There are many reasons why a patient may require vocational rehabilitation services. Some of the conditions are birth defects, car accidents, heart disease, mental health problems, mental disabilities, sports injuries, falls and spinal cord injuries.
Description
Professional therapy assistants are also known as PTA. They provide treatment for children and adults of all ages with disabilities, injuries and illnesses under the supervision of general practitioners. Initially, the assistants work together with the OT to develop a treatment regimen for the patient. Then they provide direct assistance with the help of patients undergoing treatment according to the treatment plan, step by step. They rely on the therapeutic use of the daily routine of treating patients; for example, an occupational therapist can teach a patient who has lost his motor skills from an accident, eat, dress, clean, and also remove them from the hospital and back. Sometimes they can teach patients to use special equipment to facilitate daily activities.
The critical documentation of the patient’s progress is critical in the treatment process. To observe and record patient details, the progress and dissemination of this information is the responsibility of the OT assistant for therapists. Periodically, the therapist will examine these reports, evaluate the patient’s condition at this point and, if necessary, adjust the treatment. OTAs often perform administrative and service duties, but depending on their work environment, professional therapy assistants can perform these duties. Usually they answer phone calls, maintain equipment, sign books, and file insurance. OTA usually work in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, doctors, professional workshops and special schools.
Education, training and certification
The student must enroll in an accredited college or technical school that offers an OTA program in order to become an assistant in professional therapy. The program is designed for 2 years, and, as it is believed, graduates received an Associate degree. 2-year professional therapy assistance programs include both classroom and clinical fieldwork. The practical training component provides them with practical experience. Professional therapeutic educational programs of the “bridge” are available for qualified assistants in professional therapy in order to advance further in their careers.
Occupational therapists are required in most states that must be licensed before they can practice. To obtain a license, you must pass a 2-year special diploma program and pass the exam.
Professional therapy specialists do not require certification in practice. However, the name COTA (Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant) can only be given to a person who successfully passed the written exam, which is conducted by the National Certification Council for Occupational Therapy. For those who want to take this exam, it is required to complete an accredited program.
Factors Affecting the Assistant Therapist's Salary
- Experience is one of the most important factors affecting assistant salary. More experienced therapists usually receive a higher salary than those who are not familiar with the profession. Newbies will start with an average salary of $ 30,000 a year, but as they gain more experience, an annual salary of more than $ 50,000 is not unusual.
- Education - even if certification is not required in all states, many employers, however, are looking for PTAs that are certified. Currently in the United States there are more than 300 accredited programs, the release of these programs often begins with higher wages.
- Location is also very important in determining the salary of an occupational therapist. Salons may vary from state to state. Nevada is the highest paid country for OTA due to higher demand as a result of the thriving casino industry.
- The employer - working for different employers, will lead to different types. Home health services, employment services, nurses, other medical offices and specialized hospitals are high-paying employers in this profession.
Average annual benefit for occupational therapy
The average annual salary of a therapist is $ 52,150. This is calculated by adding the total salary in the class and dividing this value by the total number of employees. The lowest 10% of this class is less than $ 33,750, and the top 10% is more than $ 71,960. Their average hourly wage is $ 25.07. The lowest 10% is $ 16.22, while the top 10% is $ 71,960.
Highest paid cities:
1. El Paso, Texas: $ 72,600
2. San Diego, California: $ 70,100
3. Arlington, TX: $ 68,530
4. Las Vegas, Nevada: $ 68,430
5. New Brunswick, NJ: $ 67,550
The highest payment states:
1. Nevada: $ 68,240
2. Texas: $ 64,090
3. New Jersey: $ 62,560
4. California: US $ 61,010
5. Maryland: US $ 59,560
State with a high level of employment:
1. Ohio
2. Pennsylvania
3. Texas
4. New York
5. California
