Occupational Therapy Assistants

Assist 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.

On the job, you would:

Instruct, or assist in instructing, patients and families in home programs, basic living skills, or the care and use of adaptive equipment.
Maintain and promote a positive attitude toward clients and their treatment programs.
Report to supervisors, verbally or in writing, on patients' progress, attitudes, and behavior.

Important Qualities

Adaptability. Assistants must be flexible when treating patients. Because not every type of therapy will work for each patient, assistants may need to be creative when working with occupational therapists to determine the best therapy to achieve a patient’s goals.

Compassion. Occupational therapy assistants and aides frequently work with patients who struggle with many of life’s basic activities. As a result, they should be compassionate and have the ability to encourage others.

Detail oriented. Occupational therapy assistants and aides must quickly and accurately follow the instructions, both written and spoken, of an occupational therapist. In addition, aides must pay attention to detail when performing clerical tasks, such as helping a patient fill out an insurance form.

Interpersonal skills. Occupational therapy assistants and aides spend much of their time interacting with patients and therefore should be friendly and courteous. They also should communicate clearly with patients and with patients’ families to the extent of their training.

Physical strength. Assistants and aides need to have a moderate degree of strength because of the physical exertion required to assist patients. Constant kneeling, stooping, and standing for long periods also are part of the job.

Personality

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Characteristics of this Career
		95%	Concern for Others - Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
		94%	Integrity - Job requires being honest and ethical.
		92%	Cooperation - Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
		91%	Adaptability/Flexibility - Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
		91%	Attention to Detail - Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
		90%	Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
		88%	Social Orientation - Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.
		88%	Independence - Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
		86%	Self-Control - Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
		86%	Initiative - Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
		84%	Persistence - Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
		84%	Innovation - Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
		84%	Stress Tolerance - Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
		79%	Analytical Thinking - Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
		76%	Achievement/Effort - Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
		75%	Leadership - Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Strengths
		100%	Social - Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.
		56%	Realistic - Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Values of the Work Environment
		83%	Relationships - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
		67%	Achievement - Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
		64%	Working Conditions - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
		61%	Support - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
		56%	Independence - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.

Aptitude

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Abilities \| Cognitive, Physical, Personality
		75%	Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
		75%	Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
		69%	Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
		69%	Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
		66%	Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
		63%	Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
		60%	Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
		60%	Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
		60%	Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
		56%	Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
		56%	Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
		53%	Static Strength - The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.
		53%	Fluency of Ideas - The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Skills \| Cognitive, Physical, Personality
		55%	Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
		55%	Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
		55%	Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Job Details

Responsibilities

Confer with other professionals to plan patient care.

Attend educational events to update medical knowledge.

Confer with other professionals to plan patient care.

Monitor patient progress or responses to treatments.

Record vital statistics or other health information.

Maintain medical records.

Encourage patients during therapeutic activities.

Monitor patient progress or responses to treatments.

Encourage patients during therapeutic activities.

Develop patient therapy programs.

Teach basic living or other adaptive skills to patients or caregivers.

Teach medical procedures or medical equipment use to patients.

Administer screening tests to determine abilities or treatment needs.

Assist patients with daily activities.

Implement therapeutic programs to improve patient functioning.

Prepare medical reports or documents.

Communicate patient status to other health practitioners.

Develop patient therapy programs.

Implement therapeutic programs to improve patient functioning.

Make patient-assistive devices or device models.

Clean medical equipment.

Prepare medical instruments or equipment for use.

Maintain medical equipment or instruments.

Teach basic living or other adaptive skills to patients or caregivers.

Schedule patient procedures or appointments.

Perform clerical work in medical settings.

Process medical billing information.

Move patients to or from treatment areas.

Teach medical procedures to healthcare personnel.

Inventory medical supplies or equipment.

Administer screening tests to determine abilities or treatment needs.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Attributes & Percentage of Time Spent
		99%	Exposed to Disease or Infections - How often does this job require exposure to disease/infections?
		96%	Contact With Others - How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
		96%	Physical Proximity - To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks in close physical proximity to other people?
		93%	Time Pressure - How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?
		92%	Frequency of Decision Making - How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
		92%	Face-to-Face Discussions - How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?
		91%	Structured versus Unstructured Work - To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals?
		90%	Work With Work Group or Team - How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job?
		89%	Freedom to Make Decisions - How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
		87%	Responsible for Others' Health and Safety - How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?
		87%	Indoors, Environmentally Controlled - How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions?
		87%	Importance of Being Exact or Accurate - How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
		83%	Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results - What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer?
		81%	Coordinate or Lead Others - How important is it to coordinate or lead others in accomplishing work activities in this job?
		79%	Spend Time Standing - How much does this job require standing?
		77%	Spend Time Walking and Running - How much does this job require walking and running?
		77%	Importance of Repeating Same Tasks - How important is repeating the same physical activities (e.g., key entry) or mental activities (e.g., checking entries in a ledger) over and over, without stopping, to performing this job?
		76%	Deal With Unpleasant or Angry People - How frequently does the worker have to deal with unpleasant, angry, or discourteous individuals as part of the job requirements?
		73%	Responsibility for Outcomes and Results - How responsible is the worker for work outcomes and results of other workers?
		64%	Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions - How much does this job require making repetitive motions?
		63%	Electronic Mail - How often do you use electronic mail in this job?
		60%	Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets - How much does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets?
		59%	Frequency of Conflict Situations - How often are there conflict situations the employee has to face in this job?
		57%	Spend Time Bending or Twisting the Body - How much does this job require bending or twisting your body?
		55%	Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls - How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Tasks & Values
		95%	Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
		95%	Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
		94%	Assisting and Caring for Others - Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
		89%	Thinking Creatively - Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
		87%	Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
		84%	Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
		80%	Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
		80%	Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
		79%	Performing General Physical Activities - Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.
		77%	Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
		77%	Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others - Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
		77%	Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work - Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
		76%	Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
		74%	Working with Computers - Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
		73%	Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards - Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
		71%	Handling and Moving Objects - Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
		71%	Performing for or Working Directly with the Public - Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
		70%	Developing Objectives and Strategies - Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
		65%	Training and Teaching Others - Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
		65%	Scheduling Work and Activities - Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
		63%	Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others - Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
		63%	Developing and Building Teams - Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
		62%	Communicating with People Outside the Organization - Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
		60%	Processing Information - Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
		60%	Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others - Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
		59%	Coaching and Developing Others - Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
		59%	Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials - Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
		55%	Providing Consultation and Advice to Others - Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
		53%	Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates - Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.

What Occupational Therapy Assistants and Aides Do

Occupational therapy aides may handle some clerical tasks, like answering calls from patients and scheduling appointments.

Occupational therapy assistants and aides help patients develop, recover, improve, as well as maintain the skills needed for daily living and working. Occupational therapy assistants are directly involved in providing therapy to patients; occupational therapy aides typically perform support activities. Both assistants and aides work under the direction of occupational therapists.

Duties

Occupational therapy assistants typically do the following:

Help patients do therapeutic activities, such as stretches and other exercises
Lead children who have developmental disabilities in play activities that promote coordination and socialization
Encourage patients to complete activities and tasks
Teach patients how to use special equipment—for example, showing a patient with Parkinson’s disease how to use devices that make eating easier
Record patients’ progress, report to occupational therapists, and do other administrative tasks

Occupational therapy aides typically do the following:

Prepare treatment areas, such as setting up therapy equipment
Transport patients
Clean treatment areas and equipment
Help patients with billing and insurance forms
Perform clerical tasks, including scheduling appointments and answering telephones

Occupational therapy assistants collaborate with occupational therapists to develop and carry out a treatment plan for each patient. Plans include diverse activities such as teaching the proper way for patients to move from a bed into a wheelchair and advising patients on the best way to stretch their muscles. For example, an occupational therapy assistant might work with injured workers to help them get back into the workforce by teaching them how to work around lost motor skills. Occupational therapy assistants also may work with people who have learning disabilities, teaching them skills that allow them to be more independent.

Assistants monitor activities to make sure that patients are doing them correctly. They record the patient’s progress and provide feedback to the occupational therapist so that the therapist can change the treatment plan if the patient is not getting the desired results.

Occupational therapy aides typically prepare materials and assemble equipment used during treatment. They may assist patients with moving to and from treatment areas. After a therapy session, aides clean the treatment area, put away equipment, and gather laundry.

Occupational therapy aides fill out insurance forms and other paperwork and are responsible for a range of clerical tasks, such as scheduling appointments, answering the telephone, and monitoring inventory levels.

Work Environment

Occupational therapy aides held about 3,800 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of occupational therapy aides were as follows:

Offices of other health practitioners	40%
Hospitals; state, local, and private	28
Nursing care facilities (skilled nursing facilities)	10

Occupational therapy assistants held about 45,100 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of occupational therapy assistants were as follows:

Offices of physical, occupational and speech therapists, and audiologists	45%
Hospitals; state, local, and private	18
Nursing care facilities (skilled nursing facilities)	15
Home healthcare services	7
Educational services; state, local, and private	6

Occupational therapy assistants and aides spend much of their time on their feet while setting up equipment and, in the case of assistants, providing therapy to patients. Constant kneeling and stooping are part of the job, as is the occasional need to lift patients.

Injuries and Illnesses

Occupational therapy aides have one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations. Their work may require physically demanding tasks, such as lifting patients, which can cause injuries.

Work Schedules

Most occupational therapy assistants and aides work full time. Occupational therapy assistants and aides may work during evenings or on weekends to accommodate patients’ schedules.

Getting Started

Education:

92%

Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)

Some College Courses

How to Become an Occupational Therapy Assistant or Aide

Occupational therapy aides help patients with billing and insurance forms.

Occupational therapy assistants need an associate’s degree from an accredited occupational therapy assistant program. All states regulate the practice of occupational therapy assistants. Occupational therapy aides typically need a high school diploma or equivalent and are trained on the job.

Education and Training

Occupational therapy assistants typically need an associate’s degree from an accredited program. Occupational therapy assistant programs are commonly found in community colleges and technical schools. In 2017, there were more than 200 occupational therapy assistant programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education, a part of the American Occupational Therapy Association.

These programs generally require 2 years of full-time study and include instruction in subjects such as psychology, biology, and pediatric health. In addition to taking coursework, occupational therapy assistants must complete at least 16 weeks of fieldwork to gain hands-on work experience.

People interested in becoming an occupational therapy assistant should take high school courses in biology and health education. They also can increase their chances of getting into a community college or technical school program by doing volunteer work in a healthcare setting, such as a nursing care facility, an occupational therapist’s office, or a physical therapist’s office.

Occupational therapy aides typically need a high school diploma or equivalent. They are trained on the job under the supervision of more experienced assistants or aides. Training can last from several days to a few weeks and covers a number of topics, including the setting up of therapy equipment and infection control procedures, among others. Previous work experience in healthcare may be helpful in getting a job.

Both occupational therapy assistants and aides often need certifications in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and basic life support (BLS).

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations

All states regulate the practice of occupational therapy assistants, with most requiring licensure. Licensure typically requires the completion of an accredited occupational therapy assistant education program, completion of all fieldwork requirements, and passing the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) exam. Some states have additional requirements.

Occupational therapy assistants must pass the NBCOT exam to use the title “Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant” (COTA). They must also take continuing education classes to maintain their certification.

The American Occupational Therapy Association also offers a number of specialty certifications for occupational therapy assistants who want to demonstrate their specialized level of knowledge, skills, and abilities in specialized areas of practice such as low vision or feeding, eating, and swallowing.

Occupational therapy aides are not regulated by state law.

Advancement

Some occupational therapy assistants and aides advance by gaining additional education and becoming occupational therapists. A small number of occupational therapist “bridge” education programs are designed to qualify occupational therapy assistants to advance and become therapists.

Job Outlook

Overall employment of occupational therapy assistants and aides is projected to grow 23 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.

About 8,600 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.

Employment

Demand for occupational therapy is likely to grow over the decade in response to the healthcare needs of an aging population.

Older adults are more prone than young people to conditions and ailments, such as arthritis and strokes, that may affect the ability to do everyday activities. Occupational therapy assistants and aides will be needed to help occupational therapists in caring for these patients. Occupational therapy also will continue to be used in treating children and young adults with developmental disorders, such as autism.

Healthcare providers, especially those specializing in long-term care, will continue to employ occupational therapy assistants to reduce the cost of occupational therapy services. However, restrictions in insurance reimbursement for services provided by occupational therapy aides may constrain demand for this occupation.

Contacts for More Information

For more information about occupational therapy assistants or aides, visit

American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc.

For more information about certification for occupational therapy assistants, visit

National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy

Similar Occupations

This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of occupational therapy assistants and aides.

Occupation	Job Duties	Entry-Level Education	Median Annual Pay, May 2022
Dental Assistants	Dental assistants provide patient care, take x rays, keep records, and schedule appointments.	Postsecondary nondegree award	$44,820
Medical Assistants	Medical assistants complete administrative and clinical tasks, such as scheduling appointments and taking patients’ vital signs.	Postsecondary nondegree award	$38,270
Occupational Therapists	Occupational therapists evaluate and treat people who have injuries, illnesses, or disabilities to help them with vocational, daily living, and other skills that promote independence.	Master's degree	$93,180
Pharmacy Technicians	Pharmacy technicians help pharmacists dispense prescription medication to customers or health professionals.	High school diploma or equivalent	$37,790
Physical Therapist Assistants and Aides	Physical therapist assistants and aides are supervised by physical therapists to help patients regain movement and manage pain after injuries and illnesses.	See How to Become One	$57,240
Psychiatric Technicians and Aides	Psychiatric technicians and aides care for people who have mental conditions or developmental disabilities.	See How to Become One	$37,330

Occupational Therapy Assistants

Occupational Therapy Assistant or Aide

What they do: