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.

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Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant Responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real certified occupational therapy assistant resumes representing typical tasks they are likely to perform in their roles.

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.
Perform OT treatment under the supervision of an LOTR in a SNF setting.
Complete multiple evaluations, screenings and discharges as well as supervised a COTA.
Supervise COTA and conduct weekly meetings on each student treatment caseload, and any additional OT concerns.
Develop forms for PPS tracking, evaluation, daily progress notes, monthly statistics, and scheduling.
Used evidence base therapy to treat children with various problems including SPD, autism, ADHD, etc.
Create programs for individuals with behavioral deficits, autism fine/gross motor skills, sensory integration, and body perception.
Implement therapeutic interventions under the supervision of an OTR/L for children with developmental disabilities in a school base setting.
Treat patients with different diagnosis such as; rotator cuff, amputation, strokes back injuries and multiple fractures.
Evaluate the need for splints and positioning devices to preserve joint integrity and protect skin from breakdown due to prolong pressure.

Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant Job Description

When it comes to understanding what a certified occupational therapy assistant does, you may be wondering, "should I become a certified occupational therapy assistant?" The data included in this section may help you decide. Compared to other jobs, certified occupational therapy assistants have a growth rate described as "much faster than average" at 31% between the years 2018 - 2028, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In fact, the number of certified occupational therapy assistant opportunities that are predicted to open up by 2028 is 16,000.

On average, the certified occupational therapy assistant annual salary is $50,872 per year, which translates to $24.46 an hour. Generally speaking, certified occupational therapy assistants earn anywhere from $37,000 to $68,000 a year, which means that the top-earning certified occupational therapy assistants make $22,000 more than the ones at the lower end of the spectrum.

Once you've become a certified occupational therapy assistant, you may be curious about what other opportunities are out there. Careers aren't one size fits all. For that reason, we discovered some other jobs that you may find appealing. Some jobs you might find interesting include a rehab technician, rehabilitation aide, student assistant technician, and physical therapy technician.

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12 Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant Resume Examples

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Theresa Berry Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant Contact Information Orlando, FL (480) 555-5438 tberry@example.com Skills Intellectual Disabilities Job Readiness Rehab Job Development Employment Training Patient Care Inpatient Rehabilitation Technical Assistance Dementia Job Seekers Employment History Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant 2014 - Present Jackson Therapy Partners Orlando, FL Communicate with supervising therapist and other disciplines about patient care. Completed all paperwork in accordance to facility requirements. Worked in short term rehab and SN. Occupational Therapist Assistants 2005 - 2014 RehabCare Group East Jacksonville, FL Attend patient care conferences and family meetings. Employment Training Specialist 2004 - 2005 Goodwill Industries Charlotte, NC Provide supervision of program participants at work sites not to exceed 8 program participants per work site. Maintained all relevant trainee (client) records and documentation; implemented strategies for job readiness and community employment placement. Transport to and from different job sites. Performed job development, business partnerships and collaborations with local businesses to ensure employment opportunities. Education Bachelor's Degree Occupational Therapy 2001 - 2004 Keiser University Fort Lauderdale, FL


George Nichols Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant Contact Info Saint Paul, MN (350) 555-2694 gnichols@example.com Skills FacilityOTAPatient CareRehabCPRTreatment PlansIndependent LivingPediatric ClientsAdaptive EquipmentInpatient Rehabilitation Employment History Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant 2020 - Present Aegis Saint Paul, MN Implement treatment plans and collaborate with OTR to determine appropriate client centered goals. Corroborate with physicians/OTR and nursing related to patient care. Occupational Therapy Assistant 2019 - 2020 Park Nicollet Medical Center Saint Paul, MN Provided occupational therapy services for patients in Acute Care/Inpatient Rehab/TCU/ and Outpatient Rehab. Full time position in a CCRC facility providing comprehensive rehabilitation to the Independent Living and Personal Care residents. Treat patients Document patient's progress Perform home assessments Discharge patients from caseload Screen patients for rehab services Compose physician orders Occupational Therapy Assistant 2017 - 2019 Park Nicollet Medical Center Saint Paul, MN Develop long and short-term treatment plans in collaboration with the Occupational Therapist. Attend weekly rounds with orthopedic resident/surgeons to ensure exceptional patient care. March, 2015-July, 2016 Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant Inpatient and Outpatient Care Inpatient and Outpatient Care Supervised COTA and assisted with training and mentoring student interns. Education Associate's Degree Occupational Therapy 2015 - 2017 St. Catherine University Saint Paul, MN


Patrick Olson Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant Cincinnati, OH (400) 555-4640 polson@example.com Experience Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant2018 - Present Pediatric Therapy Network•Cincinnati, OH Provided written documentation of treatment plans and outcomes for medical professionals, parents and insurance providers. Provide occupational therapy to residents in a short term and long term care facility with various diagnoses. Develop and recommend treatment plans that include long and short-term goals. Evaluated and recommended patient/residents need for durable medical equipment for safe discharge home or other facility. Maintained constant communication and collaborated with physical therapy and speech therapy to implement the best treatment plans for patients. Occupational Therapy Assistant2010 - 2018 AT HOME HEALTH CARE•Detroit, MI Provide splinting, physical agent modalities, kinesiotaping, and adaptive equipment. Provide OT services at the adult day health center, or at the participant's home/residential facility. Communicated and collaborated with other healthcare professionals involved with patient care. Provide rehab therapy to LTC/SNF residents. Caregiver Assistant (Part-Time)2008 - 2009 The Children's Place•East Lansing, MI Provide personal care and assistance for client. Provide basic patient care under direction of the house manager. Skills CNACompanionshipHospicePatient CareFacilityVital SignsChild CarePersonal CareTreatment PlansAcute Care Education Master's Degree Occupational Therapy2009 - 2010 Michigan State University•East Lansing, MI Bachelor's Degree Kinesiology2006 - 2009 Michigan State University•East Lansing, MI

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Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant Skills and Personality Traits

We calculated that 25% of Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants are proficient in Patients, Rehabilitation, and Home Health. They’re also known for soft skills such as Detail oriented, Physical strength, and Compassion.

We break down the percentage of Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants that have these skills listed on their resume here:

Patients, 25%
Utilized purposeful activities within a JACHO accredited facility to enable physically and/or psychologically impaired patients to gain and maintain living skills.
Rehabilitation, 21%
Provided occupational therapy and physical rehabilitation to geriatric group Conducted education and counseling for families and caregivers of patients with neurological diagnosis
Home Health, 14%
Provide therapy services within an outpatient rehab and home health services to geriatrics with various neurological or orthopedic impairments.
Patient Care, 7%
Apply concepts of infection control and universal precautions in coordinating and performing patient care activities.
Occupational Therapy, 4%
Provided individualized occupational therapy to developmentally disabled youth.
Occupational Therapy Treatments, 3%
Provided occupational therapy treatment services in a private clinical setting to children and maintain written records.

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Some of the skills we found on certified occupational therapy assistant resumes included "patients," "rehabilitation," and "home health." We have detailed the most important certified occupational therapy assistant responsibilities below.

The most important skills for a certified occupational therapy assistant to have in this position are detail oriented. In this excerpt that we gathered from a certified occupational therapy assistant resume, you'll understand why: "occupational therapy assistants and aides must quickly and accurately follow the instructions, both written and spoken, of an occupational therapist" According to resumes we found, detail oriented can be used by a certified occupational therapy assistant in order to "detailed documentation of daily therapy sessions for all patients. "

Another trait important for fulfilling certified occupational therapy assistant duties is physical strength. According to a certified occupational therapy assistant resume, "assistants and aides need to have a moderate degree of strength because of the physical exertion required to assist patients." Here's an example of how certified occupational therapy assistants are able to utilize physical strength: "collaborate with occupational therapists, physical therapists, and speech/language pathologist to ensure cohesive therapy sessions. "

Certified occupational therapy assistants are also known for compassion, which can be critical when it comes to performing their duties. An example of why this skill is important is shown by this snippet that we found in a certified occupational therapy assistant resume: "occupational therapy assistants and aides frequently work with patients who struggle with many of life’s basic activities" We also found this resume example that details how this skill is put to the test: "provide compassionate occupational and physical therapy to inpatients at hackley and mercy campus hospitals to help patients achieve their goals. "

A thorough review of lots of resumes revealed to us that "interpersonal skills" is important to completing certified occupational therapy assistant responsibilities. This resume example shows just one way certified occupational therapy assistants use this skill: "occupational therapy assistants and aides spend much of their time interacting with patients and therefore should be friendly and courteous" Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical certified occupational therapy assistant tasks: "established excellent interpersonal working relationships with facility staff and other therapists. "

See the full list of certified occupational therapy assistant skills.

Those certified occupational therapy assistants who do attend college, typically earn either a occupational therapy degree or a psychology degree. Less commonly earned degrees for certified occupational therapy assistants include a health sciences and services degree or a business degree.

When you're ready to become a certified occupational therapy assistant, you might wonder which companies hire certified occupational therapy assistants. According to our research through certified occupational therapy assistant resumes, certified occupational therapy assistants are mostly hired by HealthPRO, Genesis HealthCare, and THERAPY SOLUTIONS. Now is a good time to apply as HealthPRO has 324 certified occupational therapy assistants job openings, and there are 160 at Genesis HealthCare and 157 at THERAPY SOLUTIONS.

Since salary is important to some certified occupational therapy assistants, it's good to note that they are figured to earn the highest salaries at Staten Island Academy, Liberty HomeCare and Hospice, and Health Alliance. If you were to take a closer look at Staten Island Academy, you'd find that the average certified occupational therapy assistant salary is $68,813. Then at Liberty HomeCare and Hospice, certified occupational therapy assistants receive an average salary of $59,780, while the salary at Health Alliance is $58,135.

View more details on certified occupational therapy assistant salaries across the United States.

We also looked into companies who hire certified occupational therapy assistants from the top 100 educational institutions in the U.S. The top three companies that hire the most from these institutions include Aegis Therapies, RehabCare Group East Inc, and Amedisys.

The three companies that hire the most prestigious certified occupational therapy assistants are:

HealthPRO324 Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants Jobs
Genesis HealthCare160 Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants Jobs
THERAPY SOLUTIONS
157 Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants Jobs

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What Rehab Technicians Do

A rehab technician's role is to assist physical therapists and patients in a hospital or similar facility. Typically, their responsibilities revolve around gathering a patient's personal information and medical history, escorting them to corresponding rooms, and conducting initial tests and assessments. It is also essential to maintain records of all transactions, updating medical accounts promptly and accurately. Furthermore, a rehab technician may also perform basic treatments under the supervision of a physical therapist. There are also instances when they have to sanitize and clean therapy equipment, all in adherence to the facility's safety regulations and policies.

We looked at the average certified occupational therapy assistant annual salary and compared it with the average of a rehab technician. Generally speaking, rehab technicians receive $22,367 lower pay than certified occupational therapy assistants per year.

While their salaries may differ, one common ground between certified occupational therapy assistants and rehab technicians are a few of the skills required in each craft. In both careers, employees bring forth skills like patients, rehabilitation, and home health.

There are some key differences in responsibilities as well. For example, a certified occupational therapy assistant responsibilities require skills like "patient care," "occupational therapy treatments," "snf," and "adaptive." Meanwhile a typical rehab technician has skills in areas such as "customer service," "cpr," "cleanliness," and "direct supervision." This difference in skills reveals how truly different these two careers really are.

Rehab technicians really shine in the health care industry with an average salary of $29,851. Whereas certified occupational therapy assistants tend to make the most money in the education industry with an average salary of $51,821.

Rehab technicians tend to reach similar levels of education than certified occupational therapy assistants. In fact, rehab technicians are 2.0% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.0% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.

What Are The Duties Of a Rehabilitation Aide?

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.

Now we're going to look at the rehabilitation aide profession. On average, rehabilitation aides earn a $22,588 lower salary than certified occupational therapy assistants a year.

A similarity between the two careers of certified occupational therapy assistants and rehabilitation aides are a few of the skills associated with both roles. We used resumes from both professions to find that both use skills like "patients," "rehabilitation," and "home health. "

In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences that are worth noting. For example, certified occupational therapy assistant responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "patient care," "occupational therapy treatments," "snf," and "adaptive." Meanwhile, a rehabilitation aide might be skilled in areas such as "cpr," "direct supervision," "cleanliness," and "data entry." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.

On average, rehabilitation aides earn a lower salary than certified occupational therapy assistants. There are industries that support higher salaries in each profession respectively. Interestingly enough, rehabilitation aides earn the most pay in the health care industry with an average salary of $29,100. Whereas, certified occupational therapy assistants have higher paychecks in the education industry where they earn an average of $51,821.

In general, rehabilitation aides study at similar levels of education than certified occupational therapy assistants. They're 2.6% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 1.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

How a Student Assistant Technician Compares

A physical therapy technician supports both the physical therapists and their physical therapy assistants in planning and implementing patient care. You are expected to perform varied duties and responsibilities that include responding to patients' requests for assistance, assisting with patient preparation before treatment, and maintaining the equipment used by the physical therapist during treatment sessions. In addition, you will be responsible for maintaining patient satisfaction and patient confidentiality. A physical therapy technician will also perform some administrative tasks such as overseeing inventory and scheduling appointments and treatments.

Let's now take a look at the student assistant technician profession. On average, these workers make lower salaries than certified occupational therapy assistants with a $21,027 difference per year.

While looking through the resumes of several certified occupational therapy assistants and student assistant technicians we discovered that both professions have similar skills. These similarities include skills such as "patients," "rehabilitation," and "patient care," but they differ when it comes to other required skills.

There are many key differences between these two careers as shown by resumes from each profession. Some of those differences include the skills required to complete responsibilities within each role. As an example of this, a certified occupational therapy assistant is likely to be skilled in "home health," "occupational therapy treatments," "adaptive," and "compassion," while a typical student assistant technician is skilled in "fieldwork," "mental health," "vital signs," and "level ii."

Student assistant technicians are known to earn similar educational levels when compared to certified occupational therapy assistants. Additionally, they're 2.7% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.5% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Description Of a Physical Therapy Technician

The fourth career we look at typically earns lower pay than certified occupational therapy assistants. On average, physical therapy technicians earn a difference of $15,711 lower per year.

While their salaries may vary, certified occupational therapy assistants and physical therapy technicians both use similar skills to perform their jobs. Resumes from both professions include skills like "patients," "rehabilitation," and "patient care. "

Even though a few skill sets overlap, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a certified occupational therapy assistant might have more use for skills like "home health," "occupational therapy treatments," "snf," and "adaptive." Meanwhile, some physical therapy technicians might include skills like "customer service," "treatment rooms," "traction," and "cpr" on their resume.

Physical therapy technicians earn a higher salary in the health care industry with an average of $32,442. Whereas, certified occupational therapy assistants earn the highest salary in the education industry.

The average resume of physical therapy technicians showed that they earn similar levels of education to certified occupational therapy assistants. So much so that the likelihood of them earning a Master's Degree is 2.3% more. Additionally, they're more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 1.2%.

Updated October 2, 2020