Occupational therapists are medical professionals that assist people in functioning in work and daily living situations. The OTA needs extreme patience to be successful in this field. Retraining a patient to function independently is sometimes a slow process. Persistence and perseverance is necessary for both the occupational therapist and the patient. Occupational therapy programs train students to help people thrive in the midst of limiting circumstances. Adverse situations can happen to any of us;however, the ability to overcome the adversity is essential to thriving.
Professionals in this field understand the value of an occupation in the life of a human being. Meaningful activity can contribute to a faster recover. In addition, prolonged lack of activity begins to create additional problems. Patients often deteriorate further without activity. Emotional, psychological, and physical damage can result from lack of meaningful activity. People should always be encouraged to be independent. Total dependence on another can crush the human spirit. Occupational therapists find creative ways to foster activity. Progress can be slow at times; however, the rewards are worth it. Patients gain self-esteem and self-worth through independence. The person’s environment may have to be adapted physically to accommodate the person. Employers are required to accommodate within reason employees that can perform the job with assistance.
Occupational therapy assistant schools prepare students to meet the challenges in this field. There are many accredited occupational therapy assistant schools that will prepare you for this career. The Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education conducts on site evaluations every 5 to 7 years. Initial accreditation requires more frequent site evaluations. After the initial credential is granted, the ACOT evaluates the college in 5,7, or 10 year intervals. The accreditation is maintained through these interval evaluations.
Occupational therapy certification is voluntary. Each individual state may have certain guidelines for practicing as an occupational therapy assistant. Certification is gained through taking an exam given by the National Board for Certifying Occupational Therapy. A student must go to an occupational therapist school and obtain an associate degree. The normal completion period is two years. After obtaining this associate degree from an occupational therapy program, the student is eligible to sit for the exam. Passing the exam qualifies the student to become a licensed occupational therapy assistant in the state. Continuing education courses in OTA are required to maintain certification. The licensed occupational therapy assistant has a more competitive edge in the employment market. In addition, advancement opportunities are much more readily available. Salaries range from $39,000 to $57,000 in this field. The job outlook is very positive. Growth is expected through 2018. Demand for qualified occupational therapy assistants is expected to exceed supply. A career as OTA can be a great move for your future.
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