Communications Staff
The value of “being creative” probably didn’t come to mind when first hearing about a healthcare career with an occupational therapy assistant degree. Experts say otherwise. In fact, occupational therapy practitioners say taking occupational therapy from theory to real-life takes skill, knowledge, and lots of creativity, especially for occupational therapy assistants (OTAs).
OTAs Help People Facing Challenges
OTAs interact daily with people struggling with emotional, developmental, cognitive, and sensory issues. Every individual requires a specialized, highly personalized solution to achieve their life goals.
At first, the term “occupational” in OTA makes it sound like the job is only about getting back to work. In reality, it’s more about getting individuals back to doing everyday activities that “occupy” their time. These activities can range from living independently after a disability to helping a child with autism participate more confidently in social interactions.
Being Creative Is One of Many OTA Talents
Those who love working with people and are enthusiastic about figuring out ways to help others reach their potential do great as OTAs. Other talents that are excellent for those who are a right fit for an occupational therapy assistant degree:
How OTAs Use Those Talents
The beauty of an OTA’s life is variety. No day is the same, but on an average day, an OTA might:
Variety in What You’ll Do, Variety in Where You’ll Work
Becoming an OTA puts you right at the center of the growth of today’s health care professions. The Bureau of Labor Statistics sees a 31% growth for the profession from 2018 through 2028. Even more impressive, OTA’s are again a top-15 health care support job for 2018, according to the annua lUS News and World Report survey.
One reason for this is the number of places in which Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants are finding employment:
The Accelerated Occupational Therapy Assistant Degree at CUKC
Cleveland University-Kansas City (CUKC) is a nonprofit, private, healthcare-focused university located in Overland Park, Kansas. The A.A.S. in Occupational Therapy Assistant Program at CUKC consists of 16 core courses that include four-to-five months of fieldwork experience in a wide variety of work environments.
Concentrated eight-week courses immerse you into your subjects and allow for completion of the degree in as little as two years. Three class starts per year – spring, summer, and fall – lets you begin your occupational therapy assistant degree program when you’re ready.
Ready to put creativity and your other talents to work? Learn more about the 2-year occupational therapy assistant degree and the OTA profession. Download the free CUKC eBook today: Your Complete Guide to an Occupational Therapy Assistant Career.