Summary. We reviewed real candidate profiles to learn the best path to become an occupational therapist assistants. We'll guide you through the education, experiences, and skills hiring managers look for in an occupational therapist assistants.

  • Most companies require a occupational therapist assistants to have a associate degree degree in a related field, such as occupational therapy or psychology.

  • It's important to have relevant work experience, with typical job requirements ranging from 6-12 months in related fields.

  • The Occupational Therapy Assistant license requirements vary by state. 37 states require barbers to have licensure for their work.

  • Common job titles before becoming an occupational therapist assistants include occupational therapist, certified nursing assistant, and occupational therapy assistant.

  • Hiring managers expect an occupational therapist assistants to have soft skills such as detail oriented, physical strength, and compassion.

  • Once you have all the required skills and experience, it takes an average of less than 1 month of job training to become an occupational therapist assistants.

  • Getting a certification as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) will help you to earn more as an occupational therapist assistants.

How to become an Occupational Therapist Assistants in 6 steps:

  • Step 1: Explore occupational therapist assistants education
  • Step 2: Develop occupational therapist assistants skills
  • Step 3: Complete relevent training/internship
  • Step 4: Obtain the necessary licensing
  • Step 5: Research occupational therapist assistants duties
  • Step 6: Prepare your resume
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Key Steps To Become an Occupational Therapist Assistants

  1. Explore Occupational Therapist Assistants Education

    If you're interested in becoming an occupational therapist assistants, one of the first things to consider is how much education you need. We've determined that 38.8% of occupational therapist assistants have a bachelor's degree. In terms of higher education levels, we found that 6.3% of occupational therapist assistants have master's degrees. Even though some occupational therapist assistants have a college degree, it's possible to become one with only a high school degree or GED.

    Choosing the right major is always an important step when researching how to become an occupational therapist assistants. When we researched the most common majors for an occupational therapist assistants, we found that they most commonly have occupational therapy, psychology and medical assisting services.

    Occupational Therapist Assistants Degrees

    Associate

    42.8 %

    Bachelors

    38.8 %

    Masters

    6.3 %

    Occupational Therapist Assistants MajorPercentages
    Occupational Therapy36.60%
    Psychology12.70%
    Medical Assisting Services6.60%
    Business4.80%
    Other Degrees39.20%

  2. Develop Occupational Therapist Assistants Skills

    It'll be a good idea to develop occupational therapist assistants skills before applying for a job. Here are some skills commonly requested in occupational therapist assistants job descriptions:

    SkillsPercentages
    Patients23.84%
    Rehabilitation13.59%
    Home Health12.92%
    Patient Care9.25%
    Adaptive5.23%

  3. Complete Relevent Training/Internship

    Occupational therapist assistants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. During this time, new occupational therapist assistants learn the skills and techniques required for their specific job and employer. The chart below shows how much time it takes to gain competency as an occupational therapist assistants based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real occupational therapist assistants resumes.

    Average Amount Of Time At Training

    None

    Less than 1 month

    1-3 months

    3-6 months

    6-12 months

    2-4 years

  4. Obtain The Necessary Licensing

    Becoming an licensed occupational therapist assistants usually require a college degree. However, you need to pass an exam to become a licensed occupational therapist assistants in most of states. 37 states require occupational therapist assistants to have license for their work. You can see the list of states below.

    StateEducationExamLicense Url
    Alabama--Licensed Occupational Therapist Assistant
    AlaskaDegree requiredThird-party exam requiredOccupational Therapy Assistant
    ArkansasSpecific course requiredState exam requiredOccupational Therapist Assistant (OTA)
    CaliforniaDegree requiredThird-party exam requiredOccupational Therapy Assistant
    ColoradoDegree requiredThird-party exam requiredOccupational Therapy Assistant

  5. Research Occupational Therapist Assistants Duties

    When you decide to become an occupational therapist assistants, It's important to know what duties and responsibilities are required for this position. Some common responsibilities are a part of most occupational therapist assistants jobs. Here is a list of the main duties that define the role:

    • Achieve advance clinical competency in UE splinting.
    • Train residents and health care providers in applying orthotics and prosthetics.
    • Train resident and caregiver in the use or application of orthotics and prosthetics.
    • Educate patient and family regarding adaptive equipment, exercise techniques, and general safety with mobility.
    • Provide and educate residents about adaptive equipment and compensatory techniques to improve safety and increase participation and independence.
    • Assist with dynamic splints and fabricate static and static progressive splints.

  6. Prepare Your Resume

    Finally, when you already have checked the skills and responsibilities for this role, you can start creating your resume. Everything that goes into creating a perfect resume can take hours, days, or even weeks. No worries, we created a resume builder to make this process as easy as possible with tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and a summary.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Occupational Therapist Assistants Resume templates

    Build a professional Occupational Therapist Assistants resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Occupational Therapist Assistants resume.

    Occupational Therapist Assistants Resume
    Occupational Therapist Assistants Resume
    Occupational Therapist Assistants Resume
    Occupational Therapist Assistants Resume
    Occupational Therapist Assistants Resume
    Occupational Therapist Assistants Resume
    Occupational Therapist Assistants Resume
    Occupational Therapist Assistants Resume
    Occupational Therapist Assistants Resume

  7. Apply For an Occupational Therapist Assistants Job

    With your ready resume, it's time to start searching for a new job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

    Occupational Therapist Assistants Jobs

  8. How To Become an Occupational Therapist Assistants
    How To Become an Occupational Therapist Assistants Career Overview
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