Occupational Therapy Assistant Job Description: Duties, Template & Pay (2026)
An occupational therapy assistant (OTA, or COTA once certified) carries out the treatment plan an occupational therapist writes: working with patients on dressing, bathing, eating, fine motor skills and the adaptive equipment that gets them home or back to school. It is a licensed role in most states, recruited from a small pool, and one of the most expensive roles to advertise for. This page has an occupational therapy assistant job description template, the duties and licensure to state, interview questions, and pay by setting.
What an occupational therapy assistant does
Occupational therapy assistants help occupational therapists provide treatment. The occupational therapist evaluates the patient and sets the plan of care; the OTA delivers much of the day-to-day treatment within that plan, documents progress, and tells the therapist when something changes. O*NET notes that OTAs may, in accordance with state laws, assist in developing treatment plans, carry out routine functions, direct activity programs and document the progress of treatments. How much an OTA can do independently, and how closely the OT must supervise, is set by each state’s practice act.
An occupational therapy assistant is not an occupational therapy aide. The Occupational Outlook Handbook describes aides as doing select or routine tasks, such as preparing treatment rooms, under the direction of an OT or OTA. Aides are not licensed to deliver therapy, earn a much lower median ($39,160 in May 2025) and should never be recruited with the same posting.
Occupational therapy assistant duties
- Carry out treatment plans designed by the occupational therapist to help patients function independently
- Guide patients through therapeutic activities and exercises that improve motor skills, strength and coordination
- Teach new ways to do daily tasks such as dressing, grooming, bathing, cooking and eating
- Train patients and families to use adaptive equipment and follow home programs
- Lead children with disabilities in play and activities that build coordination and participation (school and pediatric settings)
- Observe, record and report patient progress, attitudes and behavior to the supervising OT
- Design, fabricate or repair simple assistive devices and splints, where the setting allows
- Communicate with nurses, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, teachers and families
- Complete documentation in the EHR on time, and handle scheduling and billing notes
O*NET’s work context data describes a hands-on, close-contact job:
| Working conditions | Share reporting it |
|---|---|
| Exposed to disease or infections | 97% every day |
| Indoors, environmentally controlled | 87% every day |
| Constant contact with others | 86% |
| Teamwork rated extremely important | 86% |
| Physical proximity, near touching | 84% |
| Frequency of decision making | 81% every day |
BLS adds that OTAs spend much of their time standing, with kneeling, stooping and occasional lifting of patients. Say which transfers and lifts the job involves and what equipment you have.
Licensure and certification
Put the credential requirements in the posting exactly, because every qualified candidate will look for them first.
- Education. BLS says OTAs typically need an associate’s degree from an accredited OTA program; programs generally take two years of full-time study and include several months of fieldwork.
- National exam. To sit the NBCOT certification exam, a candidate must graduate from an ACOTE-accredited OTA program. BLS notes they must pass the exam to use the title Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA), and need continuing education to keep the certification.
- State license. BLS says OTAs usually need a state-issued license, which requires an accredited program, fieldwork and passing an exam. Check your state OT licensing board for current rules, supervision requirements and renewal cycles.
- New graduates. According to AOTA, many but not all states allow recent graduates to practice on a temporary license or limited permit under specific supervision while waiting for exam results. If your state allows it, say you welcome new graduates.
- Other. BLS notes that CPR or basic life support certification may be required. Name it if you need it.
Occupational therapy assistant job description template
Copy this into your ATS or job board, replace the bracketed fields, and delete what does not apply. It is written for a skilled nursing or rehab setting; the customization section covers outpatient, schools, home health and hospitals.
Job title
Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) [/ Licensed OTA], [Full-time / Part-time / PRN], [Facility name], [City, ST]
Summary
[Facility name] is hiring a certified occupational therapy assistant for our [setting, e.g. skilled nursing and short-term rehab unit] in [city]. Working with our occupational therapists, you will deliver treatment that helps patients get back to dressing, bathing, eating and living as independently as possible, and you will have [caseload / productivity expectation] with [support: number of OTs, rehab techs, documentation time].
[Schedule, e.g. Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., one weekend a month]. [Pay range]. [One sentence on what is good about working here.]
What you will do
• Carry out treatment plans set by the supervising occupational therapist
• Lead therapeutic activities and exercises for motor skills, strength and coordination
• Train patients and families in daily living tasks, adaptive equipment and home programs
• Observe, document and report progress in [EHR system] within [timeframe]
• Communicate changes in condition to the OT and the care team
• [Fabricate simple splints / assist with discharge planning / lead group sessions]
What you need
• Associate’s degree from an ACOTE-accredited occupational therapy assistant program
• NBCOT certification (COTA), or eligible to sit the exam [if your state allows a temporary permit]
• Current [state] OTA license, or eligible for one before start
• [CPR / BLS certification]
• Able to assist with patient transfers [with lift equipment available]
Nice to have
• Experience in [setting]
• [Specialty training, e.g. low vision, pediatrics, dementia care]
What we offer
• [Pay range] [and sign-on or license reimbursement]
• [Productivity expectation stated as a number]
• [Continuing education budget and paid CEU time]
• [Benefits and the eligibility date]
• [Mentorship for new graduates]
How to apply
[One step. Name the rehab director and say how fast you respond.]
Requirements: what to ask for, and what to drop
| Requirement | What to know |
|---|---|
| License and certification | Required, and non-negotiable. State them exactly, and say whether you accept candidates who are license-eligible or on a temporary permit. |
| Years of experience | Drop or soften it. Requiring two years in your exact setting shuts out new graduates, who are a large share of the available pool in an occupation of about 52,200 people. |
| Setting experience | A nice-to-have. SNF, outpatient and school skills overlap more than job postings suggest; train for the differences. |
| Productivity | State the expectation as a number. Experienced COTAs screen employers on it, and hiding it costs you trust at the offer stage. |
| Physical demands | Be specific about transfers and lifts and the equipment you provide. |
| Bachelor’s degree | Do not ask for it. The entry credential is an associate’s degree; O*NET reports 92% of OTAs surveyed said an associate’s degree is required. |
Customizing it by setting
Offices of therapists and outpatient clinics
The largest employer, with 39 percent of OTAs and a $70,740 median. Emphasize caseload, patient mix (hand therapy, pediatrics, neuro) and schedule.
Nursing care facilities
19 percent of OTAs, $76,780 median. Productivity, documentation time and the relationship with nursing are what candidates ask about. Say whether you use a contract therapy company or employ therapists directly.
Hospitals
17 percent of OTAs, $67,020 median. Acute care means short stays, discharge planning and fast-changing patients. Name the units covered and weekend rotation.
Schools
Educational services employ 7 percent at a $60,920 median, the lowest of the five settings BLS lists. Lead with the school calendar and summers, which is what draws candidates to the setting.
Home health
7 percent of OTAs and the highest median at $77,310. Say how visits are paid (per visit or hourly), mileage reimbursement, territory and documentation technology.
What occupational therapy assistants earn
Occupational therapy assistants had a median wage of $72,300 a year, or $34.76 an hour, in May 2025. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $51,490 and the highest 10 percent more than $89,780.
| Industry | Median annual wage (May 2025) | Share of OTAs |
|---|---|---|
| Home healthcare services | $77,310 | 7% |
| Nursing care facilities | $76,780 | 19% |
| Offices of physical, occupational and speech therapists, and audiologists | $70,740 | 39% |
| Hospitals | $67,020 | 17% |
| Educational services | $60,920 | 7% |
BLS counted 52,200 occupational therapy assistants in 2025 and projects employment to grow 21 percent to 63,400 by 2035, much faster than average, with about 8,100 openings a year. BLS attributes the growth to the healthcare needs of an aging population and to conditions such as arthritis and strokes that affect everyday activities. A small, fast-growing licensed occupation is a candidate’s market; your posting competes on schedule, caseload and pay, stated plainly.
Interview questions for an occupational therapy assistant
These six questions test clinical judgment, communication with the supervising OT, and fit with your setting. A good answer is concrete and names what the candidate did.
1. Tell me about a patient whose goals you helped reach. What did the sessions look like?
Listen for functional goals (dressing, toileting, returning home), graded activities and how the candidate adapted when progress stalled. Generic answers about “helping people” are weak.
2. A patient refuses therapy today. What do you do?
A good answer explores why (pain, fatigue, fear, mood), offers an adapted session, documents the refusal and tells the OT and nursing. It respects the patient’s right to refuse without giving up on the day.
3. When do you contact the supervising OT rather than proceed?
Strong candidates name changes in condition, new precautions, a plan that is not working, and anything outside their state scope, such as evaluation. This question checks they know where the line is.
4. How do you keep documentation current on a full caseload?
Look for a system: point-of-service notes, time blocked for documentation, and knowing what the payer requires. “I stay late” is honest but tells you the workload is the problem.
5. How would you teach a family member to help with a safe transfer at home?
A good answer demonstrates, has the family member practice, uses teach-back, and adapts to the home setup and equipment.
6. What does a good working relationship with nursing look like to you?
Listen for shared goals, carryover of techniques on the unit, and handing off information both ways. This matters most in skilled nursing and hospitals.
What it costs to reach an occupational therapy assistant
OTA roles fall in our therapy (PT / OT / SLP) role family, the most expensive in our 2026 Social Job Advertising Benchmark: a median cost per applicant of $74.62 on Meta, with the middle half of campaigns between $44.85 and $171.40, a blended figure of $64.12 and a 5 percent apply rate. The all-role median is $13.88.
The price is not the auction; it is the form. Across the benchmark, apply rate explains 70 percent of the variation in cost per applicant, and licensed clinicians abandon long applications. For OTAs, a short form that asks for license status and preferred schedule, followed by a same-day call from the rehab director, does more than any change to the ad. Our therapy staffing page covers the wider picture.
Staffing the rest of the rehab team? See the occupational therapist, physical therapist assistant, physical therapist, speech-language pathology assistant and speech-language pathologist job descriptions, and healthcare recruiting for the hiring side.
The job description is not the job ad
The template is the document for credentialing and HR. The ad has to reach a COTA who already has a job and is not looking.
- Lead with setting, schedule and pay, then the productivity expectation.
- Say “new grads welcome” if you mean it, and what the mentorship is.
- Name the team: how many OTs, PTs and SLPs, and who the COTA reports to.
- Keep the form to license status, setting preference and a phone number.
For flexible coverage, see PRN staffing; for writing the ad itself, job ad copywriting.
Frequently asked questions
What does an occupational therapy assistant do?
An occupational therapy assistant carries out the treatment plan an occupational therapist designs: guiding patients through exercises and activities, teaching new ways to handle daily tasks like dressing and bathing, training patients and families on adaptive equipment, and recording and reporting progress to the supervising OT. The details of what an OTA may do independently are set by state law.
What are the main occupational therapy assistant duties?
Carrying out treatment plans, leading therapeutic activities and exercises, teaching daily living skills, training patients and families on adaptive equipment and home programs, documenting progress, reporting changes to the supervising occupational therapist, and communicating with the wider care team. In some settings OTAs also make simple splints or assistive devices and lead group sessions.
What is the difference between an occupational therapy assistant and an aide?
Assistants are licensed in most states and deliver treatment under an occupational therapist’s supervision. Aides do routine support tasks such as preparing treatment rooms, under the direction of an OT or OTA, and do not provide therapy. The pay gap is large: May 2025 medians were $72,300 for assistants and $39,160 for aides.
What license does an occupational therapy assistant need?
Most states require a state OTA license. BLS says licensure requires completing an accredited OTA program, fieldwork and passing an exam. The national exam is run by NBCOT; eligibility requires graduating from an ACOTE-accredited OTA program, and passing lets the candidate use the COTA title. Check your state licensing board for current rules.
Can new graduates work as occupational therapy assistants before passing the exam?
In some states. AOTA says many, but not all, states allow recent graduates to practice on a temporary license or limited permit under specific supervision requirements while waiting for exam results. If your state allows it, say so in the posting and describe the supervision and mentorship you provide.
How much do occupational therapy assistants make?
The median was $72,300 a year, or $34.76 an hour, in May 2025. By setting, home healthcare services paid the highest median at $77,310, followed by nursing care facilities at $76,780; educational services paid the lowest of the five settings BLS lists, at $60,920. The top 10 percent earned more than $89,780.
What interview questions should I ask an occupational therapy assistant?
Ask about a patient whose goals they helped reach, what they do when a patient refuses therapy, when they contact the supervising OT rather than proceed, how they keep documentation current on a full caseload, and how they would teach a family member a safe transfer. Good answers are concrete and show where the candidate’s scope ends.
Is occupational therapy assistant a growing job?
Yes. BLS projects employment of occupational therapy assistants to grow 21 percent from 2025 to 2035, from 52,200 to 63,400, much faster than average, with about 8,100 openings a year. Growth is tied to an aging population and conditions like arthritis and stroke that affect everyday activities.
Why is it expensive to recruit occupational therapy assistants?
Because few licensed people fill out long forms. Therapy roles in our benchmark ran a median of $74.62 per applicant on Meta with only a 5 percent apply rate, the lowest of any role family. Shortening the application and responding the same day moves that number more than changing the ad does.
Should an OTA posting ask for experience?
Ask for license status, not years. Requiring two years in your exact setting removes new graduates, who can be a large share of the local pool in a small occupation. Say what training and mentorship you give, and list setting experience as a nice-to-have.
Related job descriptions
Hiring occupational therapy assistants?
The description is the document. Reaching licensed COTAs who are not on job boards, and getting them through a short application, is the part we do.
Wage, employment, projection, industry and licensure data for occupational therapy assistants (SOC 31-2011): U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, occupational therapy assistants and aides, last modified 27 August 2026; annual openings from BLS Employment Projections Table 1.2, 2025–35; hourly median, tasks, work context and education from O*NET OnLine 31-2011.00; exam eligibility from NBCOT; temporary licensure from AOTA. Wages are May 2025 OEWS. Read at source 24 September 2026. Cost-per-applicant and apply-rate figures: Boostpoint 2026 Social Job Advertising Benchmark, 891 managed campaigns and 1,334 campaign-months.