Occupational Therapy Assistant
Occupational therapy assistants (OTAs) play a vital role in supporting licensed occupational therapists in providing therapeutic services to patients. They assist in implementing treatment plans catered to individuals experiencing temporary or chronic motor function issues due to various challenges, including physical, mental, or emotional problems. OTAs focus on helping patients develop essential self-care skills, enhance daily functions, and improve overall quality of life. Common work environments for OTAs include rehabilitation facilities, hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and occupational therapy clinics, where they collaborate with a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals.
Individuals drawn to this field typically possess traits such as physical strength, problem-solving abilities, and a genuine desire to assist others. Daily responsibilities for OTAs involve hands-on patient interaction, contributing to treatment assessments, recommending adaptive equipment, and maintaining thorough patient records. Education and training typically emphasize biology, psychology, and anatomy, with practical experience through internships being valuable for future success. The role of an OTA is crucial in fostering independence and enhancing the well-being of diverse populations, including those with developmental disabilities or those recovering from injuries.
Occupational Therapy Assistant
Snapshot
Career Cluster(s): Health Science
Interests: Patient care, therapeutic services, counseling, record keeping, physiology, physical therapy
Earnings (Yearly Median): $63,450 per year $30.51 per hour
Employment & Outlook: 23% (Much faster than average)
Entry-Level Education Associate’s degree
Related Work Experience None
On-the-job-Training Minimal on-the-job training
Overview
Sphere of Work.Occupational therapy assistants and aides help licensed occupational therapists provide therapeutic services to patients. Generally, the services they help deliver are part of individual patient treatment plans. Specializing in treating temporary and chronic motor function issues caused by mental, physical, developmental, or emotional problems, occupational therapy assistants and aides work with medical staff to ensure that each patient functions at the highest skill level possible for someone with particular medical issues. For example, an occupational therapy assistant or aide may help older adults or individuals with disabilities to develop self-care skills (i.e., cleaning and cooking), or teach that patient how to communicate effectively by using phones and computers, writing, problem-solving, and coordination. Occupational therapy assistants follow patient treatment plans designed to maintain, enhance, or restore a patient’s daily function and productivity, health, independence, and quality of life.
Work Environment. Occupational therapy assistants and aides work in medical settings, such as rehabilitation facilities, hospitals, nursing homes, occupational therapy clinics, and schools. In medical environments, occupational therapy assistants generally partner with medical and social service professionals, such as doctors and social workers, to increase a patient’s physical and mental abilities and overall independence. Occupational therapy assistants partner with educational professionals, such as teachers and special education coordinators, to address a student’s physical or mental issues in school settings. Occupational therapy, provided by an occupational therapist, is a common component of a special needs child’s individualized education plan (IEP). Occupational therapy assistants generally work a standard forty-hour workweek, and scheduled work hours and appointments are the norm.
Occupation Interest. Individuals attracted to occupational therapy tend to be physically strong and enjoy hands-on work and close interaction. Individuals who excel as occupational therapy assistants exhibit intellectual curiosity, problem-solving, a desire to help, patience, and caring. Occupational therapy assistants must be good at science and be able to work as part of a team to meet patient needs.
A Day in the Life—Duties and Responsibilities. An occupational therapy assistant’s daily duties and responsibilities include full days of hands-on patient interaction and care; an occupational therapy aide’s day-to-day responsibilities are mainly clerical and administrative. State boards of occupational therapy do not uniformly regulate the duties and responsibilities of occupational therapy assistants, and, as a result, their employers may ask them to perform a wide range of responsibilities. Patients helped by occupational therapy assistants include those experiencing physical limitations caused by spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy, or muscular dystrophy, complications from strokes, developmental delays and learning disabilities, complications from accidents or trauma, or intellectual disabilities.
As medical or therapeutic workers, occupational therapy assistants interact with patients or clients daily. Daily work responsibilities may include participating in patient assessments, contributing to patient treatment plans, preparing equipment and materials that will be used in an occupational therapy session, lifting patients in wheelchairs, providing special instruction in life skills to patients with severe physical limitations caused by spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy, or muscular dystrophy; advising patients on the use of adaptive equipment, such as wheelchairs and orthopedic aids; assisting with early intervention services to young children with physical and social delays and limitations; helping to build adaptive equipment for patients with special needs not met by existing options; and providing instruction in self-care, such as dressing and eating.
An occupational therapy assistant’s daily administrative and clerical responsibilities include record-keeping for patient evaluation and treatment. Occupational therapy assistants must record notes following patient treatment sessions and provide insurance companies with patient records and progress notes as required. They may also be responsible for the daily jobs of scheduling and billing.
Work Environment
Immediate Physical Environment. Occupational therapy assistants and aides work in rehabilitation facilities, hospitals, nursing homes, therapy clinics, and schools. A few own small businesses and work with patients whom hospitals and medical offices refer to. Therapeutic office settings used by occupational therapy assistants and their bosses may be shared with other therapeutic professionals, such as physical, recreational, or speech and language therapists.
Human Environment. Examples of patients needing occupational therapy to increase their independence and quality of life include people suffering balance and strength issues caused by cerebral palsy, spinal cord injuries, or muscular dystrophy, stroke victims experiencing memory loss or coordination problems, people experiencing mental health problems, and children or adults with developmental disabilities. Occupational therapy assistants usually work as part of a patient treatment team, including lead occupational therapists, patient families, social workers, teachers, doctors, and additional therapists.
Technological Environment. Occupational therapy assistants should be familiar with the specialized computer programs and tools used to help patients regain or maintain reasoning, problem-solving, memory, and sequencing skills, as well as the adoptive devices used to increase patient mobility and independence, such as wheelchairs, orthopedic aids, eating aids, and dressing aids.
Education, Training, and Advancement
High School/Secondary. High school students interested in pursuing the occupational therapy assistant profession should develop good study habits. High school-level biology, psychology, anatomy, sociology, and mathematics coursework will prepare students for college-level studies. Students interested in the occupational therapy field will benefit from seeking internships or part-time work with occupational therapists or people with physical, developmental, or social problems that impact their daily lives.
Postsecondary. Postsecondary students interested in pursuing training in occupational therapy should complete coursework in occupational therapy, if offered by their school, as well as courses on physical therapy, special education, biology, psychology, anatomy, sociology, and mathematics.
Postsecondary students interested in attending graduate school in occupational therapy will benefit from seeking internships or working with occupational therapists or people with physical, developmental, or social problems that negatively affect their daily lives. American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) membership may provide networking opportunities and connections.
Related Occupations
Bibliography
"Occupational Therapy Assistants and Aides." Occupational Outlook Handbook. Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Department of Labor, 6 Sept. 2023, www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/occupational-therapy-assistants-and-aides.htm. Accessed 28 Sept. 2023.