There’s a great path to career success when you learn all about becoming an Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA). You can get there with a 2-year OTA degree from an Occupational Therapy Assistant program that’s accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE).
If you’re unfamiliar with today’s expanded healthcare roles, you may not know about the occupational therapy profession. (Occupational therapy’s been practiced since the early 1900s.)
Occupational therapy practitioners provide expert assistance to those with developmental, sensory, mental, emotional, or physical challenges.
Occupational therapy is delivered by a team consisting of an occupational therapist (OT) and an occupational therapy assistant (OTA). The OTA uses knowledge and creativity to carry out the treatment plan, monitor progress toward goals, and adjust treatment exercises and activities as needed.
When you have a passion for helping people, and a talent for coaching and encouraging, the OTA degree is an excellent way to have a fulfilling career.
Valerie earned her A.A.S. in OTA in 2023.
Valerie S. earned her OTA degree in less than two years at Cleveland University-Kansas City (CUKC), completing the University’s ACOTE-accredited Occupational Therapy Assistant program.
“One of my favorite things about occupational therapy is you look at someone as a whole person,” she says. “The purpose of occupational therapy is to get people back to doing the things they love to do and to keep them as independent as possible.”
The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) identifies six major practice areas for the occupational health field:
Because OTAs are effective in improving the quality of life for so many and can work in so many different environments, the occupational therapy career field is growing significantly. OTAs are in high demand because they work one-on-one with clients.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 25% growth in the field between 2021 and 2031, nearly triple the national average for all other professions.
Children and Youth
Helping children and youth might involve promoting participation in daily routines in a school or home setting. A child or teenager might be struggling with specific problems:
Health and Wellness
There’s abundant evidence that better overall health requires physical and emotional well-being strategies. OTAs use many different therapeutic techniques and adaptive equipment to maximize independence and improve overall well-being.
Mental Health
OTAs have skills in when and how to use various interventions and strategies. These strategies include activity-based interventions, instructing in emotional regulation and coping skills, and facilitating group therapy sessions and support groups.
Productive Aging
With older age comes a greater chance of diseases, disorders, or injuries. Using a whole-person approach central to occupational therapy, OTAs are instrumental in maintaining – or getting back – a strong quality of life through home assessment services or using adaptive tools or technologies.
Rehabilitation and Disability
During rehabilitation, OTAs can help clients manage the emotional and psychological aspects of recovery, provide guidance on adaptive strategies, and promote self-management skills.
Work and Industry
Absences due to on-the-job injuries and various musculoskeletal conditions take a painful toll on worker pay, days off duty, or both. OTAs can evaluate worksites and recommend modifications or adaptations to optimize safety, productivity, and employee well-being.
You only have to look at job data to see that an OTA degree can open the door to a stable career. The median annual wage for OTAs with several years of experience is $61,730, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
In the U.S., newly certified occupational therapy assistants typically earn $46,000 to $48,000 per year. Regions with high demand for OTAs will see higher salaries.
Cleveland University-Kansas City (CUKC) is a nonprofit, private, healthcare-focused university in Overland Park, Kansas. Since 1922, we’ve been educating and developing leaders in health promotion.
CUKC offers an Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S. degree) in Occupational Therapy Assistant. Most CUKC students complete their OTA degree in two years or less.
Our OTA program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) and includes the four-to-five months of patient-focused fieldwork experience.
Features of the CUKC program:
Get connected with an advisor here and learn more about the 2-year occupational therapy assistant degree with our free eBook: Your Complete Guide to an Occupational Therapy Assistant Career.
