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Occupational Therapy Assistant

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AVG. SALARY

$62,420

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EDUCATION

Associate's degree

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JOB OUTLOOK

Increasing

What They Do

Occupational Therapy Assistants Career Video

About This Career

Assists 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.

This career is part of the Health Science cluster Therapeutic Services pathway.

A person in this career:

  • Instructs, or assists in instructing, patients and families in home programs, basic living skills, or the care and use of adaptive equipment.
  • Maintains and promotes a positive attitude toward clients and their treatment programs.
  • Implements, or assists occupational therapists with implementing, treatment plans designed to help clients function independently.
  • Reports to supervisors, verbally or in writing, on patients' progress, attitudes, and behavior.
  • Monitors patients' performance in therapy activities, providing encouragement.
  • Observes and records patients' progress, attitudes, and behavior and maintains this information in client records.
  • Selects therapy activities to fit patients' needs and capabilities.
  • Attends continuing education classes.
  • Aids patients in dressing and grooming themselves.
  • Evaluates the daily living skills or capacities of physically, developmentally, or emotionally disabled clients.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

  • You would often handle loads up to 20 lbs., sometimes up to 50 lbs. You might do a lot of lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling.
  • Exposed to disease and infections more than once a month through work such as patient care, laboratory work, and sanitation control
  • Work in this occupation requires being inside most of the time
  • Work in this occupation involves standing more than one-third of the time
  • Work in this occupation involves walking or running more than one-third of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

  • Seeing clearly up close
  • Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
  • Identifying and understanding the speech of another person
  • Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying objects
  • Using abdominal and lower back muscles repeatedly or over time without tiring

Work Hours and Travel

  • Weekend work

Specialty and Similar Careers

Careers that are more detailed or close to this career:

  • Certified Occupational Assistant
  • Licensed Occupational Therapist Assistant (LOTA)
  • Registered Therapist Assistant
  • Acute Care Occupational Therapy Assistant (Acute Care OT Assistant)
  • Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA)
  • Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA)
  • Licensed Occupational Therapy Assistant (LOTA)
  • School Based Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (School Based COTA)
  • Occupational Therapist Assistant (OTA)