Occupational Therapy Aides
SOC: 31-2012.00

Description:

Under close supervision of an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant, perform only delegated, selected, or routine tasks in specific situations. These duties include preparing patient and treatment room.

National Salary Information:

Hourly Statistics:

Annual Statistics:

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2015 wage data.

Employment Projections:

Employment (2014):
8,800 employed

Projected (2024):
11,600 employed

Projected growth (2014-2024)


Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2015 2014-2024 employment projections external site. "Projected growth" represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2014-2024). "Projected job openings" represent openings due to growth and replacement.

Alternate Titles:

  • Certified Occupational Rehabilitation Aide (CORA)
  • Direct Service Professional
  • Direct Support Profesional
  • Direct Support Staff
  • Independent Living Specialist
  • Occupational Rehabilitation Aide
  • Occupational Therapist Aide (OT Aide)
  • Occupational Therapy Aide (OT Aide)
  • Occupational Therapy Technician (OT Tech)
  • Program Trainer
  • Rehabilitation Aide (Rehab Aide)
  • Rehabilitation Aide/Scheduler
  • Rehabilitation Services Aide
  • Rehabilitation Tech
  • Rehabilitation Technician (Rehab Tech)
  • Restorative Aide
  • Restorative Coordinator
  • Restorative, Rehab Aide
  • Therapy Tech

    • Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed

    Experience:

    Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.

    Education:

    Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.

    Job Training:

    Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

    Required Skills:

  • Reading Comprehension
  • Active Listening
  • Writing
  • Speaking
  • Mathematics
  • Science
  • Critical Thinking
  • Active Learning
  • Learning Strategies
  • Monitoring
  • Social Perceptiveness
  • Coordination
  • Persuasion
  • Negotiation
  • Instructing
  • Service Orientation
  • Complex Problem Solving
  • Operations Analysis
  • Technology Design
  • Operation Monitoring
  • Operation and Control
  • Troubleshooting
  • Quality Control Analysis
  • Judgment and Decision Making
  • Systems Analysis
  • Systems Evaluation
  • Time Management
  • Management of Material Resources
  • Management of Personnel Resources

    • Knowledge Used:

  • Administration and Management
  • Clerical
  • Sales and Marketing
  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Personnel and Human Resources
  • Computers and Electronics
  • Engineering and Technology
  • Mechanical
  • Mathematics
  • Chemistry
  • Biology
  • Psychology
  • Sociology and Anthropology
  • Medicine and Dentistry
  • Therapy and Counseling
  • Education and Training
  • English Language
  • Foreign Language
  • Philosophy and Theology
  • Public Safety and Security
  • Law and Government
  • Telecommunications
  • Communications and Media
  • Transportation

    • Tasks:

  • Encourage patients and attend to their physical needs to facilitate the attainment of therapeutic goals.
  • Report to supervisors or therapists, verbally or in writing, on patients' progress, attitudes, attendance, and accomplishments.
  • Observe patients' attendance, progress, attitudes, and accomplishments and record and maintain information in client records.
  • Manage intradepartmental infection control and equipment security.
  • Evaluate the living skills and capacities of physically, developmentally, or emotionally disabled clients.
  • Prepare and maintain work area, materials, and equipment and maintain inventory of treatment and educational supplies.
  • Instruct patients and families in work, social, and living skills, the care and use of adaptive equipment, and other skills to facilitate home and work adjustment to disability.
  • Supervise patients in choosing and completing work assignments or arts and crafts projects.
  • Assist occupational therapists in planning, implementing, and administering therapy programs to restore, reinforce, and enhance performance, using selected activities and special equipment.
  • Perform clerical, administrative, and secretarial duties, such as answering phones, restocking and ordering supplies, filling out paperwork, and scheduling appointments.
  • Demonstrate therapy techniques, such as manual and creative arts and games.
  • Transport patients to and from the occupational therapy work area.
  • Adjust and repair assistive devices and make adaptive changes to other equipment and to environments.
  • Assist educational specialists or clinical psychologists in administering situational or diagnostic tests to measure client's abilities or progress.
  • Accompany patients on outings, providing transportation when necessary.

    • Tools & Technology:

  • Adaptive cutlery
  • Augmentative communication systems
  • Beading needles
  • Braille writers
  • Canes
  • Communication boards
  • Crochet hooks
  • Crutches
  • Desktop computers
  • Dressing sticks
  • Hand weights
  • Knitting needles
  • Lacing needles
  • Latch hooks
  • Leather scissors
  • Multi-line telephone systems
  • Multi-purpose saw sets
  • Orthopedic splints
  • Personal computers
  • Photocopiers
  • Power hand sanders
  • Punching awls
  • Rasps
  • Rawhide mallets
  • Reachers
  • Rehabilitation training ramps
  • Rivet setters
  • Rotary punches
  • Scooter boards
  • Sewing machines
  • Sewing needles
  • Therapeutic balls
  • Transfer belts
  • Wheelchairs
  • Wheeled walkers
  • Wood chisels
  • Billing software
  • Data entry software
  • Electronic medical record EMR software
  • MEDITECH software
  • Microsoft Access
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Word
  • Scheduling software

    • healthcare support

    industry stats

    SOC: 31-0000

    Total Employed: 3,989,910

    Average Annual Salary: $29,520