Anyone looking for a career of a lifetime should consider healthcare roles because they are in big demand and deliver high job satisfaction. As a guy interested in a healthcare role, you want a career where you get to see the results of your work every day, earn a salary you can be proud of, and only takes two years to of specialized college study. That role is Occupational Therapy Assistant – an OTA.
Not sure what an occupational therapy assistant does? The basic scope of what an OTA does is to help people achieve goals, but cannot because of developmental, emotional, or physical issues, or a disability.
Think of becoming an occupational therapy assistant as becoming a coach who helps people win at the game of life.
An OTA’s job is part-teacher and full-time encourager – someone who loves to help people overcome obstacles. Once a client’s occupational therapy plan is set up by your teammate, the Occupational Therapist (OT), it’s the OTA who carries out the plan with the client. Plus, to ensure the therapy goals are on-track for success, OTAs have the freedom to adjust the therapy’s game plan.
Here are four good reasons a guy like you would find personal and career satisfaction by becoming an occupational therapy assistant:
1. It’s a fulfilling profession
Anyone looking for a career of a lifetime should consider healthcare roles because they are in big demand and deliver high job satisfaction. As a guy interested in a healthcare role, you want a career where you get to see the results of your work every day, earn a salary you can be proud of, and only take two years to of specialized college study. That role is Occupational Therapy Assistant – an OTA.
OTAs work directly with people struggling with life’s challenges. It could be helping them recover from a devastating injury or illness, teaching them how to adapt to a disability, or demonstrating an assistive tool that leads to the client feeling more confident performing life’s daily activities.
Imagine the satisfaction of seeing your clients reach goals that seemed impossible to them a month ago.
2. It’s a team game
The OT and OTA have distinct roles in an occupational therapy team, yet they work toward a single goal. An OT develops the treatment plans, and an OTA works directly with clients to carry out those plans. They meet regularly to evaluate progress and adjust strategies and tactics as needed.
3. It’s a career with lots of potential
Working directly with people may be your true calling. OTAs can advance in their career by adding new specialization areas, attending professional training workshops, or earning continuing education credits.
Moving up in the profession could also mean taking an OT leadership role – managing an OTA staffing a rehab center, or directing a return-to-work program for a company. Some OTAs decide to continue their education by earning their occupational therapist degree.
4. It’s a role that pays well
National statistics confirm that a newly certified OTA with a two-year A.A.S. degree can earn right at $46,000 per year – even more in a high-need state. OTAs with a few years of experience earn an average salary between $53,587 and $65,349, according to the data site Salary.com.
The career evaluation site owlguru.com rates the OTA profession high for its combination of work-life balance, wages, and job satisfaction.
The field of occupational therapy has been growing dramatically over the past decade because the benefits of OT are now better understood and accepted. Some exciting things about occupational therapy, and these factors make becoming an OTA an excellent healthcare career for men.
Cleveland University-Kansas City (CUKC) is a nonprofit, private, healthcare-focused university in the Kansas City suburb of Overland Park, Kansas. Our two-year Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Occupational Therapy Assistant degree includes required classes, OTA professional coursework, and a multi-week, client-centered fieldwork experience.
Other features of the CUKC program:
Connect with an advisor today, or request this free eBook: Your Complete Guide to an Occupational Therapy Assistant Career.
