What You Need to Know About Occupational Therapy Aide
Career 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.
A Day in the Life of an Occupational Therapy Aide
- Assist educational specialists or clinical psychologists in administering situational or diagnostic tests to measure client’s abilities or progress.
- Observe patients' attendance, progress, attitudes, and accomplishments and record and maintain information in client records.
- 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.
- Instruct patients and families in work, social, and living skills, the care and use of adaptive equipment, and other skills to facilitate home and work adjustment to disability.
- Encourage patients and attend to their physical needs to facilitate the attainment of therapeutic goals.
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Things an Occupational Therapy Aide Should Know How to Do
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.
Types of Occupational Therapy Aide
- Rehabilitation Aide/Scheduler
- Rehabilitation Aide (Rehab Aide)
- Direct Service Professional
- Restorative, Rehab Aide
- Certified Occupational Rehabilitation Aide (CORA)
Is There Going to be Demand for Occupational Therapy Aides?
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 7,500 jobs in the United States for Occupational Therapy Aide. 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. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 1,200 job openings in this field each 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 salary for Occupational Therapy Aides ranges between about $18,260 and $58,660 a year.
Occupational Therapy Aides who work in Washington, New York, or Arizona, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Occupational Therapy Aides 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?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Occupational Therapy Aides may use on a daily basis:
- 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 to Become an Occupational Therapy Aide
What education is needed to be an Occupational Therapy Aide?
How many years of work experience do I need?
Who Employs Occupational Therapy Aides?
The table below shows the approximate number of Occupational Therapy Aides employed by various industries.
Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Those interested in being an Occupational Therapy Aide may also be interested in:
References:
Image Credit: Sgt. Courtney Richardson, 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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