Occupational Therapist Assistants and Occupational Therapy Aides

Job Description: Occupational Therapist Assistants help clients with activities and exercises specified in a treatment plan developed with an occupational therapist. OT Aides prepare materials and equipment used during treatment. They also perform clerical duties.

Employment Facts: Occupational therapist assistants held about 21,000 jobs and occupational therapist aides held approximately 5,400 in 2004. Most jobs were in hospitals and in the offices of other health care practitioners and nursing care facilities.

Education: Occupational Therapist Assistants are required to have an associate degree or a certificate from an accredited community college or technical school. Occupational Therapy Aides usually receive most of their training on the job.

Other Requirements: In most states OT Assistants must pass a national certification exam.

Job Outlook: Employment of occupational therapist assistants and aides is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations through 2014.

Earnings: Median annual earnings of occupational therapist assistants were $38,430 in 2004. Median annual earnings of occupational therapy aides were $23,150 for the same year.

A Day in an Occupational Therapist Assistant's Life: On a typical day an occupational therapist assistant will:

• help clients with rehabilitative activities and exercises outlined in a treatment plan developed in collaboration with an occupational therapist;
• monitor an individual’s activities to make sure that they are performed correctly and to provide encouragement;
• record their client’s progress for the occupational therapist;
• document the billing of the client’s health insurance provider;

A Day in an Occupational Therapist Aide's Life: On a typical day an occupational therapist aide will:

• prepare materials and assemble equipment used during treatment.;
• schedule appointments, answer the telephone, restock or order depleted supplies, and fill out insurance forms or other paperwork.;

*This is the most recent year for which this information is available.

Information courtesy of Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2006-07 Edition, Occupational Therapist Assistants and Aides, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos166.htm (visited April 17, 2006).