by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Occupational Therapist Assistant involves the study of Occupational Therapist Assistant. A Program That Prepares Individuals, Under The Supervision Of Occupational Therapists, To Direct Patient Participation In Skill-Enhancing, Learning, And Motivational Tasks; Correct Or Diminish Pathologies; And To Provide Direct Health Education And Promotion Services. Includes Instruction In Human Life Span Development, Occupational Therapy Principles And Practice Skills, Treatment Planning And Implementation, Record-Keeping And Documentation, Patient Education And Intervention, Activity And Program Direction, And Assistive Services Management. Continue reading for the key facts every occupational therapist assistant major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering occupational therapist assistant programs.
Nationwide, occupational therapist assistant is a widely-pursued major, with 3,178 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Occupational Therapist Assistant Schools ranking analyzes these 214 schools to determine the best overall colleges for occupational therapist assistant students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of occupational therapist assistant programs later in this article.
Programs in Occupational Therapist Assistant build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations occupational therapist assistant graduates commonly enter.
The skill set developed in a occupational therapist assistant program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a occupational therapist assistant major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several occupational therapist assistant degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 38 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 3,087 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 53 |
People currently working in careers related to occupational therapist assistant tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 31.6% |
| Master’s degree | 24.8% |
| Doctoral degree | 17.2% |
| Post-doctoral training | 13.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 9.5% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.0% |
| Some college courses | 1.6% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.1% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in occupational therapist assistant careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in occupational therapist assistant prepares you for a variety of career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to occupational therapist assistant.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to occupational therapist assistant.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
| Occupational Therapy Assistants | 572,604 | 5.6% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of occupational therapist assistant graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $27,434 |
| 4 years | $29,082 |
| 5 years | $32,352 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for occupational therapist assistant graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers occupational therapist assistant grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
| Occupational Therapy Assistants | $29,426 |
With 214 different occupational therapist assistant programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased occupational therapist assistant school rankings to help you.
Those considering occupational therapist assistant, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Medical/Clinical Assistant | 52,819 |
| Pharmacy Technician/Assistant | 7,541 |
| Physical Therapy Assistant | 5,633 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services, Other | 4,065 |
| Emergency Care Attendant (EMT Ambulance) | 3,923 |
| Radiologist Assistant | 1,513 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Assistant | 614 |
| Respiratory Therapy Technician/Assistant | 431 |
| Anesthesiologist Assistant | 423 |
| Speech-Language Pathology Assistant | 363 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
