Becoming a physical therapy aide typically requires a high school diploma or a GED and makes a great entry point into the field. Physical therapy aides are often much more restricted in their responsibilities due to their limited education.
Tasks include helping patients into or out of the therapy area, cleaning treatment areas, washing linens, and the handling of clerical tasks. Obtaining a position as a physical therapy assistant is often much more desired than an aide position, namely because of the increase in pay and responsibilities.
The education required for physical therapy positions is typically an associates degree from an accredited college or university, along with certifications in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, among others.
What Is an Occupational Therapy Aide? How an Occupational Therapy Aide Works. Requirements for OT Aides. OT Aides vs. OT Assistants. By Dawn Rosenberg McKay. She is a former writer for The Balance Careers.
Learn about our editorial policies. Updated on September 17, Occupational Therapy Aides Occupational Therapy Assistants Not directly involved with patient care Assist patients with therapeutic activities Need at least high school diploma or equivalent Need an associate's degree from an accredited training program Not required to be licensed or registered Must be licensed or registered by the state in which they work.
Key Takeaways Occupational therapy aides, or OT aides, provide support to those who provide occupational therapy to patients. They don't treat patients, but they do set up treatment areas and equipment and provide other needed support to OTs and OT assistants.
To become an OT aide, you will need a high school or equivalency diploma. OT aides differ greatly from OT assistants in the duties they perform and the amount of schooling required.
Physical strength. Assistants and aides need to have a moderate degree of strength because of the physical exertion required to assist patients.
Constant kneeling, stooping, and standing for long periods also are part of the job. All states regulate the practice of occupational therapy assistants, with most requiring licensure. Licensure typically requires the completion of an accredited occupational therapy assistant education program, completion of all fieldwork requirements, and passing the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy NBCOT exam. Some states have additional requirements. They must also take continuing education classes to maintain their certification.
The American Occupational Therapy Association also offers a number of specialty certifications for occupational therapy assistants who want to demonstrate their specialized level of knowledge, skills, and abilities in specialized areas of practice such as low vision or feeding, eating, and swallowing.
Some occupational therapy assistants and aides advance by gaining additional education and becoming occupational therapists. Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.
Source: U. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. In May , the median annual wages for occupational therapy aides in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:. In May , the median annual wages for occupational therapy assistants in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
Demand for occupational therapy is likely to grow over the coming decade in response to the health needs of a growing number of older adults.
However, because occupational therapy aides is a small occupation, the fast growth is expected to result in only about 1, new jobs over the decade. Older adults are more prone than young people to conditions and ailments, such as arthritis and strokes, that may affect the ability to do everyday activities.
Occupational therapy assistants and aides will be needed to help occupational therapists in caring for these patients. Occupational therapy also will continue to be used to treat children and young adults with developmental disabilities, such as autism.
Healthcare providers, especially those specializing in long-term care, will continue to employ these assistants to reduce the cost of occupational therapy services. After the therapist has evaluated a patient and designed a treatment plan, the occupational therapy assistant provides many aspects of the treatment that the therapist prescribed. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas.
The link s below go to OEWS data maps for employment and wages by state and area. All state projections data are available at www. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state.
CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.
This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of occupational therapy assistants and aides. Medical assistants complete administrative and clinical tasks in hospitals, offices of physicians, and other healthcare facilities.
Occupational therapists treat patients who have injuries, illnesses, or disabilities through the therapeutic use of everyday activities. Pharmacy technicians help pharmacists dispense prescription medication to customers or health professionals. Physical therapist assistants and aides are supervised by physical therapists to help patients regain movement and manage pain after injuries and illnesses.
Psychiatric technicians and aides care for people who have mental illness and developmental disabilities. American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc. This will help you decide which is the smartest option for you.
An OT works independently and is responsible for developing and carrying out treatment plans to help a person increase their independence in daily activities. Their work is higher level and more strategic in nature. It can be done in a variety of settings. An OTA does similar work to an OT, but they work under the supervision of an occupatonal therapist in carrying out the treatment plan. There is ongoing collaboration with the OT and OTA from the time the person is assessed through discharge.
Salary is another major differentiator for these professions. An OT makes significantly more than an OTA, in part because of the difference in job expectations and education levels. Both are respectable and rewarding careers. The pay can vary from state to state. Occupational therapy is an industry ripe with career opportunities.
All you need to do is choose which path is right for you. Are you interested in pursuing a career in occupational therapy? We can help you achieve your healthcare career dreams! Contact us to see how you can get started on your path today! Schedule a tour today!
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