What Do Occupational Therapy Assistants Do?
Occupational therapy assistants (OTAs) work under the direction of occupational therapists to provide rehabilitative services to patients with physical, emotional, or developmental impairments. They help patients develop, recover, and improve the skills needed for daily living and working through the therapeutic use of everyday activities.
Following a treatment plan developed by an occupational therapist, OTAs may assist patients with activities and exercises designed to improve strength and endurance, balance and coordination, mobility, hand and leg functions, self-care skills, and judgment and problem solving abilities in daily life.
OTAs encourage a patient’s progress and may monitor and chart an individual’s activities to make sure the exercises and tasks are performed correctly. OTAs report any issuses or concerns to the supervising occupational therapist.
For more information, go to: http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/occupational-therapy-assistants-and-aides.htm.
Where Do Occupational Therapy Assistants Work?
OTAs are primarily employed in hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, occupational therapists’ offices, health clinics, and public schools.
How Much Do Occupational Therapy Assistants Earn?
In 2022, the average annual income reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for occupational therapy assistants in the United States was $66,280. The New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) reports that, in 2023, occupational therapy assistants in New York earned a median annual salary of $68,345 (occupational therapy assistants in the 25th percentile made approximately $50,013 while those in the 75th percentile made approximately $78,802).
Supply and Demand
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the number of jobs for occupational therapy assistants and aides in the U.S. will increase by 25% between 2021 and 2031. The New York State Department of Labor projects that the number of jobs for occupational therapy assistants in the state will increase by 42% between 2020 and 2030.
The strong growth of the OTA workforce is attributed in part to the rising number of aging Americans who will need rehabilitative services for disabling or chronic conditions. In addition, technological advances are increasing the survival rate for patients with critical or chronic health problems and offering new methods of effective treatment as well, all of which will increase demand for occupational therapy rehabilitative services.
For more information on projections of OTAs by New York State labor regions (2018-2028), click here.
New York Educational Requirements
To meet the professional education requirement for authorization as an OTA, one must complete a post-secondary program in occupational therapy of at least two years duration that is satisfactory to the New York State Education Department, or a two-year associate degree program for OTAs that is either approved by the New York State Education Department or accredited by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). Coursework for OTAs will include anatomy and physiology and topics such as mental health, adult physical disabilities, gerontology, and pediatrics. Students must also complete supervised fieldwork in a clinic or community setting to focus on the development of their clinical skills and gain real-life experience.
New York Licensure Requirements
In order to be authorized as an OTA in New York, an applicant must successfully complete a two-year OTA education program (see the description of Education, above). OTAs must also pass the COTA examination of the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc. (NBCOT) with a passing score of 450.
For more information, go to: http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/ot/otlic.htm.
Financial Support
For information about financial aid. loan programs, and scholarships for OTA students, please visit the AOTA Web site: http://www.aota.org/Education-Careers/Find-School/Aid.aspx.
Education Programs in New York (subject to change)
| Erie Community College North Campus 6205 Main Street Williamsville, NY 14221 (716) 851-1322 |
Jamestown Community College 525 Falconer Street Jamestown, NY 14702 (716) 338-1000 |
| LaGuardia Community College 31-10 Thomson Avenue Long Island City, NY 11101 (718) 482-7200 |
Maria College 700 New Scotland Avenue Albany, NY 12208 (518) 438-3111 |
| Mercy College 555 Broadway Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522 (877) 637-2947 |
Orange County Community College 115 South Street Middletown, NY 10940 (845) 344-6222 |
| Rockland Community College 145 College Road Suffern, NY 10901 (845) 574-4000 |
Suffolk County Community College Grant Campus 101 Crooked Hill Road Brentwood, NY 11717 (631) 851-6700 |
| Bryant & Stratton College Greece Campus 854 Long Pond Rd. Rochester, NY 14612 (585) 720-0660 Syracuse Campus 953 James Street Syracuse, NY 13203 (315) 472-6603 |
Villa Maria College 240 Pine Ridge Rd. Buffalo, NY 14225 (716) 961-1805 |
| Cayuga Community College Fulton Campus 11 Glen River Drive Fulton, NY 13069 (315) 592-4143 |
Additional Web Links
For more information on OTAs, go to:
The American Occupational Therapy Association Web site at: http://www.aota.org; or
The New York State Occupational Therapy Association Web site at: http://www.nysota.org; or
The National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc. (NBCOT) website at: www.nbcot.org.
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