The More Information tab provides the Internet addresses of associations, government agencies, unions, and other organizations that can provide additional information on the occupation. In 2020, there were more than 43,300 occupational therapy assistant jobs in the country. Here, the mentally ill would always be cared for with kindness, dignity and decency. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Currently, there is evidence that a workforce shortage exists in the field of occupational therapy (OT), and few studies have been published in this area to systematically examine the status of the OT workforce. Shortages are expected to increase for all 50 states through 2030. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts exponential employment growth for Occupational Therapy Assistants. Occupational therapy continued to grow and expand during World War II. Median Salary $61,180 Unemployment Rate 4.1% Number of Jobs 25,600 Physical therapists generally examine a patient and prescribe a plan of care. Discussion of the issues surrounding OT shortages and ongoing assessment of supply and demand must ensue to mitigate the projected shortages. The American Occupational Therapy Association ( AOTA, 2016) has adopted Vision 2025, which builds on the work of the Centennial Vision ( AOTA, 2007) to guide the profession beyond 2017. What is the future of OT? Occupational therapy assistants work with occupational therapists to help their clients develop and recover activities of daily living, like getting dressed and driving, and working. sharing sensitive information, make sure youre on a federal The director of Sargents entry-level occupational therapy doctoral program, Cohn was recognized for her influence on the field in April 2019 with the Eleanor Clarke Slagle Lectureship Award, the American Occupational Therapy Associations highest honor. They must also take continuing education classes to maintain their certification. Sign up to receive important legislative updates and action alerts. Occupational Therapy Assistant Student Handbook (PDF), OTA Information and Disclosure Packet (PDF). Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire. Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for occupational therapy assistants and aides. The bill could help reverse the Medicare system's downward payment spiral. It is estimated that this number will grow by as much as 32% through 2029. at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/occupational-therapy-assistants-and-aides.htm (visited April 12, 2023). Here is how you know. The healthcare industry continues to be the United States largest employer, with more than 22 million professionals working within the field. Bethesda, MD 20894, Web Policies Our students are prepared to meet the expected demand. Applicants will be notified in writing of the Universitys decision regarding admission. To examine current and future OT job surplus/shortage trends within the United States. Employment of dental assistants is projected to grow 8 percent from 2021 to 2031, faster than the average for all occupations. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job growth in this field is anticipated to grow by 30% between 2021-2031. In May 2021, the median annual wage for all workers was $45,760. AOTA runs its own salary survey and updates it every few years. As you can see, Occupational Therapy has come a long way and continues to mature and expand. He recommended occupational therapy for the institutionalized and insane, encouraging them to sew, garden, listen to music or exercise during the day. Work experience that is commonly considered necessary by employers, or is a commonly accepted substitute for more formal types of training or education. Occupational therapy assistants typically do the following: Occupational therapy aides typically do the following: Occupational therapy assistants collaborate with occupational therapists to develop and carry out a treatment plan for each patient. They directly provide therapy to a range of patients, including elderly people who have lost fine motor skills, children who may be behind in development, or individuals who lost certain function due to injury or disability. The median annual wage for occupational therapy aides was $33,560 in May 2021. When I think about the trend of effectiveness in treatment, there is certainly a push to put our clients in the drivers seat of their own care. Jesus TS, Mani K, Ledgerd R, Kamalakannan S, Bhattacharjya S, von Zweck C, World Federation Of Occupational Therapists. Setting: Occupational therapy assistants are essential The results were very similar for OTAs. The averageOTA salaryin Connecticut is now over $64,000 a year. Copyright 2020 by the American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc. You do not currently have access to this content. Occupational Therapy Assistants rank #1 in Best Health Care Support Jobs. Occupational therapy assistants and aides spend much of their time on their feet while setting up equipment and, in the case of assistants, providing therapy to patients. She wrote the first American book about Occupational Therapy called Studies in Invalid Occupations.. There are many areas where we are poised to help but are simply missing the mark. The resource center, created by APTA and APTA Private Practice, now offers information on MPPR, the PTA differential, and more. But planting seeds often gets overlookedThanks for a great article! Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire. World Federation of Occupational Therapy (WFOT) was inaugurated by ten occupational therapy associations from around the world. Occupational therapy assistants are directly involved in providing therapy to patients; occupational therapy aides typically perform support activities. PT focuses on restoring . According to the AOTA 2025 Vision, the first pillar of where we are headed is "effective." I truly believe that OT is becoming more evidence-based and more effective. Required fields are marked *. On average across the U.S., Occupational Therapy Assistants make $59,310 annually. For physical therapy, the average cut was estimated to hover around 9%. Given that CMS aims to implement a payment differential for PTAs and OTAs in 2022 and intends to continue with payment cuts to three dozen professions including physical therapy, a surprise change of course might be nice. doi: 10.1016/j.jand.2011.12.011. These jobs offer strong salaries, good work-life balance and possibly less stress than your current position. Overall employment of occupational therapy assistants and aides is projected to grow 25 percent from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations. Older adults are more prone than young people to conditions and ailments, such as arthritis and strokes, that may affect the ability to do everyday activities. Military hospitals were desperate for more Occupational Therapists. The site is secure. This may be because of reimbursement, the inconvenience of seeing a therapist, but in some cases it is simply lack of awareness of our offerings. CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. What You Can Do Right NowGetting involved and keeping up with advocacy for the profession is not only important, it's a great way to connect with a community of engaged PTs, PTAs, and students from all over the country. Demand for occupational therapy is likely to grow over the decade in response to the health needs of a growing number of older adults. What Occupational Therapy Assistants and Aides Do, How to Become an Occupational Therapy Assistant or Aide, Occupational therapy and physical therapist assistants and aides, Employment projections data for occupational therapy assistants and aides, 2021-31, Office of Occupational Statistics and Employment Projections, Top Picks, One Screen, Multi-Screen, and Maps, Industry Finder from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages. Advocates believed all patients were entitled to compassion which would provide a better foundation for treatment and recovery. Results: In Goodwins Occupational Therapy Assistant program, for example, you will learn the principles of occupational therapy and how they relate to specific populations, as well as the application of recognized therapies in the field. Medicare currently allows for general supervision in all areas except private practice. https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any More Information, Including Links to O*NET, Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education, American Occupational Therapy Association, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/occupational-therapy-assistants-and-aides.htm, Nursing care facilities (skilled nursing facilities), Offices of physical, occupational and speech therapists, and audiologists, Educational services; state, local, and private, Help patients do therapeutic activities, such as stretches and other exercises, Lead children who have developmental disabilities in play activities that promote coordination and socialization, Encourage patients to complete activities and tasks, Teach patients how to use special equipmentfor example, showing a patient with Parkinsons disease how to use devices that make eating easier, Record patients progress, report to occupational therapists, and do other administrative tasks, Prepare treatment areas, such as setting up therapy equipment, Help patients with billing and insurance forms, Perform clerical tasks, including scheduling appointments and answering telephones. At CUKC, we link the teaching and learning processes used by occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants. J Rehabil Assist Technol Eng. As the baby boomer generation retires in growing numbers, the demand for occupational therapists specializing in geriatrics will be particularly strong. Photo courtesy of the American Occupational Therapy Association. Yet, we now have enough practitioners and researchers who are prepared to conduct sophisticated, scientifically rigorous research to communicate and document the distinct value of the profession., We have the infrastructure and the capacity to truly demonstrate to payers, to legislators, and to the public the tremendous benefits of occupational therapy, which is really exciting. All states regulate the practice of occupational therapy assistants. The percent change of employment for each occupation from 2021 to 2031. Am J Occup Ther November/December 2020, Vol. 2021 Apr;6(2):2946-2953. doi: 10.1109/lra.2021.3062349. Forecast models and grading methodology were developed to evaluate individual state OT job shortages from 2008 to 2030. Within every occupation, earnings vary by experience, responsibility, performance, tenure, and geographic area. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Address But, I feel hopeful about where we are going. Occupational therapy aides typically need a high school diploma or equivalent and are trained on the job. "The most important thing members can do right now is prepare to take action by learning about the issues and connecting with APTA," Elliott said. Effective Leaders Collaborative Accessible Equity, inclusion, and diversity Occupational therapy employment is projected to grow 18% from 2018 to 2028, much faster than the average for all occupations, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Demand for occupational therapy is likely to grow over the coming decade in response to the health needs of a growing number of older adults. During this time, the benefits of arts and crafts were being recognized and became a highly used activity by occupational therapists to promote relaxation and feelings of productivity. Due to the nature of the coursework and clinical content, sufficient physical strength is required for lifting and moving people and handling therapy equipment in a variety of settings. Occupational therapy shifted to focus on a persons quality of life through education prevention, screenings and health maintenance. Join the APTA Advocacy Network. A MSc graduate of Occupational Therapy at Edinburgh Napier University since January 2020.<br>I am currently working as a Occupational Therapy Assistant in Primary Care, Kilkenny. 2021 Apr 19;8:20556683211001805. doi: 10.1177/20556683211001805. Median Salary. Contact Us Call Cleveland University-Kansas City Admissions at (800) 467-2252 with any questions, toschedule a campus tourorrequest an information packet. Overall employment of occupational therapy assistants and aides is projected to grow 25 percent from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations. APTA's free advocacy app allows you to find legislators, send prewritten messages to them with a few screen taps, and view talking points on legislative issues. Once NBCOT certified and licensed, occupational therapy assistants need to renew their certification and registration annually as well as meet continuing education requirements. . The median annual wage for occupational therapy aides was $33,560 in May 2021. PMC A small number of occupational therapist bridge education programs are designed to qualify occupational therapy assistants to advance and become therapists. The .gov means its official. Occupational therapy aides have one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations. We are learning more about the conditions we treatand more about what is and isnt effective for treatment. The projected percent change in employment from 2021 to 2031. It does not include pay for self-employed workers, agriculture workers, or workers in private households because these data are not collected by the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, the source of BLS wage data in the OOH. Why This is the Career Youre Looking For, OTA Degree: Yes, Its an Excellent Healthcare Career for Men, Submit a completed Application for Admission to the OTA degree program at CUKC with your application fee, and. Occupational therapy assistants and aides work primarily in occupational therapists offices, in hospitals, and in nursing care facilities. As I reflect on these trends, I feel convicted in the many areas that our profession needs to grow and change. Comparable jobs earned the following average salary in 2021: Physical Therapists made $92,920, Registered Nurses made $82,750 . FOIA In 2017, there were more than 200 occupational therapy assistant programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education, a part of the American Occupational Therapy Association. This site uses cookies. In addition to the required class work, students usually must complete at least 16 hours of fieldwork as part of these degree programs, according to the BLS. The United States will have 17,900 new Occupational Therapy Assistant jobs within the next few years. Interested in becoming a lawyer's right-hand man or woman? Physical therapist assistants and aides are supervised by physical therapists to help patients regain movement and manage pain after injuries and illnesses. States in the northeast are projected to have the smallest shortages whereas states in the south and west are projected to have the largest shortages. The Emergency Medicine Workforce: Shortage Resolving, Future Surplus Expected. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. Be Part of the Future of OT As you can see, Occupational Therapy has come a long way and continues to mature and expand. Amidst the swirl of uncertainty, I have felt particularly anchored by the AOTA 2025 Vision. My name is Sophie Yancey and I am a recent graduate of the AAS- Occupational Therapy Assistant program at Cleveland University- Kansas City. MeSH The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) salary info. More than half of occupational therapists work in occupational therapy offices and hospitals, where they . Before Bookshelf These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. 10850 Lowell Avenue Overland Park, KS 66210 (800) 467-2252. 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