What will I do in this job?
If you choose to be an Occupational Therapy Assistant or Aide, you will work under the direction of Occupational Therapists to provide rehabilitative services to persons with mental, physical, emotional, or development impairments. The ultimate goal is to improve clients’ quality of life by helping them compensate for limitations.
Occupational Therapy Assistants:
- help clients with rehabilitative activities and exercises outlined in a treatment plan developed in collaboration with an Occupational Therapist (Activities range from teaching the proper method of moving from a bed into a wheelchair)
- monitor an individual’s activities to make sure they are performed correctly and to provide encouragement
- record their client’s progress for use by the therapist
- alter the treatment program in hopes of obtaining better results
Occupational Therapy Aides:
- prepare materials and assemble equipment used during treatment
- are responsible for a range of clerical tasks including:
- scheduling appointments
- answering the telephone
- restocking or ordering supplies
- filling out insurance forms and other paperwork
Will I need a special license?
If you want to be an Occupational Assistant, National Certification is required.
There is no special license needed for Occupational Aides.
What type of education will I need?
An associate degree or a certificate from an accredited community college or technical school is generally required to qualify for occupational therapist assistant jobs. In contrast, occupational therapist aides usually receive most of their training on the job.
Will I find a job?
Employment of occupational therapist assistants and aides is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations through 2012.
How much will I make?
Median Salary: $36,660 (Ranges from $25,500- $48,500)
(2003-2004)
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