Description
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.
Interests
- Social
- Conventional
- Realistic
Work Values
- Relationships
- Achievement
- Working Conditions
Work Styles
- Concern for Others
- Integrity
- Cooperation
- Adaptability/Flexibility
- Attention to Detail
Tasks
- 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.
Work Activities
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Documenting/Recording Information
- Assisting and Caring for Others
- Thinking Creatively
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
Detailed Work Activities
- Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
- Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
- Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
- Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
- Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
- Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
- Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
- Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
- Performing general physical activities includes doing activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.
- Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Technology Skills
- Medical software
- Presentation software
- Accounting software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Computer based training software
Abilities
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Problem Sensitivity
- Written Expression
- Written Comprehension
Skills
- Active Listening
- Service Orientation
- Social Perceptiveness
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
Knowledge
- Customer and Personal Service
- Psychology
- Education and Training
- English Language
- Therapy and Counseling
Most Common Education Level
The “Most Common Education Level” refers to the level of education held by the majority of workers in a given occupation. For example, if the highest percentage of workers in a role have an Associate’s Degree, that suggests this is the typical educational requirement. Knowing this helps you plan how many years of education you may need to pursue that career.
Certificates
Certificate name
Occupational Therapy Assistant: Low VisionCertifying Organization
American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc.
Type
Specialty
Certificate name
Assistive Technology ProfessionalCertifying Organization
Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America
Type
Specialty
Certificate name
Occupational Therapy Assistant: Driving and Community MobilityCertifying Organization
American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc.
Type
Specialty
Certificate name
Orthopaedic Technologist CertifiedCertifying Organization
National Board for Certification of Orthopaedic Technololgists
Type
Specialty
Certificate name
Seating and Mobility SpecialistCertifying Organization
Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America
Type
Specialty
Income Percentile
The income percentiles show how earnings are distributed within a profession. The 10th percentile means that 10% of workers earned less than that amount. The median (50th percentile) indicates that half of workers earned more, and half earned less. The 90th percentile reflects what the top 10% of earners in the field make.
| Income Percentile | Annual Income |
|---|---|
| Low (10%) | $51,612 |
| Median (50%) | $62,935 |
| High (90%) | $77,239 |
Income by Experience
This table shows how income typically grows with experience—from entry level (0–2 years), to mid-level (3–5 years), to senior level (6–8 years), to expert level (8+ years).
| Experience | Income |
|---|---|
Entry Level  | $61,014 |
| Mid Level | $72,629 |
| Senior Level | $81,382 |
| Expert Level | $74,128 |
Employability
There are currently 47,500 jobs in this career path. Over the next 10 years, that number is expected to increase to 58,100 positions, reflecting a projected growth of 22%.
The Projected Job Growth figure refers to the expected increase or decrease in employment within a specific career field over a certain period of time.
Projected Job Growth of 22%
Related Careers
The career information and data on this site incorporates information from O*NET Web Services, Lightcast, CareerOneStop, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). For more details regarding the data sources and the specific information sourced, click here.
Career Resources
Search All Careers
Compare Careers
Income Outlook
Career Pathways
Career Clusters
Job Suite Home
CV Templates
Resume Templates
Cover Letter Templates
All Templates
Job Resources
Blog Articles
Podcast