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What You Need to Know About Occupational Therapy Aide

Position Description Under close supervision of an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant, perform only delegated, selected, or routine tasks in specific situations. These duties include preparing patient and treatment room.

Life As an Occupational Therapy Aide: What Do They Do?

Accompany patients on outings, providing transportation when necessary.
Report to supervisors or therapists, verbally or in writing, on patients’ progress, attitudes, attendance, and accomplishments.
Observe patients’ attendance, progress, attitudes, and accomplishments and record and maintain information in client records.
Prepare and maintain work area, materials, and equipment and maintain inventory of treatment and educational supplies.
Demonstrate therapy techniques, such as manual and creative arts and games.
Assist occupational therapists in planning, implementing, and administering therapy programs to restore, reinforce, and enhance performance, using selected activities and special equipment.

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What Skills Do You Need to Work as an Occupational Therapy Aide?

Occupational Therapy Aides state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.

Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Types of Occupational Therapy Aide

Restorative Coordinator
Rehabilitation Aide (Rehab Aide)
Restorative Aide
Direct Support Professional
Direct Support Staff

Job Outlook for Occupational Therapy Aides

In 2016, there was an estimated number of 7,500 jobs in the United States for Occupational Therapy Aide. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 24% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 1,800 new jobs for Occupational Therapy Aide by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 1,200 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Occupational Therapy Aide are Delaware, Arizona, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in Wyoming, Oregon, or Maine. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Salary for an Occupational Therapy Aide

Occupational Therapy Aides make between $18,260 and $58,660 a year.

Occupational Therapy Aides who work in Washington, New York, or Arizona, make the highest salaries.

How much do Occupational Therapy Aides make in each U.S. state?

State	Annual Mean Salary
Arizona	$38,760
California	$35,240
Colorado	$33,060
Connecticut	$33,740
Delaware	$34,220
Florida	$26,770
Georgia	$27,490
Illinois	$28,820
Indiana	$30,360
Iowa	$30,900
Louisiana	$40,940
Maryland	$34,300
Massachusetts	$36,190
Michigan	$35,120
Minnesota	$33,020
Missouri	$29,890
Nebraska	$27,700
New Hampshire	$35,880
New Jersey	$29,330
New York	$46,600
North Carolina	$29,480
North Dakota	$35,900
Ohio	$32,140
Oklahoma	$31,340
Pennsylvania	$32,080
South Carolina	$29,330
Tennessee	$30,540
Texas	$31,390
Utah	$23,930
Virginia	$38,360
Washington	$51,360
West Virginia	$29,120
Wisconsin	$28,970

What Tools do Occupational Therapy Aides Use?

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Occupational Therapy Aides:

Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Word
Microsoft Office
Microsoft PowerPoint
Microsoft Access
Data entry software
MEDITECH software
Scheduling software
Electronic medical record EMR software
Billing software

Becoming an Occupational Therapy Aide

Learn what Occupational Therapy Aide education requirements there are.

What work experience do I need to become an Occupational Therapy Aide?

Where do Occupational Therapy Aides Work?

Below are examples of industries where Occupational Therapy Aides work:

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References:

Image Credit: Sgt. Courtney Richardson, 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs via Public domain

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