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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.
Other titles employers use
Acute Care Occupational Therapy Assistant (Acute Care OT Assistant) · Certified Occupational Assistant · Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA) · Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) · Licensed Occupational Therapist Assistant (LOTA) · Licensed Occupational Therapy Assistant (LOTA) · Occupational Therapist Assistant (OTA) · Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA)
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- 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.
- Implement, or assist occupational therapists with implementing, treatment plans designed to help clients function independently.
- Monitor patients' performance in therapy activities, providing encouragement.
- Observe and record patients' progress, attitudes, and behavior and maintain this information in client records.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to helping, organizing and practical work.
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
- Practical
- Building, repairing, using tools, or working outdoors
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Social Perceptiveness
- Service Orientation
- Reading Comprehension
- Time Management
Subjects to know
- Customer and Personal Service
- Psychology
- Education and Training
- English Language
- Therapy and Counseling
Useful strengths
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Written Expression
- Problem Sensitivity
- Written Comprehension
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 4.8 | Arm’s length or closer, most of the day |
| On your feet | 4.2 | Standing or moving for most of it |
| Talking face to face | 4.7 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 3.2 | Some of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for an associate degree. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- A two-year degree 92%
- A certificate or some college 5%
- A four-year degree 3%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Medical software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Electronic mail software
- Web page creation and editing software
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
- Presentation software
- Operating system software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 5,620
- Job openings each year
- 810
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 31.3%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 5,620 | 810 | 31.3% |
| Florida | 4,760 | 690 | 35.2% |
| Ohio | 3,660 | 520 | 19.6% |
| California | 3,600 | 520 | 33.3% |
| New York | 2,950 | 60 | 26.1% |
| Illinois | 2,800 | 400 | 25.6% |
| Pennsylvania | 2,700 | 390 | 23.9% |
| Michigan | 1,790 | 260 | 27.0% |
| North Carolina | 1,780 | 260 | 35.9% |
| Arizona | 1,670 | 240 | 46.5% |
| Missouri | 1,490 | 220 | 28.4% |
| Indiana | 1,280 | 180 | 28.0% |
| Tennessee | 1,260 | 180 | 40.0% |
| Georgia | 1,240 | 180 | 26.5% |
| Wisconsin | 1,240 | 180 | 19.2% |
| Virginia | 1,230 | 180 | 24.2% |
| Colorado | 1,160 | 170 | 31.8% |
| Washington | 1,050 | 180 | 28.0% |
| Maryland | 1,040 | 150 | 25.3% |
| Louisiana | 940 | 140 | 27.0% |
| Connecticut | 920 | 130 | 24.3% |
| Oklahoma | 800 | 110 | 21.2% |
| Minnesota | 770 | 110 | 20.3% |
| South Carolina | 750 | 110 | 29.3% |
| New Jersey | 720 | 100 | 26.3% |
| Arkansas | 670 | 100 | 34.0% |
| Kansas | 660 | 90 | 20.0% |
| Iowa | 630 | 90 | 34.0% |
| Massachusetts | 620 | 90 | 26.5% |
| Alabama | 610 | 90 | 32.6% |
| Rhode Island | 550 | 80 | 27.9% |
| Kentucky | 530 | 80 | 20.5% |
| Mississippi | 530 | 80 | 26.2% |
| Utah | 500 | 80 | 66.7% |
| Nebraska | 330 | 50 | 32.0% |
| Nevada | 310 | 50 | 34.8% |
| Idaho | 290 | 40 | 45.0% |
| West Virginia | 290 | 40 | 26.1% |
| Maine | 240 | 30 | 20.0% |
| New Mexico | 220 | 30 | 29.4% |
| Delaware | 170 | 30 | 30.8% |
| North Dakota | 110 | 20 | 37.5% |
| South Dakota | 90 | 10 | 12.5% |
| Wyoming | 80 | 10 | 14.3% |
| District of Columbia | 70 | 10 | 16.7% |
| Alaska | 50 | 10 | — |
| Vermont | 40 | 10 | — |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
Ohio State University-Main Campus
- Degrees each year
- 436
- Admit rate
- 51%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000
University of Connecticut
- Degrees each year
- 199
- Admit rate
- 54%
- Annual cost after aid
- $21,000
Nova Southeastern University
- Degrees each year
- 34
- Admit rate
- 73%
- Annual cost after aid
- $30,000
St. Joseph's University-New York
- Degrees each year
- 25
- Admit rate
- 71%
- Annual cost after aid
- $17,000
Cedarville University
- Degrees each year
- 25
- Admit rate
- 63%
- Annual cost after aid
- $20,000
Widener University
- Degrees each year
- 4
- Admit rate
- 84%
- Annual cost after aid
- $23,000
University of Connecticut-Stamford
- Degrees each year
- 1
- Admit rate
- 80%
- Annual cost after aid
- $16,000
Compare every college offering allied health and medical assisting services