Occupation · SOC 31-2011
Occupational Therapy Assistants
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.
Median wage
$68,340
$49,070–$86,930
Projected growth
+19.3%
Faster than average
Annual openings
950
per year
Employed (US)
47,910
Job Zone 3
Typical preparation
Medium preparation
Stackable credential programs
60 mapped
Core skills
Social PerceptivenessService OrientationActive ListeningSpeakingReading ComprehensionTime ManagementCritical ThinkingMonitoring
Knowledge areas
Customer and Personal ServicePsychologyEducation and TrainingEnglish LanguageTherapy and Counseling
Technology & tools
Accounting softwareBilling and invoicing softwareMedical softwareComputer based training softwareAction games
Representative 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.Implement, or assist occupational therapists with implementing, treatment plans designed to help clients function independently.Report to supervisors, verbally or in writing, on patients' progress, attitudes, and behavior.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.Aid patients in dressing and grooming themselves.Attend continuing education classes.Evaluate the daily living skills or capacities of clients with physical, developmental, or mental health disabilities.Communicate and collaborate with other healthcare professionals involved with the care of a patient.Work under the direction of occupational therapists to plan, implement, or administer educational, vocational, or recreational programs that restore or enhance performance in individuals with functional impairments.Alter treatment programs to obtain better results if treatment is not having the intended effect.Assemble, clean, or maintain equipment or materials for patient use.Design, fabricate, or repair assistive devices or make adaptive changes to equipment or environments.Transport patients to and from the occupational therapy work area.Attend care plan meetings to review patient progress and update care plans.Demonstrate therapy techniques, such as manual or creative arts or games.Teach patients how to deal constructively with their emotions.Order any needed educational or treatment supplies.Perform clerical duties, such as scheduling appointments, collecting data, or documenting health insurance billings.Assist educational specialists or clinical psychologists in administering situational or diagnostic tests to measure client's abilities or progress.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Treatment plan instructions — follow under direct occupational therapist supervision when implementing assigned therapy activities in a clinical or rehabilitation setting.Patient progress notes — record basic observations of attitudes and behavior in client records under guidance from a supervising therapist.Adaptive equipment — identify correct items and demonstrate proper use to patients and families under direct instruction in a clinical environment.Therapy activity materials — prepare and organize according to the therapist's specifications before scheduled patient sessions in a rehabilitation unit.Patient monitoring — observe performance during therapy activities and report significant changes verbally to the supervising occupational therapist.Basic living skills instruction — assist patients in practicing foundational daily tasks under close oversight during structured therapy sessions.Professional communication — convey patient progress and behavior to supervisors using simple verbal reports at the end of each shift.Continuing education courses — attend assigned training sessions and apply introductory concepts under mentorship during on-the-job practice.Electronic health record software — enter basic patient data and session notes following established data entry protocols in a supervised clinic.Positive therapeutic rapport — demonstrate respectful, empathetic interaction with clients and families during introductory patient contact in care settings.
developing
Home program instructions — teach patients and family members independent home exercise and adaptive strategies with moderate oversight in outpatient or home health settings.Treatment plan implementation — carry out occupational therapist-designed plans for a routine caseload, adjusting activity pacing to match patient capabilities.Written progress reports — compose structured written documentation of patient progress, attitudes, and behavior for inclusion in clinical records with periodic therapist review.Therapy activity selection — choose appropriate activities from an established repertoire that fit individual patient needs and functional capabilities across familiar diagnoses.Encouragement and motivation — apply consistent positive reinforcement techniques during therapy sessions to sustain client engagement and effort.Time management — organize and prioritize a daily schedule of multiple patient sessions to meet productivity standards in a busy rehabilitation department.Medical software navigation — enter, retrieve, and update patient data efficiently using electronic health record and billing systems in a clinical setting.Active listening skills — interpret patient concerns and feedback accurately during sessions to inform real-time adjustments to therapeutic activities.Basic problem solving — identify routine barriers to patient participation and apply standard solutions within established protocols under reduced therapist direction.Continuing education content — apply newly acquired skills from professional development courses to routine patient care situations with growing independence.
proficient
Complex treatment implementation — execute comprehensive, therapist-designed treatment plans autonomously for patients with varied and non-routine functional limitations across inpatient, outpatient, and community settings.Patient and family education — design and deliver individualized home program instruction on adaptive equipment use and daily living strategies, independently tailoring content to literacy and learning needs.Clinical documentation — produce thorough, accurate written reports on patient progress and behavior that meet regulatory, accreditation, and insurance documentation standards without supervisory editing.Activity modification — independently adapt therapy tasks and environments to address unexpected patient performance changes, applying critical thinking and knowledge of psychosocial and physical factors.Social perceptiveness — detect subtle shifts in patient affect, motivation, and behavior across sessions and incorporate these observations into ongoing care recommendations to the supervising therapist.Caseload coordination — manage a full caseload efficiently, balancing scheduling demands, productivity expectations, and individualized patient priorities in a high-volume rehabilitation setting.Interdisciplinary communication — present patient status clearly and professionally in team meetings, contributing occupational therapy assistant perspectives to collaborative care planning discussions.Systems analysis — evaluate workflow processes within the therapy department and recommend procedural improvements that enhance patient throughput and documentation quality.Technology integration — leverage medical software, spreadsheets, and data query tools to track patient outcomes, identify trends, and support evidence-informed care decisions.Professional development leadership — independently seek advanced continuing education opportunities and integrate emerging best practices into daily therapeutic interventions across a diverse patient population.
advanced
Program development — design and implement structured occupational therapy assistant service delivery models that align with organizational goals and regulatory requirements across multi-site healthcare settings.Staff mentorship — guide, train, and evaluate new occupational therapy assistants and students, translating clinical standards into observable competency benchmarks within a department or facility.Quality improvement leadership — lead systematic review of therapy outcomes data, identify performance gaps, and drive evidence-based protocol changes that elevate care standards organization-wide.Policy and procedure authorship — develop and update departmental policies for documentation, safety, and patient care workflows, ensuring compliance with state licensure and accreditation bodies.Supervisory reporting systems — establish structured verbal and written reporting frameworks that enable consistent, high-quality communication between assistants and occupational therapists across a department.Community and family education strategy — create scalable instructional programs on adaptive living and home care for diverse patient populations, incorporating adult learning principles and cultural competence.Interdisciplinary collaboration leadership — represent the occupational therapy assistant role in facility-level care coordination committees, shaping policies that integrate therapy services with nursing, social work, and case management.Budget and resource stewardship — oversee procurement and maintenance of therapeutic equipment and adaptive devices, balancing cost efficiency with patient care quality in a healthcare organization.Continuing education program design — develop and facilitate in-service training curricula for therapy support staff, aligning content with current O*NET competencies and evolving clinical evidence.Ethical and professional standards advocacy — model and uphold the highest standards of integrity, empathy, and patient-centered practice while influencing departmental culture and guiding staff through complex ethical decisions.
Also known as
62 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Medical Specialist Corps Officer (Army 65)SNF COTA (Skilled Nursing Facility Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant)Dental Assistant (Air Force 4Y0X1)Physical Therapy Specialist (Army 68F)Occupational Therapist (Air Force 42T3)Physical Medicine Helper, Orthotic (Air Force 4J012A)Physical Medicine Journeyman, Orthotic (Air Force 4J052A)Occupational Therapist (Air Force 42T4)Physical Medicine Journeyman (Air Force 4J052)Occupational Therapist Assistant (OTA)Occupational Therapist (Navy 0874)Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA)Dental Assistant Helper (Air Force 4Y011)Health Services Management Superintendent (Air Force 4A091)Licensed Occupational Therapy Assistant (LOTA)School Based Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (School Based COTA)Health Services Management Craftsman, Health Information Technology (Air Force 4A071S)Licensed Occupational Therapist Assistant (LOTA)Nursing Facility COTA (Nursing Facility Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant)Rehabilitation AssistantPhysical Medicine Craftsman, Orthotic (Air Force 4J072A)Dental Assistant Journeyman (Air Force 4Y051)Occupational Therapist (Air Force 42T1)Health Services Management Helper (Air Force 4A011)Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA)Health Services Management Journeyman (Air Force 4A051)Registered Therapist AssistantCertified Occupational AssistantMedical Administration Specialty (Coast Guard MED)Occupational Therapy (Army 65A)Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA)Physical Medicine (Air Force 4J0X2)Dental Assistant Journeyman, Dental Hygienist (Air Force 4Y051H)Hospital Corpsman (Navy HM)Occupational Therapy AssistantHealth Services Management (Air Force 4A0X1)Dental Assistant Craftsman, Dental Hygienist (Air Force 4Y071H)Health Services Technician (Coast Guard HS)Physical Medicine Apprentice (Air Force 4J032)Dental Assistant Apprentice (Air Force 4Y031)