Occupational Therapy Assistant
Description:
Occupational therapists treat injured, ill, or disabled patients through the therapeutic use of everyday activities to help patients develop, recover, and improve the skills needed for daily living and working. Occupational therapy assistants help patients do therapeutic activities, such as stretches and exercises, teach patients how to use special equipment—for example, showing a patient with Parkinson’s disease how to use devices that make eating easier, record patients’ progress, report to occupational therapists, and do other administrative tasks.
Requirements
- Must be of good moral character
- Must meet education and examination requirements
- Must be at least 18 years old
Education Required:
New York State registered Occupational Therapy Assistant programs or an American Occupational Therapy Association accredited Occupational Therapy Assistant programs are generally 2-year associate degree programs and are typically offered at community colleges.
Fees:
The application fee is $147.
Average Pay:
$64,910 (approx. $31/hour)
Steps
- Enroll in and complete a New York State registered Occupational Therapy Assistant program or an American Occupational Therapy Association accredited Occupational Therapy Assistant program
- Click link for a list of approved programs
- Take the Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant examination with the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc. (NBCOT).
- Click link for more information
- Complete and submit application forms found here
Criminal History:
Generally, you cannot be denied an occupational license in New York based solely on your criminal record unless 1) there is a direct relationship between your past conviction(s) and the job you want; or 2) hiring you would involve an unreasonable risk to property or to the safety of others. We recommend calling the licensing board at 518-474- 3817 and finding out how your specific offenses are viewed by the board.