Communications Staff
Healthcare careers offer something a bit different, and none more than Occupational Therapy Assistants (OTA). In some healthcare occupations, you spend all day in an office and see the same people every time. When you work as an OTA you will enjoy a level of flexibility that many other careers don’t offer.
That’s because there are a variety of places where OTAs work. Sure, they are typically found in hospitals and doctor’s offices, but there are other opportunities as well. So, if it’s time for you to make a change to a career that is more appealing, an OTA career is where you should start. Let’s explore other places where an OTA uses their skills and see if it’s a field that is right for you.
Home Care
There are many who are recovering from accidents or work injuries, or those trying to overcome the effects of a stroke or a similar condition. The lucky ones are those who can leave a hospital and return to their home to complete their healing process. OTAs make home visits to those individuals as part of their care plan. You get a change of scenery with each new client as you help people regain their independence within the confines of their own home.
Schools
Maybe you know a family with a child that has special needs. OTAs help students, teachers, and parents bridge the learning gap by developing learning strategies that will offer solutions for those children who have special needs regarding things that hinder their cognitive, behavioral or physical development. If you like working with children, this may be yet another OTA career option for you.
Nursing Facilities
Nursing homes are another place where OTAs work. Seniors often experience strokes, and also falls, that can result in broken bones. They also suffer a higher level of debilitating conditions like Parkinson’s disease and severe arthritis. Regardless of the situation, the elderly benefit a great deal from working with an OTA. You could help these mature patients return to a life of productivity by assisting them in re-learning everyday life skills after a health setback. This would be a wonderful opportunity if you enjoy being around seniors on a regular basis.
Physical Therapy
There’s also a role for OTAs in physical therapy offices and rehabilitation clinics. In these locations, you will encounter patients of all ages who have experienced life-altering events. Regardless of whether they need short-term or long-term care, OTAs can help their clients regain the ability to perform daily living activities.
Choose What’s Right for You
Compensation is favorable regardless of what OTA work environment you choose. It only takes a little bit of research to find the area that’s right for you. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, numbers from May 2016 show that occupational employment in any of the areas mentioned above tops $50,000 per year, with an average wage of more than $59,500 for someone in an OTA career.
Cleveland University-Kansas City (CUKC) offers an accelerated A.A.S. in Occupational Therapy Assistant degree program. CUKC is a health-focused, private, non-profit university with small classes that prepare students for national certification and professional job opportunities. The full-time, on-campus OTA program at CUKC delivers 8-week courses that are intentionally sequenced to allow students to build upon the knowledge and skills gained in each course so that challenging concepts are easier to grasp.
To learn more about our OTA program contact an admissions advisor today! CUKC is located in Overland Park, Kansas, a suburb of Kansas City.
