Nothing feels better than being great at your job, especially when you choose a great career field. If you are excited to see people become the best version of themselves, there’s no profession more suited to you than the occupational therapy assistant – an OTA. Here’s more about becoming an OTA and why the OTA career is an exciting, in-demand, and is part of the growing healthcare industry.
You likely know a neighbor, friend, or family member who has made a remarkable recovery from a severe injury, life-changing illness or has found ways to achieve personal goals despite having an emotional, developmental, cognitive, or sensory-related difficulty.
Have you wondered about how they were able to succeed? Chances are, the widely diverse talents of occupational therapy (OT) professionals were part of their healthcare team, and an OTA was responsible for the day-to-day OT therapy. Read this blog if you want to know more about why becoming an OTA is a great opportunity.
An independent study by health policy researchers found that spending more on occupational therapy in post-surgery scenarios significantly reduced the likelihood of being re-admitted to the hospital. The study’s conclusion was dramatic, saying “occupational therapy places a unique and immediate focus on patients’ functional and social needs.”
In other words, the whole-person assessments and resulting therapies by OTAs help improve health and wellness outcomes. Graduates of occupational therapy assistant schools are in demand by schools, hospitals, rehab centers, home health agencies, and assisted living facilities.
That’s a great thing to know, right?
Examples of OT therapy activities occupational therapy assistants carry out:
Bonus Reading: Check out this OTA blog if you want to know more about why becoming an OTA is a great opportunity.
It takes a unique combination of abilities to become a great OTA. When you want to know if an OTA career is right for you, ask yourself these five questions:
1. Do I like the idea of being an advocate for clients who wish to live as independently as they can?
2. Do I like offering encouragement, providing motivation, and seeing others achieve their goals?
3. Am I eager to show clients how to use assistive equipment or techniques to accomplish daily living activities?
4. Does interacting day-to-day with clients offer the career satisfaction I’m seeking?
5. Am I empathetic, creative, organized, and self-motivated?
Saying yes to these questions indicates that an OTA career suits you. Now you’ll want to find an occupational therapy assistant school that fits just as well.
You may want to choose an accelerated OTA program such as an Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in Occupational Therapy Assistant. The two-year OTA college degree is the one more than 80% of OTAs choose, according to O Net, a national resource for employee job data.
In an accelerated A.A.S. program at an accredited occupational therapy assistant school, the OTA program will pair classroom learning with hands-on experiences, much of it taking advantage of an on-campus simulated living quarters lab.
Toward the end of the final (second year) in occupational therapy assistant school, students complete a four-to-five-month fieldwork experience. This guided experience ensures OTA students are ready for the workplace as soon as they graduate.
Cleveland University-Kansas City (CUKC) is a nonprofit, private, healthcare-focused university in Overland Park, Kansas. The CUKC two-year OTA degree includes 16 core classes and four-to-five months of required fieldwork experience. Coursework is presented in eight-week segments to immerse students in their class subjects.
Other program features:
Want to be great at what you do? Our occupational therapy assistant school teaches you to become a great OTA in two years. Request info or talk to an advisor today, plus request this free eBook: Your Complete Guide to an Occupational Therapy Assistant Career.
