Blog

An occupational therapist assistant helps people with mental or physical challenges develop, recover, improve and maintain skills they need for daily living. These skills can involve daily activities like walking, standing, learning how to eat meals or bathing.

According to U.S. News, occupational therapy assistants rank #1 in Best Health Care Support Jobs and #19 in Best 100 Jobs. Jobs are ranked according to their ability to offer an elusive mix of factors and number of projected job openings from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 25.4% employment growth for occupational therapy assistants between 2021 and 2031. In that period, an estimated 11,000 jobs should open up.

Occupational therapy assistants made a median average salary of $61,730 in 2021. The states and districts that pay occupational therapy assistants the highest mean salary are Nevada with $78,100, California with $75,080, Hawaii with $73,330, New Jersey with $72,860 and Delaware with $71,930.

At Lackawanna College, the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program’s mission is to prepare students to become generalist occupational therapy assistants who value life-long learning, seek evidence to support their practical and clinical decisions, and place their clients at the center of their practice. The program combines classroom-based education with fieldwork experience to ensure a career ready occupational therapy assistant after graduation.

As a result of completing the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program, these future occupational therapy practitioners will be equipped to work with the supervision of occupational therapists in a variety of settings, with a diversity of people, populations and communities. Confident in their entry-level skills, they will make a positive impact on the health, well-being, and quality of life of their clients by increasing their ability to participate as fully as possible in their preferred and needful daily activities, also known as occupations.

Upon completion of Lackawanna’s Occupational Therapy Assistant Program, students will be able to:

• Deliver client-centered practice using evidence-based research to support clinical decisions under the direction and supervision of occupational therapist.
• Demonstrate the distinctive nature of occupational therapy and the impact occupation has on health, well-being and quality of life.
• Demonstrate leadership and professional identity through a commitment to lifelong learning, service competency and advocacy for the profession.
• Demonstrate mastery of the knowledge, skills and attitudes required to pass the NBCOT certification exam.

Students can complete Lackawanna’s program in two-years and begin working as entry-level occupational therapy assistants as soon as they graduate. The program prepares students to work under the supervision of an occupational therapist ensuring a client’s valued daily activities are developed.

Those interested in helping others and working hands-on with patients to make a difference in their lives through Lackawanna College, can request more information by clicking here.