Occupational Therapist Assistant

An occupational therapist assistant is a professional that assists an occupational therapist in various tasks related to courses of therapy. These professionals perform many of the tasks that do not require the direct expertise or decisions of a licensed occupational therapist. This profession is less regulated than occupational therapy and thus is easier to get into educationally and employment wise. The following are some of the important specifics of this field:

Occupational Therapist Assistant Job Duties

An occupational therapist assistant handles tasks involved in the implementation of occupational therapy. These tasks are part of whatever regimen has been outlined by the occupational therapist.  Thus, the assistant is directed quite specifically by the supervising occupational therapist as to what to do. The occupational therapy assistant can exercise a certain amount of professional judgment on their own, but they generally are not allowed to engage in decision making that could affect the course of the occupational therapy plan.

So the occupational therapist handles the nuts and bolts of the process. They may be involved in instructing a patient to do certain exercises to increase muscle strength, helping with and instructing them in how to perform daily tasks, overseeing a patient’s activities to insure safety and therapeutic value, and recording their progress and the activities in which the individual is involved. An assistant might also be called upon to administer cognitive or perceptual tests and exercises such as ones designed to test or rehabilitate memory or coordination skills.

Occupational therapist assistant jobs take place at the same sort of establishments where occupational therapist jobs do – home care services, hospitals, physician practices, schools, programs for the mentally disabled or disturbed, and so on.

Education

The standard educational level for an occupational therapist to attain is an Associate’s degree. This program generally needs to be earned from an accredited educational program which is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE), the same national organization that accredits occupational therapist training programs. There are well over 100 of these programs in existence nationwide.

These occupational therapist assistant training programs include basic courses in anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, the field of health care in general, psychology, pediatrics and gerontology, and adult disabilities. They also include or require 4 months or more of practical field experience in occupational therapy assistance.

Licensing

Occupational therapist assistants are required to be licensed by 40 US states.  Thus licensing requirements are variable. The eligibility requirements also vary by state.  So the best bet is to check with a state licensing board or other appropriate government office at the state level as to what the requirements are as regards your specific state.

Certification

The National Board for Certifying Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) offers a national exam that certifies occupational therapist assistants. This exam is voluntary but can serve as an important credential, making it easier for an occupational therapy assistant to find employment. Successfully completing the exam results in an individual being given the Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) title.

Salary

Though not as well paid as occupational therapists, occupational therapist assistants nevertheless make a respectable living. It is not uncommon for them to earn in the neighborhood of $50,000 a year. This varies depending on location and job type but this is a common rate to earn in the field on average.

Becoming an occupational therapist assistant allows an individual to serve in many of the functions of an occupational therapist without investing as much time and money into the educational process. So it is a good choice for those interested in this profession but who however do not wish to pursue a graduate degree.