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Occupational Therapy Assistant

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What is an Occupational Therapy Assistant?

Job Description: Assist occupational therapists in providing occupational therapy treatments and procedures. May, in accordance with State laws, assist in development of treatment plans, carry out routine functions, direct activity programs, and document the progress of treatments. Generally requires formal training.

What Do Occupational Therapy Assistants Do On a Daily Basis?

  • Perform clerical duties, such as scheduling appointments, collecting data, or documenting health insurance billings.
  • Monitor patients' performance in therapy activities, providing encouragement.
  • Order any needed educational or treatment supplies.
  • Report to supervisors, verbally or in writing, on patients' progress, attitudes, and behavior.
  • Teach patients how to deal constructively with their emotions.
  • Design, fabricate, or repair assistive devices or make adaptive changes to equipment or environments.

Occupational Therapy Assistant Needed Skills

When polled, Occupational Therapy Assistants say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:

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.

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.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Time Management: Managing one’s own time and the time of others.

  • Acute Care Occupational Therapy Assistant
  • Staff Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant/Licensed (Staff COTA/L)
  • Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA)
  • Rehabilitation Assistant
  • School Based Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant

Job Opportunities for Occupational Therapy Assistants

In the United States, there were 39,300 jobs for Occupational Therapy Assistant in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 29% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 11,400 new jobs for Occupational Therapy Assistant by 2026. The BLS estimates 6,600 yearly job openings in this field.

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The states with the most job growth for Occupational Therapy Assistant are Arizona, Georgia, and Utah. Watch out if you plan on working in Delaware, Wisconsin, or Vermont. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Salary for an Occupational Therapy Assistant

The salary for Occupational Therapy Assistants ranges between about $39,620 and $80,980 a year.

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Occupational Therapy Assistants who work in Texas, New Jersey, or California, make the highest salaries.

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

State Annual Mean Salary
Alabama $58,700
Arizona $59,090
Arkansas $58,580
California $67,470
Colorado $57,230
Connecticut $65,150
Delaware $59,130
District of Columbia $56,330
Florida $61,340
Georgia $64,630
Hawaii $58,440
Idaho $56,100
Illinois $60,200
Indiana $56,070
Iowa $56,020
Kansas $58,970
Kentucky $55,080
Louisiana $60,730
Maine $50,490
Maryland $62,950
Massachusetts $62,530
Michigan $52,410
Minnesota $50,470
Mississippi $57,050
Missouri $57,310
Nebraska $58,250
Nevada $68,200
New Hampshire $56,160
New Jersey $69,530
New Mexico $57,810
New York $60,890
North Carolina $62,880
North Dakota $48,670
Ohio $59,910
Oklahoma $60,830
Oregon $62,580
Pennsylvania $54,580
Rhode Island $61,640
South Carolina $64,060
South Dakota $41,050
Tennessee $60,640
Texas $74,650
Utah $56,460
Vermont $60,710
Virginia $66,240
Washington $63,570
West Virginia $59,090
Wisconsin $38,650
Wyoming $52,200

What Tools do Occupational Therapy Assistants Use?

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Occupational Therapy Assistants may use on a daily basis:

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft Office
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Web browser software
  • Microsoft Access
  • Email software
  • Word processing software
  • Microsoft Windows
  • Spreadsheet software
  • Database software
  • Facebook
  • FileMaker Pro
  • Scheduling software
  • Graphics software
  • Billing software
  • Accounting software
  • Bookkeeping software
  • Laboratory information system LIS

Becoming an Occupational Therapy Assistant

Individuals working as an Occupational Therapy Assistant have obtained the following education levels:

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How Long Does it Take to Become an Occupational Therapy Assistant?

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Where Occupational Therapy Assistants Are Employed

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The table below shows the approximate number of Occupational Therapy Assistants employed by various industries.

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Those thinking about becoming an Occupational Therapy Assistant might also be interested in the following careers:

Those who work as an Occupational Therapy Assistant sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:

References:

Image Credit: Ryan Conroy via Public domain

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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