Should You Become An Occupational Therapy Assistant Or An Occupational Therapist?

Occupational Therapy Assistant Versus Occupational Therapist

Occupational therapy (OT) is not unlike physical therapy (PT). The therapist seeks to relieve the patient's pain. Both also allow improving mobility and raising flexibility. One difference is that occupational therapy is more holistic in regards to its method of care. You can either choose to be an occupational therapist assistant (OTA) or an occupational therapist (OT). Most employers or companies prefer assistants first. If the assistant is ready to handle heavier obligations, she can become a full occupational therapist.

The Difference

Education for assistants and full therapists varies. Also, there are specific guidelines if you decide to be an assistant now and decide to be an OT later on. To be an occupational therapy assistant, you have to have at least an Associate Degree in Occupational Therapy. Besides that, you need to have a certification as well as pass a licensure exam. Another requirement is a supervised fieldwork of 16 weeks. Occupational therapists on the other hand, need at least a Master's Degree in Occupational Therapy. They should also pass the licensure exam and have a supervised fieldwork of 24 weeks.

Choosing to be an Assistant First

You may choose to be an assistant first and transition to a full occupational therapist after. The requirements to make this transition depend on the school. Some schools give you credit for having experience as an OTA. Some schools do not give any credit for your experience. You will need to check your school of interest to determine its policies.

The fastest way to become a full occupational therapist when you're already an assistant is to enroll in an acceleration, master's, or combination program. A combination program would allow you to finish your Bachelor's as well as your Master's at the same time. Besides that, it would only take around three and a half years to be complete. But if you already have finished your Bachelor's then it would be easier to just go through a Master's program.

Advantages of Choosing to Be an Assistant First

One of the advantages of being an assistant first is that you can gain real experience from just completing an Associate Degree. While you are finishing your Bachelor's and Master's, you can take a distance learning transition program which will let you work as an assistant while you are studying to be a full occupational therapist.

Another advantage of choosing to be an assistant first is that, in some cases, an occupational therapy program will consider the credits and experience you earned as an assistant. You can check with your school regarding what classes can be credited and eliminated.

Should You Become An Occupational Therapy Assistant?

It is not very hard to choose between being an assistant and being a full occupational therapist. The education for a full therapist is longer but know that you can further your studies even while working as an assistant. Becoming an OTA first also puts you at an advantage by allowing you to gain more experience.