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Have you thought about entering a healthcare career but are unsure in what capacity would be a good fit for you? If so, check out our guide to becoming an Occupational Therapy Assistant or Aide.
Every day, we all take for granted simple tasks, such as cooking breakfast, brushing our teeth, and going on about our business. Unfortunately, many are not that fortunate due to physical disabilities, accidents, or illness. Occupational therapy assistants work hard to help clients become independent again.
In this choice of career, there are several levels to consider, such as:
- Occupational Therapy Aide
- Occupational Therapy Assistant
- Occupational Therapist
All positions can be obtained through varying levels of education. If you would like to become an occupational therapy assistant or aide, check it out today! You may want to begin with an associate’s degree.
Quick Summarization:
Occupational therapy assistants and aides lend an important hand to those who focus on occupational therapy. Typically, they help occupational therapists with assisting patients with everyday tasks who have developmental disabilities, learning disabilities, and have lost motor skills. Becoming a certified occupational therapy assistant is a great way to begin your career through an occupational therapy assistant program. And, if you are so inclined, you can continue your education and become an occupational therapist in no time.
9 BEST SCHOOLS FOR AN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSISTANT OR AIDE DEGREE
Casper College
(Hybrid) AS in Occupational Therapy Assistant
One of the top-rated Occupational Therapy Assistant programs is offered at Casper College. This program is designed to guide aspiring Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants to help people with disabilities, physical ailments, impaired mental functioning, behavior patterns, and those experiencing aging. Students can choose between in-person and hybrid classes.
This program gives students, online and in-person, direct access to assistive technology laboratories, a therapy gym, occupational lab, private study rooms, kitchen classrooms, outdoor learning space, and library resources and technology. Erik Erickson’s psychosocial phases of development are also used to assist and improve each student’s journey to an entry-level generalist practitioner.
Students complete five consecutive semesters of mandatory academic course work, plus two eight-week fieldwork placements, for a total of 78 credit hours during the program, which lasts six semesters. The sequence starts in the fall semester and lasts two years, including one summer session. The classes expand on the knowledge gained in prior semesters. Fieldwork is conducted by occupational therapy assistants following the conclusion of academic coursework.
Coursework includes:
- Introduction to Sociology plus core courses of
- Professionalism in Healthcare
- Intro to Human Diseases
- Practicums completed in the community
Start your Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant career journey by enrolling at Casper College’s AS in Occupational Therapy Assistant.
Houston Community College
(Online and Hybrid) AAS in Occupational Therapy Assistant
The Community for Accredited Online Schools has named Houston Community College’s (HCC) Occupational Therapy Assistant program the best in the US among two-year colleges. Hospitals, clinics, rehabilitation centers, public and private schools, nursing homes, home care settings, and developing areas of practice participate in remediation activities.
This curriculum equips students to work for clients who need to optimize their independence in functional activities relating to daily living, work, or play/leisure due to injury, illness, the aging process, developmental delays, poverty, or cultural differences. Students are not left unattended with clients; everyone will be under the supervision of a licensed occupational therapist.
Students must complete 45 courses plus requirements to complete the program. This occupational therapy assistants program focuses on assisting those in need at school, home, work, or in the community suffering from sicknesses, disorders, conditions, injuries, handicaps, illnesses, or anything else that impacts people’s daily well-being.
Coursework includes:
- Handwriting interventions
- Sensory integrations
- Re-training activities
- Therapeutic exercises
- Neuromuscular facilitation techniques
Check out HCC’s AAS in Occupational Therapy Assistant program and see why it’s the best in the country for aspiring healthcare assistants!
Bristol Community College
(Traditional and online) AS in Occupational Therapy Assistant
Bristol Community College has a 73-credit-hour Occupational Therapy Assistant program that prepares entry-level occupational therapy assistants in hospitals, senior care homes, rehab clinics, schools, or nursing care facilities. The curriculum will be taught to students through coursework (both online and in-person), lab work, and off-site learning excursions.
Program courses include:
- Introduction to Occupational Therapy
- Psychosocial Performance
- Cognitive and Sensorimotor Performance
- Movement in Human Performance
- Psychosocial Therapeutic Modalities
- Common Conditions of Physical Dysfunction
- Level II Occupational Therapy Clinical Practice
- Seminar in Occupational Therapy
Traditional option OTA courses are primarily available throughout the day, Monday through Friday; online program option OTA courses are available Thursday through Friday. The typical program option necessitates 2-3.5 days per week on-site, whereas the online program necessitates 1-2 days per week on-site.
Coursework includes:
- Clinical fieldwork assignments
- Additional 20+ hours/week
This program is very competitive, and only limited applications will be considered. Graduates will be prepared to work in the healthcare field as licensed occupational therapy assistants.
If you think you’re ready, visit Bristols’s AS in Occupational Therapy Assistant to start your admission.
St. Catherine University
(Blended Learning) Associate in Occupational Therapy Assistant
St. Catherine University established the first two-year occupational therapy assistant (OTA) program in the US. It has a long history of successfully educating Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants. The curriculum is intended to assist students in acquiring occupational therapy skills while also developing and refining leadership, interpersonal, and communication abilities.
Students connect with individuals and groups with physical, psychosocial, or developmental challenges. They will work in various settings in partnership with other healthcare team members.
Each student completes over 700 hours of supervised fieldwork in various clinical and community settings. Students may have fieldwork experiences within driving distance of their homes, but due to unforeseen events, traveling to a site outside that distance may be required to enhance opportunities.
Required OTA courses include:
- Foundations of Human Occupation with Lab
- Psychosocial Approaches I with Lab
- Professional Growth and Engagement
- Psychosocial Approaches II
- Rehabilitation Practice I with Lab
- Pediatric Practice I with Lab
- Aging with Lab
- Primary Care and OT
- Applied Skills with Lab
Ready for the challenge? Explore the Associate in Occupational Therapy Assistant program and see if their curriculum fits your needs.
PIMA Medical Institute
(Hybrid) Associate in Occupational Therapy Assistant
Pima Medical Institute, a college known for producing mature, competent healthcare professionals, has established one of the most effective Occupational Therapy Assistant Associate degree programs on its San Marcos campus. The roughly 20-month curriculum equips graduates to assist patients with all types of disabilities and obstacles in participating in daily activities and living independently.
Except for Las Vegas, the total program hours are 1,712 across all campuses and online. The program hours at the Las Vegas campus total 1,757. The Las Vegas program contains one more three-credit class. Graduates will be awarded an Occupational Associates degree, except those from the Houston and El Paso programs, who will be awarded an Associate of Applied Science degree.
Pima Medical OTA students are taught in small groups by experienced professors. The hands-on lab classrooms are equipped with everything needed to give the finest care possible when students enter the workforce. The program covers the following topics:
- Anatomy And Physiology
- Occupational Analysis
- Principles Of Occupational Therapy In Mental Health
- Growth And Development
Visit Pima’s Online Occupational Therapy Assistant program page for the admission process and requirements to make your resume more attractive to the healthcare field.
Penn Foster College
(Online) Career Diploma Occupational Therapy Aide
Enroll in Penn Foster Career School’s Online Occupational Therapy Aide program, and you might have your certification in as little as one month. Penn Foster’s approved Occupational Therapy Assistant curriculum teaches students the fundamentals required to work as an entry-level professional occupational therapy aide. This program emphasizes the necessity of a safe healthcare environment by discussing the impact of injuries on a human’s normal development and how daily therapies help patients recover.
In Foster’s occupational therapy education program, five courses covering topics like medical terminology, safety in the health care setting, and professional obligations, you’ll be well on your way to becoming an occupational therapy aide. Among the classes are:
- Occupational Therapy Orientation
- Medical and Body Systems Terminology
- Activities of Daily Living and Adaptive Equipment
- Therapy and Safety Skills
- Clinical Work Experience Option
Students can use an online library to supplement their studies. They can use this resource to conduct needed research for their classes and general reference and links to relevant resources. The library has articles, databases, books, and Web links to help you throughout the curriculum.
Aspiring occupational therapy assistants should take a look at a career in healthcare with Penn Foster’s Occupational Therapy (OT) Aide Program.
Pueblo Community College
(Hybrid) AAS in Occupational Therapy Assistant
Pueblo Community College offers an AAS in Occupational Therapy Assistant degree. The school includes modern classrooms and labs that aid students in acquiring actual chances as an OTA. This program teaches students how to work under the supervision of a registered occupational therapist. You will be guided on building customized rehabilitative programs, creating goals, and assisting clients in meeting their goals while monitoring their progress.
The program is available in two forms at the school. Option 1 is to take general education courses before enrolling in the program to earn more application points, which plenty recommend. Option 2 is to take general education classes while enrolled in the core program. Furthermore, both require 18 months of academic preparation and 16 weeks of fieldwork before graduation.
OTA courses include:
- Human Anatomy and Physiology I with Lab
- Introduction to Occupational Therapy
- Occupational Disruption and Activity Analysis
- Assessing Movement Through Occupation
- Geriatric Concerns, Diseases, and Treatment Techniques
Visit their AAS in Occupational Therapy Assistant website to kick off a career in Occupational Therapy.
Cleveland University
(Brick-and-mortar) AAS in Occupational Therapy Assistant
Cleveland University-Kansas City offers an Occupational Therapy Assistant Degree Program that is thorough and accredited. The curriculum prepares students for national certification and professional occupational therapy work prospects. The program consists of 15 core courses and roughly 4-5 months of fieldwork education.
The program requires 75 credit hours to be completed, with a minimum of four of those hours being completed at Cleveland. The Occupational Therapy Assistant program admits students three times a year. Academic and fieldwork courses are conducted throughout the day, with weekend rotations on occasion depending on the fieldwork assignment, and courses are administered in an 8-week structure.
OTA coursework includes:
- Analysis Of Performance
- Rehabilitation And Disability Topics
- Methods, Techniques, And Adaptive Technologies
Hands-on exercises, such as wheelchair-to-car transfers, reinforce what OTA students learn in courses and labs.
The final phase of OTA education consists of four to five months of Level I and Level II fieldwork, overseen by certified fieldwork assessors.
Be one of the most in-demand and people-first professions in the healthcare field by exploring Cleveland University’s AAS in Occupational Therapy Assistant.
Hawkeye Community College
(Traditional) AAS in Occupational Therapy Assistant
Hawkeye Community College’s Occupational Therapy Assistant degree is a campus degree that prepares you for a job in healthcare. However, some students are permitted to have some classes online. However, clinical experiences are done off-campus regardless of the class type. Local, in-state, and out-of-state sites are all possible.
You will most likely have to travel at least 2 to 3 hours away from campus for one placement to accomplish your fieldwork requirement. You cannot choose specific clinical education venues, but you may request special needs or geographical locations.
The Occupational Therapy Assistant program has two phases, each with its application. Students can complete Pre-program prerequisites on a full-time or part-time basis. Full-time enrollment in OTA professional courses is required.
Core courses include:
- Medical Terminology
- Introduction to Health Professions
- Introduction to Occupational Therapy Assistant
- Neuroanatomy for the OTA
- Human Anatomy & Physiology (Lab I and II)
- Human Movement and Occupation
- Task Analysis
- Assistive Tech and EM
Check the AAS in Occupational Therapy Assistant at Hawkeye Community College and determine if you find it to your liking.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What does an Occupational Therapy Assistant or Aide do?
Occupational Therapy Assistants and Aides are both focused on helping the patient recover or improve their skills used in everyday life. The two positions are similar; however, each has the following responsibilities:
Occupational Therapy Assistant
- Works closely with the Occupational Therapist as a healthcare professional to design occupational therapy services for the patient,
- Assists with stretches and exercises,
- Teaches patients how to navigate everyday chores, according to their abilities,
- Monitors patient’s activities and progress,
- Demonstrates how to use exercise equipment,
- Performs administrative tasks, keeping patient records and recording the patient’s progress in an occupational therapy program.
Occupational Therapy Aide
- Aides provide support to the occupational therapy assistant treatment plan,
- Transports patients as needed,
- Cleans and sets up therapy equipment for each patient,
- Does laundry, monitors inventory supplies,
- Handles clerical tasks, such as answering phones, making appointments, and filing insurance claims.
Occupational Therapy Assistants and Aides must have a heart for helping others, as they will work with young children the elderly, and all ages in between. Also, they work with patients from all walks of life, such as those born with developmental disabilities, those who have had debilitating accidents, and people who have an illness or are afflicted by a terrible disease.
How do I become an Occupational Therapy Assistant?
To become an Occupational Therapy Assistant, you will need an associate degree from an accredited college. An occupational therapy assistant program can easily be found at community colleges or trade schools. Your program will need to be properly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education.
How do I become an Occupational Therapy Aide?
To become an Occupational Therapy Aide, you will need a high school diploma or equivalent and on-the-job training by an experienced occupational therapist or therapy assistant. An associate degree may not be necessary, but a definite plus!
How long will it take to become a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant?
To become an occupational therapy assistant, you will need the proper training. An associate degree in this field will take up to two years to complete. In addition, you will be required to complete fieldwork lasting up to at least 16 weeks.
What will I learn in an Associate of Occupational Therapy Assistants degree program?
Generally, coursework in an occupational therapy assistant program will include topics, such as:
- Anatomy
- Physiology
- Patient Assessment
- Assistive Technology
- Biology
- Physical Disabilities
- Pediatric Health
- Medical Terminology
- Healthcare Fundamentals
- And, much more!
Both occupational assistant and occupational aide jobs in this field will require CPR and Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
What do I need to do to become an Occupational Therapist?
Occupational Therapists must have a master’s degree and a license to practice. They earn approximately $93,180 annually, with the highest 10% earning $123,870 per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
As an assistant, you may locate a “bridge” program that will allow you to advance to therapist status.
How much do Occupational Therapy Assistants earn?
As of May 2022, the Bureau of Labor Statistics states that the median annual wage for an Occupational Therapy Assistant was $64,250 annually, with the highest 10% earning upwards of $85,580 or more per year. An Occupational Therapy Assistant can earn more by pursuing a career as an Occupational Therapist with some additional training and education.
How much does an Occupational Therapy Aide earn?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Therapy Aides earned a salary of $37,060 per year as of May 2022. The highest 10% made upwards of $68,070 annually, depending on experience. With additional training, an Occupational Therapy Aide can be promoted to an Occupational Therapy Assistant.
What is the job outlook for Occupational Therapy Assistants or Aides?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there is an expected 23% job growth rate for Occupational Therapy Assistants and Aides over the next ten years. Job placement rates suggest that approximately 11,000 new jobs per year will be added to the labor workforce, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
These opportunities are due in part to health issues that tend to plague the aging population. Occupational therapy assistant jobs are plentiful, so, don’t put it off… become an occupational therapy assistant today. It’s a great way to help others through the healthcare field!
How much do Occupational Therapists earn in comparison to becoming an Assistant?
If you decide to advance in your career and become a fully licensed Occupational Therapist with a master’s degree, naturally, you would expect an exorbitant pay raise, right? After all, the costs of getting your degree will need to bring you an excellent return on your investment.
So, if you decide it is worth it… The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that as of May 2021, licensed Occupational Therapists earned $93,180 annually on average, with the highest 10% earning upwards of $123,870 yearly.
Will I need an Occupational Therapy Assistant license?
The field of Occupational Therapy is well-regulated. To become licensed as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA), you will need to receive your training from an accredited training facility, complete the fieldwork, and pass the certification examination provided by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT).
Continued education is a must as well if you plan to maintain your Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant license.
State laws do not regulate Occupational Therapy Aides; therefore, certification is unnecessary.
If you would like to showcase your expertise in a particular area, such as eating and swallowing, or for those who are vision-impaired, the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) offers specialty certifications. If you want to up your game, successful completion of specialty or advanced certifications through the American Occupational Therapy Association can earn you some additional money in your paycheck!
Is being an Occupational Therapy Assistant a hard job?
Occupational Therapy Assistants and Aides often suffer injuries due to the physical demands of the job. Prepare to spend a lot of time on your feet with wear and tear on the knees and back from the heavy lifting of patients.
Although physically demanding, occupational therapy assistant jobs are considered one of the less mentally stressful jobs within healthcare. Occupational therapy assistant jobs are often found in less demanding facilities, such as a nursing home facility or an occupational therapy clinic.
What sort of patients will I work with as an Occupational Therapist Assistant?
The type of patients occupational therapy assistants will work with may depend on your employer, for some clinics focus on a specific demographic, such as children or geriatric patients.
In addition, you will work with people who have physical disabilities or debilitating illnesses. They typically need assistance with sharpening their sensory-motor skills, visual-perceptual skills, and cognitive skills.
Often, patients need help learning how to cook, feed themselves, bathe, get dressed, and possibly drive.
Key Takeaways
- Certified occupational therapy assistants facilitate the care of patients who need extra help learning to do everyday tasks, primarily assisting the occupational therapist.
- An occupational therapy education program can be completed in about two years, earning you an associate’s degree. Your associate’s degree program as an occupational therapy assistant is offered through your local community college or technical school. Successful completion can get your healthcare career started in no time.
- Occupational therapy services include a wide range of tasks, from personal care tasks to work-related skills. They provide valuable educational services to their clients.
- Occupational therapy assistants work in a wide array of work environments, such as nursing care facilities, clinics, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities. Patients develop trust in their therapists and assistants.
- Specialty certifications can be obtained from the American Occupational Therapy Association.
- Occupational therapy practitioners have a giving and caring heart… So, become an occupational therapy assistant today!
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