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Profession: Rehabilitation Therapy

Occupational Therapy Assistant: Occupational Therapy Assistants (OTAs) work with people who are in some way disabled and need help with the every day activities of life - things like dressing, eating and getting out of the house. OTAs are supervised by occupational therapists. They work one-on-one with patients to carry out individual treatment plans and also assist occupational therapists during exams and other procedures.

Salary Range: $39,240 - $57,810

Salary Notes: Salaries for OTAs average between $39,240 to $57,810 per year with work experience.

Where you can study:
Briarwood College, Southington, CT
Bristol Community College, Fall River, MA
Community College of Rhode Island, Warwick, RI
Housatonic Community College, Bridgeport, CT
Kennebec Valley Community College, Fairfield, ME
Manchester (CT) Community College, Manchester, CT
North Shore Community College, Danvers, MA
Quinsigamond Community College, Worcester, MA
River Valley Community College, Claremont, NH
Springfield Technical Community College, Springfield, MA

Where you might work:
Hospitals - Nursing Homes - Private Practice - Rehabilitation Centers - Schools -

Job Outlook: Employment of occupational therapy assistants is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations through 2016.

Education, Licensing and Certification: OTAs need a high school diploma and an associate degree from an accredited program or certificate program in an accredited community college or technical school. In most states, OTAs must pass a national certification exam after graduation.

Professional Organizations:
American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) 301-652-2682 www.aota.org
Vermont Occupational Therapy Association 802-734-8289 www.vtot.org