All About Occupational Therapy Aides
Position Description Under close supervision of an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant, perform only delegated, selected, or routine tasks in specific situations. These duties include preparing patient and treatment room.
What Do Occupational Therapy Aides Do On a Daily Basis?
- Supervise patients in choosing and completing work assignments or arts and crafts projects.
- Report to supervisors or therapists, verbally or in writing, on patients’ progress, attitudes, attendance, and accomplishments.
- Adjust and repair assistive devices and make adaptive changes to other equipment and to environments.
- Prepare and maintain work area, materials, and equipment and maintain inventory of treatment and educational supplies.
- Perform clerical, administrative, and secretarial duties, such as answering phones, restocking and ordering supplies, filling out paperwork, and scheduling appointments.
- Transport patients to and from the occupational therapy work area.
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What an Occupational Therapy Aide Should Know
These are the skills Occupational Therapy Aides say are the most useful in their careers:
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Related Job Titles
- Rehabilitation Technologist
- Rehabilitation Aide/Scheduler
- Therapy Tech
- Occupational Rehabilitation Aide
- Independent Living Specialist
Job Outlook for Occupational Therapy Aides
In the United States, there were 7,500 jobs for Occupational Therapy Aide in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 24% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 1,800 new jobs for Occupational Therapy Aide by 2026. There will be an estimated 1,200 positions for Occupational Therapy Aide per year.
The states with the most job growth for Occupational Therapy Aide are Delaware, Arizona, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in Wyoming, Oregon, or Maine. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Average Occupational Therapy Aides Salary
The typical yearly salary for Occupational Therapy Aides is somewhere between $18,260 and $58,660.
Occupational Therapy Aides who work in Washington, New York, or Arizona, make the highest salaries.
How much do Occupational Therapy Aides make in different U.S. states?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Arizona | $38,760 |
| California | $35,240 |
| Colorado | $33,060 |
| Connecticut | $33,740 |
| Delaware | $34,220 |
| Florida | $26,770 |
| Georgia | $27,490 |
| Illinois | $28,820 |
| Indiana | $30,360 |
| Iowa | $30,900 |
| Louisiana | $40,940 |
| Maryland | $34,300 |
| Massachusetts | $36,190 |
| Michigan | $35,120 |
| Minnesota | $33,020 |
| Missouri | $29,890 |
| Nebraska | $27,700 |
| New Hampshire | $35,880 |
| New Jersey | $29,330 |
| New York | $46,600 |
| North Carolina | $29,480 |
| North Dakota | $35,900 |
| Ohio | $32,140 |
| Oklahoma | $31,340 |
| Pennsylvania | $32,080 |
| South Carolina | $29,330 |
| Tennessee | $30,540 |
| Texas | $31,390 |
| Utah | $23,930 |
| Virginia | $38,360 |
| Washington | $51,360 |
| West Virginia | $29,120 |
| Wisconsin | $28,970 |
What Tools & Technology do Occupational Therapy Aides Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Occupational Therapy Aides:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Access
- Data entry software
- MEDITECH software
- Scheduling software
- Electronic medical record EMR software
- Billing software
How do I Become an Occupational Therapy Aide?
Individuals working as an Occupational Therapy Aide have obtained the following education levels:
How Long Does it Take to Become an Occupational Therapy Aide?
Who Employs Occupational Therapy Aides?
Occupational Therapy Aides work in the following industries:
Similar Careers
Those thinking about becoming an Occupational Therapy Aide might also be interested in the following careers:
References:
Image Credit: Sgt. Courtney Richardson, 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs via Public domain
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