Occupational Therapist's Assistant

1. Occupational Therapists Assistant
(OTA)
Emily Collet
EXS 101

2. Education
• High school diploma or equivalent
• Associates degree
• Continued education after employment

3. Skills Required
• Social skills
• Communication skills
• Patience
• Knowledgeable
• Encouraging
• Positive
• Assertive
• Some degree of physical ability

4. What exactly does an OTA do?
An OTA works with people who have mental,
physical, emotional, psychological, or
developmental impairments.

5. Day in the Life of…
• Carries out the treatment of OT
• Interviews client, verifies/updates information
(maintaining accurate records)
• Update plan of treatment, informs OT when
patient has reached goals
• Provide a safe environment for patient
• Communicates with patient/caregiver/family
members

6. Working Conditions
• Wide variety of options: Hospitals, nursing
homes, pediatrics, schools, clinics,
rehabilitation centers…
• Very active days include: transitioning patients
from bed to wheel chair or vice versa, bathing,
dressing, and exercising with patients.

7. Annual Wages
• OTA’s in Arizona earn a median wage of
$41,330 per year.
Projected Growth
• 44.4% (Very fast)
Location
• In every state other than Ohio
(moderate), the employment
opportunity is “small” or “very
small”
• Highly
populated
cities/areas

8. Pros and Cons
Pros: Active, non-sedentary lifestyle, help
people return to good health, interesting/
always changing routine
Cons: Tiring, often long days, emotional,
requires extreme patience, stressful at time