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Certified occupational therapy assistant vs rehabilitation aide

The differences between certified occupational therapy assistants and rehabilitation aides can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a certified occupational therapy assistant has an average salary of $50,872, which is higher than the $28,284 average annual salary of a rehabilitation aide.

The top three skills for a certified occupational therapy assistant include patients, rehabilitation and home health. The most important skills for a rehabilitation aide are patients, rehabilitation, and CPR.

Certified occupational therapy assistant vs rehabilitation aide overview

Certified Occupational Therapy AssistantRehabilitation Aide
Yearly salary$50,872$28,284
Hourly rate$24.46$13.60
Growth rate25%24%
Number of jobs70,67942,701
Job satisfaction3-
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 84%Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Average age4139
Years of experience12-

What does a certified occupational therapy assistant do?

Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants are professionals who work with licensed occupational therapists in providing therapy to patients. This therapy is usually related to the physical or mobility challenges of a patient. Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants help patients retain their skills, improve on their challenges, and eventually recover. They record the patient's progress after every therapy session. They may also help out in creating treatment plans for the patient. Since they spend a lot of time with patients, their inputs and recommendations are valuable in crafting and adjusting the treatment plan.

What does a rehabilitation aide do?

A rehabilitation aide is responsible for assisting patients with injuries, mental disorders, and illnesses in their treatment plans and medications. Rehabilitation aides monitor the patients' progress and update attending physicians regarding their conditions. They also prepare treatment rooms, including the materials and equipment for the medical procedures, and discuss the process with the patients. A rehabilitation aide must be highly organizational, especially in attending to different patients' needs and ensuring the safety and security of all facilities and assets.

Certified occupational therapy assistant vs rehabilitation aide salary

Certified occupational therapy assistants and rehabilitation aides have different pay scales, as shown below.

Certified Occupational Therapy AssistantRehabilitation Aide
Average salary$50,872$28,284
Salary rangeBetween $37,000 And $68,000Between $22,000 And $35,000
Highest paying CityMamaroneck, NYLoveland, CO
Highest paying stateNew YorkColorado
Best paying companyStaten Island AcademyLifespan
Best paying industryEducationHealth Care

Differences between certified occupational therapy assistant and rehabilitation aide education

There are a few differences between a certified occupational therapy assistant and a rehabilitation aide in terms of educational background:

Certified Occupational Therapy AssistantRehabilitation Aide
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 84%Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Most common majorOccupational TherapyKinesiology
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityUniversity of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Certified occupational therapy assistant vs rehabilitation aide demographics

Here are the differences between certified occupational therapy assistants' and rehabilitation aides' demographics:

Certified Occupational Therapy AssistantRehabilitation Aide
Average age4139
Gender ratioMale, 15.2% Female, 84.8%Male, 27.2% Female, 72.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.9% Unknown, 5.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.6% Asian, 5.2% White, 70.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%Black or African American, 6.9% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 12.7% Asian, 7.7% White, 67.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage8%7%

Differences between certified occupational therapy assistant and rehabilitation aide duties and responsibilities

Certified occupational therapy assistant example responsibilities.

  • Achieve advance clinical competency in UE splinting.
  • Rotate between acute care, SNF and rehab services with a variety of diagnosis.
  • Test and evaluate patients' physical and mental abilities and analyze medical data to determine realistic rehabilitation goals for patients.
  • Assist occupational therapists in implementing and administering therapy programs to restore and enhance performance, using select activities and adaptive equipment.
  • Provide client, family and caregiver education in adaptive equipment, durable medical equipment, home exercise programs and compensatory strategies.
  • Enact treatment plans for patients with neurological diagnoses particularly CVA.
  • Show more

Rehabilitation aide example responsibilities.

  • Manage inventory of supplies and splints for the department.
  • Manage organization and cleanliness of therapy room and equipment.
  • Help patients who used wheelchairs and walkers.
  • Assist patients with ADL's, collect lab specimens, perform EKG's, occasionally perform duty as a patient sitter.
  • Assist physical therapists and occupational hand therapist in implementing rehabilitation programs for patients in an outpatient orthopedics and hand therapy clinic.
  • Assist OTR/L in patient education and DME distribution at SNF
  • Show more

Certified occupational therapy assistant vs rehabilitation aide skills

Common certified occupational therapy assistant skills
  • Patients, 25%
  • Rehabilitation, 21%
  • Home Health, 14%
  • Patient Care, 7%
  • Occupational Therapy, 4%
  • Occupational Therapy Treatments, 3%
Common rehabilitation aide skills
  • Patients, 34%
  • Rehabilitation, 18%
  • CPR, 6%
  • Direct Supervision, 5%
  • Cleanliness, 5%
  • Data Entry, 4%

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