Occupational therapy work done by occupational therapists often brings with it the need to use occupational therapy aides. In this particular area of employment, need is growing rapidly in part, because older people are becoming incapacitated to various degrees and need to learn skills that will help them to live independently, at least partly, once again. In addition, those with other learning disabilities not due to trauma or injury also need this type of help. For this reason, an occupational therapy assistant job is relatively easy to find in that it requires a two-year associate's degree in most cases. In contrast, occupational therapy aides may have to face stiffer competition in their jobs since they don't need training beyond a high school diploma and on-the-job training.
Job duties
Occupational therapy aides set up the materials and equipment that are going to be used during a therapy session. They may also perform a number of clerical tasks, including scheduling appointments, keeping track of and reordering supplies as needed, answering the telephone, and helping clients with insurance forms or other paperwork.
As an occupational therapy aide, you do not have to be licensed, which can be of benefit to you if you wish to work right out of high school. However, this also limits the types of tasks you can perform as compared to occupational therapist assistants, for example. Assistants must be certified within their states and in most cases they are required to complete a two-year associate degree. That said, though, becoming an occupational therapy aide is a very good way to begin your career. You can then move on to such positions as occupational therapy assistant or even occupational therapist as you continue your career.
Skills needed
You'll need to have the physical capability necessary to assist patients with particular tasks. For example, you may need to lift the patients during the course of sessions, and you may need to kneel, stoop, or stand for a long period of time during sessions as well.
In addition, you'll need well-developed interpersonal skills and a desire to help people who may be struggling with circumstances at present and may need to be supported both emotionally as well as physically. You can begin working in this field as a volunteer before you apply for a formal occupational therapy aide position. This will not only give you the necessary experience to put you ahead of someone else applying for the same position who does not have the same experience; it will also tell a prospective employer that you have the inclination and a desire to do this type of work.
It is to be noted that this is a good entry-level job if you want to advance further into the field. You may then go on to become an occupational therapy assistant or an occupational therapist. It can be a way to help determine whether or not you have the aptitude for this type of work before you continue to get your education in a more intensive degree program.
It's especially important, even imperative, to have a calm and cheerful demeanor and to have a true desire to help people (without pitying them) when they are in somewhat difficult or even very difficult circumstances, and who may be struggling emotionally as well as physically.
That's not to say that you provide actual counseling services or other duties best performed by a mental health professional. Simply providing emotional support and sustenance to people who are struggling to regain independence (or to find it for the first time) is a very important part of an occupational therapy aide's job. Because emotional health and outlook often impact physical progress, being able to bolster patients' confidence and emotional outlook can in fact help them make progress in their physical endeavors, too. Therefore, it cannot be overstated that your own attitude as a physical therapy aide is every bit as important as your physical capabilities or your skill at other job duties may be.
Compensation and outlook
The occupational therapy field is burgeoning, because as the population ages and other people in need of occupational therapy (such as autistic or other sensory-impaired children) grow, this type of service will be in greater demand. Occupational therapy aides will face stiff competition for their jobs, because this type of position does not require a formal education beyond a high school diploma, and training can be done entirely on the job. Therefore, the field of applicants, too, is much wider than it is for occupational therapists or occupational therapy assistants.
Currently, with insurance caps in place for certain services as rendered by insurance companies, HMOs, and other healthcare providers, the field of occupational therapy may somewhat be negatively impacted as providers draw back the funding for these types of services. Overall, though, demand for the occupation itself is likely to continue because the need for these services will continue to become greater despite insurance shortfalls.
Occupational therapy aides earned an average of about $25,000 a year as of 2006.
