subject: Occupational Therapy Assistant Programs [print this page] Occupational therapy assistant programs train individuals for a career in the field of occupational therapy. Occupational therapy assistants focus on the physical, psychological and social needs of their clients, and help people function at the highest possible level by concentrating on what is important to them to rebuild their health, independence and self-esteem. Occupational therapy can be a very rewarding career.
A Career as an Occupational Therapy Assistant
Occupational therapy assistants help people of all ages develop, regain or master everyday skills in order to live life to its fullest. By focusing on the physical, psychological and social needs of its clients, occupational therapy helps people function at the highest possible level by concentrating on what is important to them to rebuild their health, independence and self-esteem.
An occupational therapy assistant is a skilled licensed, registered or certified health care worker who carries out treatment plans under the guidance and supervision of an occupational therapist. These specially trained and credentialed professionals rely on evidence-based best practices and science-driven data in order to constantly improve patient outcomes.
Occupational Therapy Assistant Programs
Occupational therapy assistant programs train individuals to provide treatment interventions to infants, children, adults and geriatric patients in settings such as public schools, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, mental health centers, nursing homes and other community settings.
Through an occupational therapy assistant program, you'll acquire the necessary skills for an entry-level position as an occupational therapy assistant. Coursework may include medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, growth and development, kinesiology and occupational therapy for mental and physical health. Many well-respected programs offer a hands-on education component, where students shadow or train with practicing occupational therapists in the community.
Program length varies by school, but you can expect to complete your education in less than two years.
Occupational Therapy Assistants are In-Demand
Occupational therapy assistant programs prepare you to enter one of the fastest growing job fields in the United States. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects demand for occupational therapist assistants and aids will grow 30 percent through 2018, thanks to an aging population who is particularly vulnerable to chronic and debilitation conditions that require therapeutic services.
Getting Certified to Practice
Graduates of an accredited occupational therapy assistant program will be eligible to take the national certification examination for the occupational therapy assistant. This exam is administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of the exam, the individual will be a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA).
