Two Bates programs earn national accreditation

The Occupational Therapy Assistant
program has received ACOTE accreditation.

Commitment to high-quality educational standards fuel recent accreditations

TACOMA, Wash. – Two Bates Technical College career education programs have recently received national accreditation.

The Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) has granted the college’s Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program accreditation. The college began the application process for accreditation in 2010, which included an intense and rigorous self-study report and a three-day, on-site visit from ACOTE officials.

The ACOTE accreditation is required for all OTA educational programs, and makes it possible for graduates to sit for the national certification examination to become certified occupational therapy assistants. Bates’ inaugural OTA class is currently in their last quarter, which is a full-time clinical internship.

The Partnership for Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigeration Accreditation (PAHRA) has awarded accreditation to the Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technician program following an in-depth self evaluation process, and a two-day, on-site evaluation. Bates’ program is the only such training program in the state to earn a PAHRA accreditation.

Bates' HVAC program is the only
PAHRA-accredited program in the state.

“Earning accreditation for these two programs is an important endorsement of the high quality education our students receive at Bates Technical College,” said Vice President of Instruction Cheri Loiland. “These accreditations guarantee that our instruction, curriculum, faculty and facilities meet or exceed industry standards, which helps demonstrate that our graduates are ready to fill the increasing need for skilled workers in these fields,” she said.

Both accreditations are valid for five years. For more information about the college’s Occupational Therapy Assistant, visit www.bates.ctc.edu/OTA, and for the Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technician program, visit www.bates.ctc.edu/HVAC, or call 253.680.7002.

About Bates Technical College

Celebrating more than 70 years of providing educational opportunities, Bates Technical College offers certificate and degree options in more than 50 career education programs, and serves approximately 3,000 career training students and 10,000 more community members in extended learning, distance learning, high school, and other programs. For more information, go to www.bates.ctc.edu, or call 253.680.7000.

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