UPDATED MAY 22, 2020
As your high school career ends and graduation nears, you may be feeling a mix of excitement and anxiety as you plan your approach to starting a career. For you, waiting four years to earn a post-degree paycheck seems too long. So why not look into an occupational therapy assistant program or other two-year college degree plans?
Rest assured you’re not the only one adding up tuition costs and looking at options. The National Center for Education Statistics reports that more than one million students chose an associate degree in 2016. That translates to a 74% increase in associate degrees received since 2001.
The best associate degrees for going directly into a career are “Applied Science” degrees. Today, they are readily available and in high demand in many fields, including healthcare.
OTA: Example of a Career in 2 Years
Consider the role of an occupational therapy assistant (OTA). It’s likely this profession is new to you. It’s considered one of the best associate degrees around, and it’s on the US News 2020 list of Top Health Care Support Jobs. OTAs also get an “A” grade on the career advising site owlguru.com.
What is an OTA?
First, remember that an occupational therapy assistant (OTA) is not an occupational therapist (OT). That role is for someone who has a master’s degree in occupational therapy.
The OTA, though, is part of the occupational therapy team, and perhaps the most important one. OTAs work directly with clients to lead, coach, encourage, and support the activities and exercises that lead to their clients’ progress. To do that, graduates of an occupational therapy assistant program:
Some OTAs say it’s being on the front lines of health care that makes OTA the best associate degree. Others point to the rarely-the-same workweeks and the ability to see how the impact of their knowledge meets their clients’ goals.
OTA: A Rewarding Career
OK, so associate degrees like OTA are popular, but what about pay and career outlook? You’re right to make sure your educational choice can meet your needs for years to come. In today’s fast-changing fields, compensation in many two-years-to-a-degree positions can pay almost as much as some four-year degrees.
As an example, again consider the idea of completing an occupational therapy assistant program to become an OTA. After two years, you enter a career field where the median salary tops $59,200, and first-year OTAs typically average $45,000.
Ready for Associate Degree Success?
If you can imagine yourself as an OTA, it’s time to discover the power of this two-year degree for yourself. The best occupational therapy assistant program will have
Welcome to Cleveland University-Kansas City (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.
Within the College of Health Sciences, degree pathways include the A.A.S. in Occupational Therapy Assistant degree program. Eight-week courses immerse you in your class subjects, hands-on instruction is the norm, and completing the OTA degree takes just two years. The CUKC program is accredited by the American Council of Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE).
Each class size is limited to ensure personalized instruction, and you have the choice to start in spring, summer, or fall.
Campus tours and open house events are available throughout the year. Go to the CUKC open house page for our current schedule and request more information here. Really curious? Get this free occupational therapy assistant ebook today!
