Where do Occupational Therapy Assistants Work?

Have you considered a career in occupational therapy? When choosing a career path, it is important to think about where you want to end up working. As an occupational therapist or an occupational therapist assistant, you have many options at your fingertips and can specialize your studies or specialty to something that you will truly love doing every day.

OT or OTAs work in many different settings including hospitals, day care facilities, nursing homes, schools, universities, community centers, and workplaces. Many also work in private practice and provide occupational therapy in the client’s home or residential setting.[1]

OTs and OTAs also can work in mental health settings, where they help patients who suffer from developmental disabilities, mental illness, or emotional problems. Therapists teach these patients skills such as managing time, budgeting, using public transportation, and doing household chores in order to help them cope with, and engage in, daily life activities. In addition, therapists may work with individuals who have problems with drug abuse, alcoholism, depression, or other disorders. OTs and OTAs may also work with people who have been through a traumatic event, such as a car accident.[2]

To learn more about occupational therapists and occupational therapist assistants, please visit www.bls.gov and www.aota.org.

Learn more about Stanbridge University’s Occupational Therapist Assistant program and Master of Science in OT and apply to begin your path towards a career in occupational therapy.

 

 

 

 

 

[1] Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Occupational Therapists, on the Internet at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/occupational-therapists.htm (visited October 25, 2017).

[2] The American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc. on the Internet at https://www.aota.org/ (visited October 25, 2017).