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Occupational therapist assistants work under the direction of occupational therapists to provide rehabilitative services to persons with mental, physical, emotional or developmental impairments. The goal is to improve clients’ quality of life and ability to perform daily activities.
Occupational therapist assistants help clients with rehabilitative activities and exercises outlined in a treatment plan developed in collaboration with an occupational therapist. Activities range from teaching the proper method of moving from a bed into a wheelchair to the best way to stretch and limber the muscles of the hand.
Assistants monitor an individual’s activities to make sure that they are performed correctly and to provide encouragement. They also record their client’s progress for the occupational therapist. If the treatment is not having the intended effect, or the client is not improving as expected, the therapist may alter the treatment program in hopes of obtaining better results.
How long will it take?
An associate degree or a certificate from an accredited community college or technical school is generally required to qualify for occupational therapist assistant jobs. At AC, your training will take 24 months.
How much can you earn?
Median annual earnings of occupational therapist assistants were $42,060 in 2006.
Where can you work?
About 29% of jobs for occupational therapist assistants are in hospital, another 23% work in offices of occupational therapists and 21% work in nursing and residential care facilities.
AC can help you get there!
Occupational Therapy Assistant
