Occupational therapy is a rehabilitation profession that serves clients of all life-stages who experience deficits in self-care, education, work, and leisure activities. Occupational therapy is a profession that blends medical sciences, social sciences, and creativity into a science-based therapy aimed at restoring or improving daily living skills. A Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) works to gather client information and administer therapy interventions to help clients regain the ability to do the everyday activities that are meaningful and necessary for daily life at home, school, and work. COTAs usually work on teams with Registered Occupational Therapists (OTR) and other professionals, such as physical therapists, speech therapists, doctors, nurses, social workers, and teachers.

Work Environment

One of the unique aspects of the occupational therapy profession is the wide variety of settings in which one could work. Occupational therapy services are offered to clients in hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, school districts, psychiatric programs, out-patient clinics, home health agencies, and community-based programs. A COTA might work in a school district to help improve coordination in children with developmental disorders; in a psychiatric department with adolescents dealing with schizophrenia who need to improve their social skills; at a rehabilitation hospital helping adults get in and out of the shower after hip surgery; or at a nursing home teaching stroke survivors how to feed themselves again. These are just a few of the applications of Occupational Therapy.

Employment

The job outlook for COTAs is excellent. The US Department of Labor predicted a 30% growth in employment for occupational therapy between 2004 and 2014.¹ According to the American Occupational Therapy Association, a 2006 survey of occupational therapy assistant program directors showed that 94% of graduates were able to secure employment within eight weeks of graduating.²

Earnings

According to the US Bureau of Labor, the median annual wages of occupational therapist assistants were approximately $50,000 in 2008.¹ According to Payscale.com, certified OTAs with higher levels of degrees and experience can expect an annual income anywhere between $40,000 and $60,000.³

1. Source: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos166.htm. As viewed on January 6, 2012.
2. Source: http://www.aota.org/Educate/EdRes/StuRecruit/Working/38381.aspx. As viewed on January 20, 2012.
3. Source: http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Certified_Occupational_Therapy_Assistant_%28COTA%29/Hourly_Rate. As viewed on January 6, 2012.