OTA Attendance Policies

Class Hours

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

Theory classes may be scheduled any time between 8:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. PST Monday through Friday.  OTA laboratory classes may be scheduled any time betweene 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 Monday through Thursday evenings from 6:00 P.M. to 10:00 P.M. PST and Saturdaysbetween 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 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

All absences from theory classes must be remediated by completion of an assignment associated with the theory objectives for the day of absence.  Theory absences follow these policies:

  • 3rd absence in any one course = attendance probation
  • 4th absence in any one course = violation of attendance probation
  • 5th absence in any one course = course failure

Students are responsible for notifying instructors to obtain remediation assignments for absences. Remediations for absences are due within 7 days from the student’s return.

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.  Lab absences follow these policies:

  • 2nd lab absence = attendance probation
  • 3rd lab absence = violation of attendance probation
  • 4th lab absence = lab failure

Students are responsible for obtaining their remediation assignments from their lab instructor per the directions written on the Skills Checklist. Remediations for absences are due within 21 days from the student’s return.

Clinical Fieldwork

Fieldwork Absences

Absences from Level I and Level II fieldwork will be remediated by performing additional fieldwork hours on a day-for-day basis for each absence.

Level I Fieldwork:

Students are limited to remediating 2 days of Level I fieldwork per placement.  Level I fieldwork absences follow these policies:

  • 1st absence = fieldwork probation
  • 2nd absence = violation of fieldwork probation
  • 3rd absence = failure and dismissal

Level II Fieldwork:

Students are limited to remediating 3 days of Level II fieldwork in each Level II placement.  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 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. Level II fieldwork absences follow these policies:

  • 2nd absence = fieldwork probation
  • 3rd absence = violation of fieldwork probation
  • 4th absence = failure and dismissal