Learn About Occupational Therapist Assistant, Occupational Therapy Assistant Schools, Training, Jobs, and Careers

What is an Occupational Therapist Assistant?
Because of the nature of their work, occupational therapists need assistants. They can not perform all the things needed in patient’s rehabilitation all by themselves. So occupational therapists (OTs) need occupational therapy assistants (OTAs) to help them out.

The OTAs work under the supervision of the OT to rehabilitate people with mental, emotional, physical, and/or developmental challenge. The aim of both is to get the patient to live an independent life or close to it. The occupational therapist plays the following roles in the process:

1. Teaching the patient how to move from a bed to a wheelchair
2. Teaching the physically challenged patient how to perform the physical exercises recommended by the occupational therapist
3. Teaching mentally challenged patients how to perform basic life skills, like using the restroom
4. Monitoring patients to make sure they are following the treatment plan of the OT
5. Reporting treatment progress to the occupational therapist
6. Ordering supplies needed for patients treatment
7. Sending out bills to insurance companies and patients
8. Etc.

This is another profession where being physically fit is necessary. You may be required to help lift patients in and out of bed or wheelchair.

How to Become an Occupational Therapist Assistant:
To become an OTA, you need a certificate in occupational therapy assistant as a minimum. Most OTAs get an associate degree in occupational therapy assistant.

As usual, you first need to get your high school diploma or equivalent. You then need to attend a school offering the occupational therapy assistant program. While in this school, you should expect to take such classes as:

a. Introduction to Occupational Therapy
b. Medical Terminology
c. Kinesiology for Occupational Therapy Assistants
d. Human Anatomy
e. Therapeutic Exercise
f. Occupational Therapy for Pediatric Patients
g. Occupational Therapy for Adults
h. Etc.

You will need to get certified after you graduate. To get certification, you need to take and pass the national certification examination. Passing this exam will allow you to have the title of Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA).

Occupational Therapist Assistant Salary:
OTAs make good salary. The average salary per year is $44,000. We have also seen some that make as much as $50,000 per year. This depends on your level of education, location, and level of responsibility.

Occupational Therapist Assistant School:
If you want to get into the OTA profession, we have the school for you. The school is Keiser University. Keiser University offers the associate of science in occupational therapy assistant. You should request for their program information to check it out. You can do so by clicking this link.

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