by the 7th day after the student returns to school or a grade of zero will be assigned to the examination.  Regardless of the score achieved on the makeup exam, the maximum grade that will be entered into the student’s grade record for any makeup examination in a theory class will be 75%.

Lab Classes

Remediation and Limit of Lab Absences

OTA Lab absences will be remediated by demonstrating proficiency in the lab objectives for the day of absence.  A maximum of two days of OTA lab absence may be remediated in a single term.  Students are responsible for obtaining their remediation assignments from their lab instructor per the directions written on the Skills Checklist

Clinical Fieldwork

Fieldwork Absences

Absences from Level I and Level II fieldwork will be remediated by performing additional fieldwork assignments on a day-for-day basis for each absence. Students are responsible for obtaining their remediation assignments from the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator in conjunction with the fieldwork site supervisor(s). Students are limited to remediating 2 days of Level I fieldwork per placement. Students are limited to remediating 3 days of Level II fieldwork in a Level II placement and 6 total days in both placements.  Remediation of all absences incurred in the first Level II fieldwork must be remediated prior to commencing the second Level II fieldwork.  Remediation of all second Level II fieldwork absences must be completed prior to graduation and recommendation to NBCOT for the student to be allowed to take the certification examination.  Multiple tardies or early outs from fieldwork are possible grounds for dismissal and are evaluated on an individual basis in collaboration with site personnel. A no-show, no-call at a fieldwork site is also possible grounds for dismissal and is evaluated on an individual basis in collaboration with site personnel.  Failure to submit fieldwork time sheets per the time sheet instructions is possible grounds for failure and dismissal. Failure to submit fieldwork-related assignments per the assignment instructions, including additional projects requested by fieldwork site personnel, is possible grounds for failure and dismissal.

 Additional Requirements Requested by Sites

A fieldwork site may have additional requirements for students to meet in order for the students to attend the site for fieldwork.  It is the responsibility of students to meet these additional requirements.  These additional requirements include, but are not limited to, proof of:

• DMV driving record
• Double TB test within a specific timeframe, MMR Vaccination and/or proof of immunity (titer)
• Drug testing
• Flu shot
• Health insurance
• Live Scan or other additional background checks
• Updated Physical Examination
• Varicella (chicken pox) Vaccination or proof of immunity

It is the student’s personal and financial responsibility to complete these additional requirements and, depending on the site, to allow 4-6 weeks for the processing of results prior to the start of any fieldwork at the site.  If a student is having difficulty completing the additional requirements, the student must immediately inform his or her fieldwork coordinator.

If one or more of your assigned fieldwork sites have any of these additional requirements, and you are not able to complete the additional requirements, it could impact your ability to attend fieldwork and keep you from progressing in the program.  It is the student’s responsibility to prepare ahead of time for the cost of any of these additional requirements.