Career Overview
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.
Also Known As
- Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA)
- Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA)
- Licensed Occupational Therapy Assistant (LOTA)
- Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA)
Alternate Job Titles
- Acute Care Occupational Therapy Assistant (Acute Care OT Assistant)
- Certified Occupational Assistant
- Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA)
- Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA)
- Certified Travel OTA (Certified Travel Occupational Therapist Assistant)
- Home Health COTA (Home Health Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant)
- Independent Living Specialist
- Licensed Occupational Therapist Assistant (LOTA)
- Licensed Occupational Therapy Assistant (LOTA)
- Nursing Facility COTA (Nursing Facility Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant)
- Occupational Therapist Assistant (OTA)
- Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA)
- Occupational Therapy Technician
- Registered Therapist Assistant
- Rehabilitation Assistant
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- 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.
- Select therapy activities to fit patients' needs and capabilities.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Customer and Personal Service
- Psychology
- Education and Training
- English Language
- Therapy and Counseling
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Social Perceptiveness
- Service Orientation
- Reading Comprehension
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Written Expression
- Problem Sensitivity
- Written Comprehension
- Near Vision
- Information Ordering
- Speech Clarity
- Deductive Reasoning
- Inductive Reasoning
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Empathy
- Dependability
- Cooperation
- Attention to Detail
- Social Orientation
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Relationships
- Achievement
- Working Conditions
- Support
- Independence
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year
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
- eClinicalWorks EHR software
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Windows
- Microsoft Word
Tools & Equipment
- Alternative computer keyboards
- Arm braces
- Augmentative communication systems
- Automatic dishwashing systems
- Back braces
- Balance boards
- Beading needles
- Braille writers
- C clamps
- Canes
- Ceramic modeling tools
- Ceramics kilns
- Cold packs
- Commercial cooking ovens
- Commercial microwave ovens
Work Environment
- Exposed to Disease or Infections
- Contact With Others
- Physical Proximity
- Time Pressure
- Frequency of Decision Making
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $49,070 |
| Median | $68,340 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $86,930 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 47,910
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Occupational Therapy Aides
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $37,370
Physical Therapist Assistants
Education: Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
Median Salary: $65,510
Physical Therapist Aides
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $34,520
Psychiatric Technicians
Education: Some College Courses
Median Salary: $42,590
Respiratory Therapists
Education: Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
Median Salary: $80,450
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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.