THERAPY AND REHABILITATION
Occupational Therapy Assistant
To be a successful Occupational Therapy Assistant you should...
be caring and want to help people who are not able to help themselves; be able to motivate paitents; posssess the ability to use numbers, see details, and see how three-dimensional objects fit together.
What will my job be like?
Occupational therapy assistants and aides work under the direction of occupational therapists to provide rehabilitative services to persons with mental, physical, emotional, or developmental impairments. The ultimate goal is to improve clients’ quality of life by helping them compensate for limitations. For example, occupational therapy assistants help injured workers re-enter the labor force by helping them improve their motor skills. They help persons with learning disabilities increase their independence by teaching them to prepare meals or use public transportation.
Where could I work?
Most occupational therapy assistants work in occupational therapist offices or hospitals.
Other workplace settings:
- Adult Daycare
- Home Health Agencies
- Inpatient and Outpatient Mental Health Facilities
- Nursing Homes
- Outpatient Rehabilitation Centers
- Physician Offices
- Social Services Agencies
Average Annual Salary
$65,450 per year
What is the future of this career?
Overall employment of occupational therapy assistants and aides is projected to grow 21 percent from 2023 to 2033, much faster than the average for all occupations.
About 7,800 openings for occupational therapy assistants and aides are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Type of Education/Training
Occupational therapy assistants must complete an associate degree or certificate program from an accredited community college or technical school.
Where could I get the education/training?
- CT State Manchester
- Goodwin University
Licensing/Certification
Licensure is required in the state of Connecticut. Prerequisites: An Associate’s degree. Licensing requires 8 weeks of supervised field work experience; National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy Examination.
More Information
American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc.
7501 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 510E
Bethesda, MD 20814
800-SAY-AOTA/301-652-6611
