Occupational Therapy Aides Training and Jobs
Schools and Degrees
To qualify for the position of an occupational therapy aide, one needs to have a minimum of a high school diploma. An associates degree or a certificate in occupational therapy from a technical school or a community college can be of great help in the advancement of career. Basic knowledge in health care, anatomy and physiology, and medical terminology is also extremely useful. However, occupational therapy aides gain most of their knowledge through on-the-job training.
Training and Education
Expect to get short-term on-the-job training for this occupation. The share of employees with a bachelor's degree or higher is 13%. About 86% of occupational therapy aides got additional education after high school, but did not have to get a college degree.
Job Overview
Occupational therapy aides are mostly involved in clerical tasks such as ordering supplies, taking phone calls, scheduling appointments, and filling out necessary forms. They work with occupational therapists who provide rehabilitative services to patients suffering from psychical, mental, or developmental impairments. Occupational therapy aides are in charge of getting together the equipment and other materials required during the treatment processes. However, since they are not licensed personnel, occupational therapy aides are not allowed to perform the complex tasks.
Job Requirements
Employers tend to prefer candidates with prior experience as occupational therapy aides. Those who have worked as volunteers can also get an edge over others as far as employment prospects are concerned.
In addition to academic qualifications, an occupational therapy aide needs to possess qualities like patience and a sense of responsibility. The willingness to understand and follow instructions is of utmost importance. Also, since occupational therapy aides have to work together in teams, communication skills are extremely important. Furthermore, they should be sensitive and caring towards the patients they work with.
Nature of Work
Occupational therapy aides typically help the therapists in their job of treating physically, mentally, and emotionally disturbed patients. They may have to observe the patients behavior patterns and report the changes to the medical practitioners. They also help patients with normal physical activities such as moving from the bed, exercising, or sitting in a wheelchair. Occupational therapy aides are also involved in filling out insurance forms and completing other official paperwork. Keeping a check on the supplies, answering phone calls, and making appointments are also part of their job role.
Occupational therapy aides are mostly employed in hospitals, outpatient clinics, nursing facilities, and assisted living communities. The work hours are largely dependent on their place of employment. They may have to work during the weekends and in the evenings. Some occupational therapy aides also work part-time.
Area Job Conditions
Lancaster (Pennsylvania), Grand Rapids (Michigan), and Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania) boast the most workers for their size population. Riverside (California), Tampa (Florida), and Minneapolis (Minnesota) have the fewest.
The highest salaries for employees are in and around Nassau (New York), Boston (Massachusetts), and Baltimore (Maryland). The lowest-paying areas are Dallas (Texas), San Antonio (Texas), and Lancaster (Pennsylvania).
Part-Time and Self Employment
It is estimated that 18% of employees work less than full time. Self-employment is the choice of 3% of occupational therapy aides.
Career Videos
Occupational Therapy Aides by Metropolitan Area (city and its surroundings)
In the table below, a Job Density near 0% means the area has an average number of people in this occupation, for its population. A higher or lower Job Density (e.g., +22% or -45%) tells you there are that many more or fewer workers of that type there than in the average US metro area. So, the higher the number, the more common the occupation.
Arizona
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix | $22,000 | 50 | +5% |
California
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $28,000 | 320 | +192% |
| Oakland | 70 | +160% | |
| Riverside | $31,000 | 40 | +23% |
| Santa Ana | 60 | +53% |
Connecticut
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hartford | $46,000 | 40 | +159% |
Delaware
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | $28,000 | 40 | +363% |
District of Columbia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $32,000 | 90 | +37% |
Georgia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | $26,000 | 110 | +76% |
Illinois
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $36,000 | 340 | +233% |
Louisiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge | 30 | +202% |
Maryland
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | $32,000 | 60 | +69% |
| Bethesda | $24,000 | 50 | +222% |
Massachusetts
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barnstable Town | $35,000 | 60 | +2310% |
| Boston | $37,000 | 180 | +282% |
Minnesota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis | $31,000 | 30 | -38% |
Missouri
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | $25,000 | 90 | +228% |
| St Louis | $33,000 | 120 | +232% |
New Jersey
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camden | $22,000 | 80 | +468% |
New Mexico
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $32,000 | 30 | +192% |
New York
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo | $31,000 | 40 | +169% |
| Nassau | $42,000 | 60 | +75% |
| New York | $32,000 | 160 | +13% |
North Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asheville | $35,000 | 30 | +552% |
Ohio
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati | $29,000 | 90 | +228% |
| Cleveland | $31,000 | 70 | +153% |
Oklahoma
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City | $30,000 | 50 | +222% |
| Tulsa | $29,000 | 40 | +248% |
Pennsylvania
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | $34,000 | 120 | +132% |
| Pittsburgh | $42,000 | 140 | +352% |
| Scranton | $21,000 | 40 | +480% |
Rhode Island
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence | $44,000 | 70 | +367% |
Texas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas | 90 | +58% |
Wisconsin
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee | $30,000 | 120 | +435% |