Occupational therapy (OT) is a dynamic healthcare profession that helps people with physical, cognitive, emotional, or psychological problems achieve independence in their daily activities. This is done by problem-solving, adapting, practicing, and teaching daily living skills. Most important, occupational therapy assistants (OTA’s) focus on helping people with injuries or disabilities live productive, independent lives. OTA’s encourage patients to find purpose and meaning in the activities that “occupy” their day.
How do I become an occupational therapy assistant?
To become and occupational therapy assistant (OTA) in the United States you earn an associate’s degree from an accredited college. Usually this takes 2 years to complete, and often includes courses in medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, human development, and classes specific to OT treatment for children and adults. In addition, the OTA completes several fieldworks in which they work with an occupational therapist to treat patients.
After graduation you take the OTA National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) Exam that is offered monthly. Once you have passed the NBCOT Exam you are “Certified” as an Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA). Each state has different licensing requirements for OTA’s but this is usually a simple process to complete.
What does an occupational therapist assistant do?
Occupational therapy assistants (OTA’s) work under the supervision of an occupational therapist to provide activities of daily living (ADL) training to patients with disabilities or injuries. This involves following a plan designed by an OT to improve independence in daily activities. For example, they might work with a person who had a stroke to learn how to make meals safely. In addition, a patient who had a spinal cord injury might work with an OTA to become skilled at using a wheelchair while shopping. Or, they might help an infant with a birth defect be able to grab and play with a toy.
OTA’s work with people in a variety of settings. For example, in a nursing facility they might help a person who broke their hip learn to get dressed independently. Or, an OTA in a school setting might work with a child with Down’s Syndrome to do a classroom activity. Similarly, they could help a child with cerebral palsy be able to write and paint. Over the course of treatment the OTA collaborates with an OT to share ideas about how to help patients achieve the best results.
Because of their unique skills OTA’s work in hospitals, nursing facilities, rehab centers, clinics, mental health facilities, schools, home health settings, and early intervention. In these settings they often coordinate care with other professionals such as physicians, nurses practitioners, physical therapists, physical therapy assistants, speech therapists, and educators to achieve the best outcomes for each client.
Becoming an OTA is a very rewarding profession because you help patients improve their function and lives. People who tend to excel at this profession enjoy interacting with others and don’t mind being on their feet. In addition, being an OTA requires you to be mentally engaged, detail-oriented, and a problem-solver.
What is an occupational therapist assistant salary?
The salary for an occupational therapy assistant is excellent and continues to increase as the demand of OTA’s outpaces the number of OTA’s graduating. The yearly salary for an occupational therapy assistant in the United States is $61,510. However, the amount of money an OTA makes varies based on work setting, location of employment, and experience. For example, OTA’s who work in nursing facilities make about $66,750 a year compared to an annual wage of $52,460 for OTA’s in school settings. Another example, OTA’s working in a hospital have an average annual salary of $57,600. In comparison, a home health OTA checks in with an average wage of $65,560. Moreover, the highest earning OTA’s (top 10%) make over $82,210 annually.
In states like New Jersey, Nevada, California, Virginia, and Texas OTA’s are earning between $73,680-$67,090 a year. There are many states where the annual salary for an OTA is over $63,700 a year. These states include Washington, Oklahoma, Illinois, Florida, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, and Connecticut. In conclusion, a career in OT is both fulfilling and financially rewarding.
What is the job outlook for occupational therapy assistants?
The job outlook for OTA’s is incredible! The projected increase in jobs over the next 10 years is expected to be a whopping 35%. This is four times faster than other medical professions. Job growth is fueled by the baby boomers getting older, higher survival rates for newborns, and better medical care prolonging people’s lives. As a result, over 16,000 OTA job openings are expected over the next 10 years.