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Occupational Therapy Aides 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.

Occupational Therapy Aides 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.

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.

Occupational Therapy Aides Jobs and Outlook

According to the statistics of 2007, approximately 7,640 people were employed as occupational therapy aides in the US. Employment is the highest in the following industries:

• Elementary and Secondary Schools
• General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
• Nursing Care Facilities
• Offices of Health Practitioners
• Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals

The mean hourly wage for occupational therapy aides in the US is around $13.91, and the average annual earnings are about $28,930. Employment in this sector is expected to increase by 25% in the next ten years. This is largely due to the increasing vulnerable conditions of the elderly generation, and the sensory disorders in children.

Job Numbers and Growth

How many occupational therapy aides are there? About 8,000 in all. Workers can most likely expect a very low rate of unemployment.

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).

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. Recommended schools are shown in the column to the right; request information from them to help you decide which if any could help you with this career.

Part-Time Work 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.

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

California

District of Columbia

Florida

Illinois

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Missouri

New Jersey

New York

Oklahoma

Pennsylvania

Tennessee

Texas