Occupations/31-2011.00
Occupational Therapy Assistants
Assist occupational therapists in providing occupational therapy treatments and procedures. May, in accordance with state laws, assist in development of treatment plans, carry out routine functions, direct activity programs, and document the progress of treatments. Generally requires formal training.
Usually a certificate, vocational program, or associate degree — not a bachelor’s.
AI automation risk
24%
More resilient
Human characteristics
78%
Strong human-characteristic mix
Task orientation
70%
Higher automation risk
A day in this job
- Mostly human
Instruct, or assist in instructing, patients and families in home programs, basic living skills, or the care and use of adaptive equipment.
- Mostly human
Report to supervisors, verbally or in writing, on patients' progress, attitudes, and behavior.
- Mostly human
Maintain and promote a positive attitude toward clients and their treatment programs.
The tasks we can read here lean on people, judgment, or hands-on work. The AI risk number is still this job’s rank against other occupations.
Core tasks
- 01Instruct, or assist in instructing, patients and families in home programs, basic living skills, or the care and use of adaptive equipment.
- 02Maintain and promote a positive attitude toward clients and their treatment programs.
- 03Report to supervisors, verbally or in writing, on patients' progress, attitudes, and behavior.
- 04Implement, or assist occupational therapists with implementing, treatment plans designed to help clients function independently.
- 05Monitor patients' performance in therapy activities, providing encouragement.
- 06Observe and record patients' progress, attitudes, and behavior and maintain this information in client records.
Model drivers (O*NET 1–5)
- Repeating same tasks4.07
- Degree of automation2.00
- Time sitting2.15
- Originality (ability)2.88
- Conflict situations3.37
- Hands-on objects/tools3.20
- Outdoors / weather1.29
- Disease exposure4.94
- Decision freedom4.55
Top abilities
- Oral Expression4.00
- Oral Comprehension4.00
- Written Expression3.75
- Problem Sensitivity3.75
- Written Comprehension3.62
- Near Vision3.50
- Speech Clarity3.38
- Information Ordering3.38
Essential skills
- Reading Comprehension3.62
- Active Listening3.88
- Writing3.25
- Speaking3.88
- Mathematics2.12
- Science1.88
- Critical Thinking3.38
- Active Learning3.25
- Learning Strategies3.25
- Monitoring3.38
CIP matches
Schools offering related programs
12 of 32 shown
Earnings are College Scorecard medians for that program, 1 and 2 years after completion. A dash means the Department suppressed the cell or the campus is not in the field file.
| Institution | Program | Tuition | Admit | Grad 6-yr | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Emory University Atlanta, GA · Private nonprofit | Occupational Therapist Assistant 51.0803 | $60,800 | 11% | 91% | 1 yr $167,572 2 yr $162,817 Master's · CIP 51.08 |
Northern Virginia Community College Annandale, VA · Public | Occupational Therapist Assistant 51.0803 | $5,700 | 100% | 35% | 1 yr $48,600 2 yr $54,778 Associate · CIP 51.08 |
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus University Park, PA · Public | Occupational Therapist Assistant 51.0803 | $19,600 | 55% | 86% | 1 yr $38,004 2 yr $37,671 Associate · CIP 51.08 |
Century College White Bear Lake, MN · Public | Occupational Therapist Assistant 51.0803 | $6,000 | 100% | 31% | 1 yr $37,856 2 yr $38,721 Associate · CIP 51.08 |
Minnesota State University Moorhead Moorhead, MN · Public | Occupational Therapist Assistant 51.0803 | $9,800 | 71% | 61% | 1 yr $34,847 2 yr $31,585 Certificate · CIP 51.08 |
Miami Dade College Miami, FL · Public | Occupational Therapist Assistant 51.0803 | $2,900 | 100% | 41% | 1 yr $33,459 2 yr — Associate · CIP 51.08 |
University of Minnesota-Rochester Rochester, MN · Public | Occupational Therapist Assistant 51.0803 | $14,200 | 72% | 73% | 1 yr $32,119 2 yr $29,685 Associate · CIP 51.08 |
Community College of Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA · Public | Occupational Therapist Assistant 51.0803 | $5,200 | 100% | 21% | 1 yr $30,771 2 yr $29,685 Associate · CIP 51.08 |
Minneapolis Community and Technical College Minneapolis, MN · Public | Occupational Therapist Assistant 51.0803 | $5,900 | 100% | 28% | 1 yr — 2 yr $30,409 Certificate · CIP 51.08 |
Lincoln College of Technology-Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN · Private for-profit | Occupational Therapist Assistant 51.0803 | $18,600 | 100% | 64% | 1 yr $30,150 2 yr $32,162 Bachelor's · CIP 51.08 |
Ohio State University-Main Campus Columbus, OH · Public | Occupational Therapist Assistant 51.0803 | $12,800 | 53% | 83% | 1 yr $28,849 2 yr $30,988 Bachelor's · CIP 51.08 |
Anoka-Ramsey Community College Coon Rapids, MN · Public | Occupational Therapist Assistant 51.0803 | $5,800 | 100% | 33% | 1 yr — 2 yr — Associate · CIP 51.08 |