How to Become an Occupational Therapy Assistant

UPDATED MAY 15, 2020

You’ve probably heard about achieving work-life balance as if it’s an imaginary concept, but what if it wasn’t just real, what if it was something you could accomplish in just a few years? If you have a passion to help others and a deep desire to live a meaningful, rewarding life, a career as an Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) could help you to be on track to the life you’ve dreamed of living.

One of the ways to achieve work-life balance in the first place is to begin by selecting a career that helps you to find meaning in each day and provides an income that offers you the standard of living you need to feel secure. Choosing your future career is clearly important, so read on to find out how to become an Occupational Therapy Assistant.

(If you’re not sure what an OTA does, find out more from this blog.)

Occupational Therapy Assistant School

How to become an Occupational Therapy Assistant begins by doing research, which you’re doing right now. You will need an OTA college degree, so you will want to:

1. Find an occupational therapy assistant school that is right for you.
2. Connect with college advisors and research the degree options available at the occupational therapy assistant schools you’re considering.
3. Take time to visit your top 2-3 favorite occupational therapy assistant schools and attend their Open House events, if possible.
4. Complete your college prerequisite courses, which are needed before you can start your OTA classes.
5. Apply and gain acceptance to the OTA program at your chosen occupational therapy assistant school.
6. Complete the OTA program and graduate.
7. After graduation, become licensed and certified to begin your OTA career.

Why an OTA Career is Rewarding

Now that you know how to become an Occupational Therapy Assistant let’s take a closer look at how it can be a rewarding career that can provide you some work-life balance. You see, it’s not necessarily how much time you have that makes the difference- it’s how you use your time in ways that bring meaning, purpose, and joy to your life.

Those who are passionate about their work as an Occupational Therapy Assistant find that it’s both financially rewarding and personally satisfying, which appears to be a winning combination.

In fact, OTAs are consistently recognized as having one of the best health care support jobs in the US and earn a national median wage of more than $58,000 according to the Salary.com

Ways in which an OTA career is rewarding:

• You can earn a salary nearly double that of a Certified Nursing Assistant
• You fill a need within healthcare and the greater community
• You will be part of a team that cares for clients and contributes to their success
• You will have daily opportunities to use creative problem solving to help clients meet their challenges
• You will work with individuals to help them to gain independence and autonomy performing daily living activities
• You will celebrate each client success as they advance toward their goals
• Your work will not be easy but can fill you with appreciation and a sense of pride
• You will have the opportunity each day to make a significant and lasting impact on your clients’ lives and the lives of their families and caregivers.

Need more convincing? Check out the blog, ” 4 Reasons You’ll Love Becoming an Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA).”

How to become an Occupational Therapy Assistant at CUKC

Cleveland University-Kansas City (CUKC) is a nonprofit, private, healthcare-focused university located in Overland Park, Kansas, a suburb of 190,000 within the metro Kansas City area. Located on 34 acres of lush, green space in Overland Park, Kansas, CUKC is an ideal place to begin your healthcare education.

At CUKC, the occupational therapy assistant school is actually part of the University’s College of Health Sciences. CUKC provides a comprehensive Occupational Therapy Assistant degree program. We prepare our students for national certification and professional job opportunities in Occupational Therapy as they earn their Associate of Applied Sciences (A.A.S.) in Occupational Therapy Assistant degree.

Our OTA degree program is accredited by the American Council of Occupational Therapy Education. Eight-week courses immerse you in your class subjects, hands-on instruction is the norm, and completing the OTA degree takes just two years.

Each class size is limited to 15 students to allow for personalized instruction, and you have the choice to start in spring, summer, or fall.

Connect with an advisor to find out how to become an Occupational Therapy Assistant at CUKC. Better yet download our free OTA ebook and learn why becoming an OTA is so exciting!