The COTA jobs (certified occupational therapy assistant) description is to work under the direction of an OT (occupational therapist) to provide a treatment plan for every patient. This may include activities such as educating a patient on the proper way to move from a bed into a wheelchair, also do therapeutic exercises, or finishing daily living tasks. A certified occupational therapy assistant may also work with those with developing disabilities, teaching them skills to be more independent. New graduates should expect sufficient work opportunities as this field is expanding faster than average. With the internet at your fingertips, you can search for all the nearby certified occupational therapy assistants’ jobs by typing full time COTA jobs near me.
Is Working as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant a Good Start?
Working as an occupational therapy assistant will naturally provide you with the skills and initial education you need in the career path to becoming a certified occupational therapist assistant. You will typically progress the required experience. You may also decide to advance your education; after getting it, you may find COTA jobs effortlessly. If you are interested in COTA jobs, you need to know what each school offers so that you can take any mandatory licensing exams. The programs usually provide remote coursework or weekend classes and match your needs. It would be best if you kept in mind that not all states offer flexible schedules.
Responsibilities
COTA’s jobs are link with healthcare experts who work under the command of occupational therapists to assist patients in improving injuries and developing their physical health to perform daily activities efficiently. For example, the occupational therapist will detect a patient and recommend a treatment plan. The occupational therapy assistant will follow up on the one-on-one workings with the patient to perform therapeutic activities and exercises. They may also complete essential clerical responsibilities such as scheduling appointments, answering phone calls and emails, collecting patients’ medical histories, and ordering medical supplies.
COTA jobs also have the following list of duties:
- They perform various therapeutic activities.
- Also, they encourage patients and ensure they are doing their therapy exercises appropriately.
- They also aid patients how in managing their treatment plans.
- In addition to the above, they also document a patient’s advancement as vital by the occupational therapist.
Workplace
Being an occupational therapy assistant, you may find COTA jobs in numerous locations, such as schools, medical centers, physical therapy clinics, hospitals, physicians’ offices, and eldercare facilities. You can also find COTA jobs in occupational therapy clinics, drug, and alcohol rehabilitation centers, and assisted living facilities. In addition, you can also find COTA jobs with home health care agencies that assist patients who, after being released from a hospital or rehabilitation facility and need help adapting COTA services to their homes.
How Much Does a COTA Professional Earn?
Becoming a certified occupational therapy assistant is usually a multi-step process that involves earning a qualified degree, getting the required experience, clearing a certification exam, and getting a license in your state. According to the Federal Stats, the median annual wage for an occupational therapy assistant is $61,730 as of May 2021. However, the lowest 10% earn less than $46,000, and the highest 10% earn more than $80,000.