Looking to make a career switch from a licensed occupational therapy assistant (OTA) to a licensed occupational therapist (OT)? If you’re already a practicing OTA, you should know that many Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) programs allow you to transition into an OT role in less than two years — without needing a bachelor’s degree.
Read on to learn more about what this transition from OTA to OT entails, how your responsibilities will shift, and if this career advancement is the right fit for you.
What is an Occupational Therapy Assistant?
An occupational therapy assistant is a licensed healthcare professional who works under the supervision of an occupational therapist to help patients develop, recover, and improve the skills needed for daily living and working. OTAs play a hands-on role in patient care, working directly with a healthcare team to implement treatment plans that promote recovery and enhance each patient’s quality of life.
To practice, occupational therapy assistants must earn a minimum of an associate degree along with national and state licensure.
Key Responsibilities of an OTA:
Occupational therapy assistants conduct more than just daily, routine tasks like checking in on their patients, reporting on a patient’s progress to an OT, and educating families or caregivers. OTAs typically work in hospitals, educational institutions, and home care settings. Some of their key responsibilities include:
- Enhancing Mobility: OTAs help patients improve their range of motion, balance, and ability to walk. This can include stretching, strength training, or walking on a treadmill to not only increase their strength and coordination but also help them gain the confidence they deserve.
- Assisting with Daily Living: OTAs support their patients in performing essential daily activities such as bathing, dressing, eating, and grooming. They help them develop personalized strategies and adaptive equipment like grab bars or dressing aids to help them manage their daily lives.
- Managing Pain: Along with teaching patients how to improve mobility, OTAs may focus on teaching their patients how to use their bodies properly to help them avoid pain or overexertion. While OTAs are not qualified to prescribe medication, they can help manage pain by using assistive devices such as splints, braces, or gait trainers.
- Supporting Mental Health: An OTA can help patients achieve the mental health goals created by an OT, as well as monitor and report their progress. To support their patients’ mental health, they may help them develop coping strategies like deep-breathing exercises or create structured routines. OTAs can also lend an empathic ear to help build a patient relationship built on trust and respect.
- Improving Cognitive Function: Occupational therapy assistants can help their patients improve cognitive function by teaching them rehearsal techniques such as memory encoding, retention, and retrieval. They may also employ external memory aids such as calendars or reminder apps to help them remember important events or appointments.
What is an Occupational Therapist?
An occupational therapist is a licensed healthcare professional who assesses, plans, and oversees comprehensive treatment plans to help patients overcome day-to-day challenges across all areas of life.
Unlike OTAs, OTs have a higher degree of authority to independently evaluate patients, develop personalized treatment plans, and make critical decisions regarding patient care. While occupational therapists have the expertise to perform these tasks alone, they typically collaborate with OTAs to deliver coordinated services that ensure effective patient outcomes.
To practice in most states, OTs need a minimum of a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) along with national and state certification.
Key Responsibilities of an OT:
Occupational therapists can handle the same routines and specialized tasks that occupational therapy assistants can; however, they primarily differ in their tasks because they have the ability to oversee the entire therapeutic process. This means that they lead and coordinate multidisciplinary healthcare teams by following evidence-based practices.
Below are a few key occupational therapist responsibilities:
- Supervise and Mentor OTAs: Providing guidance and oversight to OTAs, OTs ensure that therapeutic interventions are executed correctly and effectively. They also mentor OTAs by offering training, feedback, and support.
- Create Treatment Plans: OTs design comprehensive, individualized treatment plans based on thorough assessments of each patient’s physical, cognitive, and emotional needs. Each unique plan outlines specific goals along with the therapeutic activities required to achieve them.
- Sign Off on Progress Assessments: Progress reports and assessments completed by OTAs are thoroughly evaluated for accuracy and approved by OTs. Analyzing patient data helps determine the effectiveness of treatment plans, highlights necessary adjustments, and, most importantly, determines if patients are achieving their rehabilitation goals. This oversight is critical for facilities to maintain best practices.
- Consult with Healthcare Professionals: OTs collaborate with a wide range of healthcare professionals, including physicians, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, and social workers, to coordinate comprehensive care for their patients. The difference in cross-team collaboration between OTAs and OTs is that while OTAs can collaborate with other healthcare members, they must do so under the direction of OTs.
Should You Switch to an OT as an OTA?
Deciding if you should go from an OTA to an OT comes down to a variety of factors. For one, if you want more autonomy in the workplace, then a career jump to a licensed OT will allow you to make more independent decisions in your practice. You’ll also have access to more diverse job roles across a wider range of settings — including the option of opening your own private practice.
An OTA to OT pathway bridges the gap between your current role as an OTA and becoming a licensed OT. If you’ve already been working as an OTA, this means you’ll be able to use your professional experience to quickly earn your OT qualifications and start practicing.
Why consider an OTA to OT pathway program?
- Some occupational therapy schools let you earn your MSOT in as little as two years.
- OTA to OT programs teach you the hands-on skills and knowledge needed to pass the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT).
- Many programs offer flexible options, such as online classes, so you can continue working while you study without interrupting your weekday flow.
- It offers a direct path to a master’s degree in occupational therapy, which is a requirement for becoming an OT.
What Are the Qualifications to Become an OT as an OTA?
To be eligible for many OTA to OT bridge programs, you’ll need to meet a certain set of criteria. For instance, WCU’s Master of Science in Occupational Therapy has the following application requirements:
- Licensure: You must hold a valid Occupational Therapy Assistant license.
- Experience: Have at least one year of professional experience practicing as an OTA.
- Education: You must have completed some prerequisite courses with at least a 3.0 GPA, typically within the last 10 years. These are usually part of your associate’s degree from an accredited institution.
Learn more about the MSOT admission requirements.
Turn Your OTA Experience Into a Master’s in OT
Are you ready to leverage your experience as an occupational therapy assistant? WCU’s MSOT program allows you to complete your master’s degree in less than two years without a bachelor’s degree. Classes are offered through a hands-on learning format equipped with simulation labs to give you the real-world experience you need to pass your NBCOT exam.
Take the next step towards advancing your occupational therapy career by scheduling an information session today!
