How to Become an Occupational Therapy Assistant

Occupational therapy assistants work with occupational therapists to help people regain or maintain their ability to perform the activities off daily living. If you're interested in learning about the training required to become an occupational therapy assistant, read on! This guide explains how to become an occupational therapy assistant.

How To Become an Occupational Therapist Assistant

Occupational therapists develop plans to help people to recover the ability to perform the activities of daily living. Occupational therapy assistants implement these plans, working under the supervision of an occupational therapist. They require a degree from a community college or technical school, and must pass an exam to become certified.

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Introduction

In order to become an occupational therapy assistant, you need to decide if you're suited to the job, pursue an accredited training program, and become certified by the state you wish to practice in.
Step 1: What Does an Occupational Therapy Assistant Do?

Occupational therapy assistants (OTA) work under the supervision of with occupational therapists to help people improve the way they eat, dress, perform personal hygiene, and undertake other activities of daily living to improve the quality of their life and maximize independence. Because most of the individuals they work with have physical or mental disabilities, occupational therapy assistants need to have patience, empathy, and compassion.
OTAs can work in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, private practice, or in a home health care setting.
Step 2: Occupational Therapy Assistant Training
- OTA training generally involves a one year certification preparation program, or an 2 year associate's degree in occupational therapy. The programs include a clinical practice component, and will include courses in:
- Medical terminology
- Physiology
- Gerontology
- Anatomy
Step 3: Occupational Therapy Assistant Certification
- Certification and licensing requirements are set by each state individually. Many states recognize the Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA) designation from the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) for licensing. In order to receive COTA certification, you must graduate from an accredited degree program, and pass a certification exam that is administered by NBCOT.
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