Career Overview
Under close supervision of an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant, perform only delegated, selected, or routine tasks in specific situations. These duties include preparing patient and treatment room.
Also Known As
- Occupational Therapy Aide (OT Aide)
- Rehabilitation Aide (Rehab Aide)
- Rehabilitation Services Aide
- Restorative Aide
Alternate Job Titles
- Certified Occupational Rehabilitation Aide (CORA)
- Direct Service Professional (DSP)
- Direct Support Professional (DSP)
- Independent Living Specialist
- Occupational Rehabilitation Aide
- Occupational Therapist Aide (OT Aide)
- Occupational Therapy Aide (OT Aide)
- Rehabilitation Aide (Rehab Aide)
- Rehabilitation Nursing Technician (Rehab Nursing Tech)
- Rehabilitation Services Aide
- Rehabilitation Services Technician (Rehab Services Tech)
- Rehabilitation Therapy Aide (Rehab Therapy Aide)
- Rehabilitation Therapy Technician (Rehab Therapy Tech)
- Restorative Aide
- SNF COTA (Skilled Nursing Facility Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant)
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- Encourage patients and attend to their physical needs to facilitate the attainment of therapeutic goals.
- Report to supervisors or therapists, verbally or in writing, on patients' progress, attitudes, attendance, and accomplishments.
- Observe patients' attendance, progress, attitudes, and accomplishments and record and maintain information in client records.
- Prepare and maintain work area, materials, and equipment and maintain inventory of treatment and educational supplies.
- Transport patients to and from the occupational therapy work area.
- Instruct patients and families in work, social, and living skills, the care and use of adaptive equipment, and other skills to facilitate home and work adjustment to disability.
- Assist occupational therapists in planning, implementing, and administering therapy programs to restore, reinforce, and enhance performance, using selected activities and special equipment.
Emerging Responsibilities
As this field evolves, you may also:
- Sanitize equipment.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Therapy and Counseling
- English Language
- Customer and Personal Service
- Psychology
- Computers and Electronics
- Education and Training
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Service Orientation
- Speaking
- Social Perceptiveness
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Oral Comprehension
- Problem Sensitivity
- Oral Expression
- Speech Recognition
- Deductive Reasoning
- Speech Clarity
- Information Ordering
- Written Comprehension
- Written Expression
- Finger Dexterity
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Empathy
- Cooperation
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Social Orientation
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Relationships
- Support
- Achievement
- Independence
- Working Conditions
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
On-the-Job Training: Anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month
Education Details: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Experience Required: Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- MEDITECH software
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
Tools & Equipment
- Adaptive cutlery
- Augmentative communication systems
- Beading needles
- Braille writers
- Canes
- Communication boards
- Crochet hooks
- Crutches
- Desktop computers
- Dressing sticks
- Hand weights
- Knitting needles
- Lacing needles
- Latch hooks
- Leather scissors
Work Environment
- Contact With Others
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
- Physical Proximity
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $27,970 |
| Median | $37,370 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $65,580 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 5,000
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Physical Therapist Aides
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $34,520
Occupational Therapy Assistants
Education: Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
Median Salary: $68,340
Physical Therapist Assistants
Education: Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
Median Salary: $65,510
Psychiatric Technicians
Education: Some College Courses
Median Salary: $42,590
Rehabilitation Counselors
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $46,110
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.