An Occupational Therapy Assistant helps an older man lift a small red dumbbell, guiding his arm during a rehabilitation exercise in a bright room with a plant in the background.

An Occupational Therapy Assistant helps an older man lift a small orange dumbbell during a rehabilitation exercise session. The assistant supports the man's arm and smiles encouragingly.

Occupational Therapy Assistant

Healthcare degree career guide

What is an Occupational Therapy Assistant?

A smiling Occupational Therapy Assistant assists an older man in a yellow shirt with a shoulder exercise, gently supporting his arm in a bright, airy room.

An occupational therapy assistant is a professional who helps patients recover, maintain, and improve mobility for daily tasks. They often work with patients who have suffered a major injury and need to regain their previous ability to perform everyday functions. They may also assist patients with chronic illnesses that make it difficult for them to move. In these instances, it requires additional work for the patient to maintain their existing mobility and flexibility.

Occupational therapy assistants will use a targeted set of movements and exercises to help the patient with his or her individual needs. These will vary from one patient to another. The care and assistance provided by an occupational therapy assistant is always carefully tailored to the individual that he or she is working with.

As an occupational therapy assistant, you would work closely with an occupational therapist who will prescribe the appropriate regimen for the patient. These assistants will help the patient maintain this regimen and observe and record their progress, communicating closely with the occupational therapist at every stage.

Find Your Program

What does an Occupational Therapy Assistant do?

Job responsibilities for an occupational therapy assistant include:

Assist patients with activities, like stretching, pushing and pulling, among others
Help children with developmental disabilities, in social and coordination-based activities
Maintain an encouraging manner throughout patients’ progression
Educate patients on proper use of equipment
Observe and record patients’ progress
Assist patients with forms and minor billing issues
Answering patient calls and assist with basic questions
Report to occupational therapists and fulfill administrative functions

What are the steps to becoming an Occupational Therapy Assistant?

Occupational Therapy Assistant Program

Program Duration Icon

20 months

Approximate Program Length

73 credits

Total Credits

It’s important to note that this is not a career you can learn entirely from a book. You must see and feel the way the body moves and how the therapeutic equipment and tools are operated. Working with patients and equipment in person is the only way to gain the experience that you need to truly succeed in this field.

A good first step toward a career in this field is the Occupational Therapy Assistant Associate Degree from Bryant & Stratton College. This program includes essential coursework, covering topics such as occupational therapy process, human movement for occupation, physical disability intervention, and psychosocial intervention. This program also includes the fieldwork that’s necessary to complete your degree and prepare you for employment in this field.

Discover the Hybrid OTA Program at Bryant & Stratton College

As an on-campus or hybrid occupational therapy program, Bryant & Stratton College’s OTA degree program combines comprehensive classroom instruction with hands-on clinical experiences. Students engage in both integrated and full-time clinical placements across diverse healthcare settings. This associate degree program blends theoretical knowledge with practical application, emphasizing patient-centered care. Graduates emerge well-equipped to deliver effective treatments and make meaningful contributions in their future occupational therapy careers.

Next Start Dates

Our flexible delivery model is designed to cater to diverse schedules and preferences, offering many different terms to accommodate the unique needs of our students. With starts available every 8 to 16 weeks, you have the freedom to choose a timeline that aligns with your lifestyle and commitments.

This approach ensures that you can embark on your educational journey at a time that suits you best, providing the convenience and accessibility necessary for a successful learning experience.

Academic Calendar

What Can I Do with an AAS Occupational Therapy Assistant?

An Occupational Therapy Assistant assists a patient with arm exercises using a light blue dumbbell in a medical office setting.

With an AAS Occupational Therapy Assistant, you’ll be equipped for many jobs in occupational therapy. These careers can go by many names. As you’re conducting your job search, you should keep an eye out for titles such as:

Pediatric occupational therapy assistant
Acute care occupational therapy assistant
Certified occupational therapy assistant
Occupational therapy aide

This is a rewarding career where you’ll have the opportunity to make a very visible change in the lives of your patients. Start exploring your opportunities for a successful future as an occupational therapy assistant today.

For more insights into your career possibilities with an AAS Occupational Therapy Assistant, check out the healthcare degree section of our blog. Here you’ll find valuable information to help you plan your future as an occupational therapy assistant.

A woman in black holds a yellow exercise band, while another woman, guided by an Occupational Therapy Assistant, sits on a scooter board gripping the band. Three other women stand in the background, watching and smiling in a therapy or classroom setting.

Gain Real World Experience at Bryant & Stratton College

Through our partnership network, students are provided with opportunities to actively apply their learnings in real-world settings.

There are several benefits to internship experiences that can impact your career success. Internships can provide insight into the hiring process, help you sharpen your professional skills, and learn to work with confidence in real-world situations.

Plus, internships are a valuable way to prove yourself to potential employers who may want to hire you as a result. You can also start developing a network of peers and mentors you can lean on for guidance and support. If you want to learn how we connect students with local internships that align with their goals, request info today.

What Are Students Saying?

A person in a green jacket stands on a rocky beach looking at the ocean under a clear, sunny sky.

Lifestriders offers an amazing Occupational Therapy emerging practice fieldwork experience. The staff and volunteers welcomed me with great kindness, and a visible passion for their occupation. I gained valuable clinical skills while learning about the benefits of hippotherapy and everything this organization had to offer!
Syndney Egan LifeStriders

Smiling person in scrubs with ID badge stands by a wall sign labeled "A6708," colorful artwork in the background.

Rochester Regional gave me the opportunity to shadow and treat patients with a variety of diagnosis. I enjoyed traveling to each floor to encourage those in Rehabilitation through the performance of activities required in daily life. I jumpstarted my career through our internship affiliation. Forever thankful for the B&SC community.
Zack Cahill Rochester Regional Health

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