| ||||
Summary Job Description | Tasks | |||
Assist occupational therapists in providing occupational therapy treatments and procedures. May, in accordance with State laws, assist in development of treatment plans, carry out routine functions, direct activity programs, and document the progress of treatments. Generally requires formal training. | Observe and record patients' progress, attitudes, and behavior, and maintain this information in client records. | |||
| ||||
Maintain and promote a positive attitude toward clients and their treatment programs. | ||||
| ||||
Monitor patients' performance in therapy activities, providing encouragement. | ||||
| ||||
Select therapy activities to fit patients' needs and capabilities. | ||||
| ||||
Instruct, or assist in instructing, patients and families in home programs, basic living skills, and the care and use of adaptive equipment. | ||||
| ||||
Evaluate the daily living skills and capacities of physically, developmentally or emotionally disabled clients. | ||||
| ||||
Aid patients in dressing and grooming themselves. | ||||
| ||||
Implement, or assist occupational therapists with implementing, treatment plans designed to help clients function independently. | ||||
| ||||
Report to supervisors, verbally or in writing, on patients' progress, attitudes and behavior. | ||||
| ||||
Alter treatment programs to obtain better results if treatment is not having the intended effect. | ||||
| ||||
Work under the direction of occupational therapists to plan, implement and administer educational, vocational, and recreational programs that restore and enhance performance in individuals with functional impairments. | ||||
| ||||
Design, fabricate, and repair assistive devices and make adaptive changes to equipment and environments. | ||||
| ||||
Assemble, clean, and maintain equipment and materials for patient use. | ||||
| ||||
Teach patients how to deal constructively with their emotions. | ||||
| ||||
Perform clerical duties such as scheduling appointments, collecting data, and documenting health insurance billings. | ||||
| ||||
Transport patients to and from the occupational therapy work area. | ||||
| ||||
Demonstrate therapy techniques such as manual and creative arts, or games. | ||||
| ||||
Order any needed educational or treatment supplies. | ||||
| ||||
Assist educational specialists or clinical psychologists in administering situational or diagnostic tests to measure client's abilities or progress. | ||||
| ||||
Communicate and collaborate with other health care professionals involved with the care of a patient. | ||||
| ||||
Attend continuing education classes. | ||||
| ||||
Attend care plan meetings to review patient progress and update care plans. | ||||
| ||||
CompGeo Salary Survey Benchmark Job Summary and Competencies
Occupational Therapist Assistants
The Benchmark Job Description below represents the specific Position Characteristics of the job used in the Salary Survey. Benchmark Job Descriptions should be inspected carefully to review the degree of matching between an organizations' Job and the Salary Survey Benchmark. Matching internal Jobs to Salary Survey Benchmark Jobs should not be done on Job Title alone. A thorough comparison of Salary Survey Benchmark to Internal Job Descriptions is recommended. A good overlap should exist on any comparisons used on critical Job Dimensions and Competencies.- Job Description
- Knowledges
- Skills
- Abilites
- Tools and Technology
- Education and Experience
- Alternate Job Titles
- Salaries
| ||||
Important Knowledge Competencies | Competency Description | |||
Psychology | Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders. | |||
| ||||
Education and Training | Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects. | |||
| ||||
English Language | Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar. | |||
| ||||
Therapy and Counseling | Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance. | |||
| ||||
Customer and Personal Service | Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction. | |||
| ||||
Medicine and Dentistry | Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures. | |||
| ||||
Public Safety and Security | Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions. | |||
| ||||
| ||||
Important Skill Competencies | Competency Description | |||
Reading Comprehension | Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents. | |||
| ||||
Active Listening | Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times. | |||
| ||||
Writing | Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience. | |||
| ||||
Speaking | Talking to others to convey information effectively. | |||
| ||||
Social Perceptiveness | Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do. | |||
| ||||
Judgment and Decision Making | Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one. | |||
| ||||
Time Management | Managing one's own time and the time of others. | |||
| ||||
Monitoring | Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action. | |||
| ||||
Service Orientation | Actively looking for ways to help people. | |||
| ||||
Critical Thinking | Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems. | |||
| ||||
Coordination | Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions. | |||
| ||||
Instructing | Teaching others how to do something. | |||
| ||||
Active Learning | Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making. | |||
| ||||
Learning Strategies | Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things. | |||
| ||||
Persuasion | Persuading others to change their minds or behavior. | |||
| ||||
Negotiation | Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences. | |||
| ||||
Complex Problem Solving | Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions. | |||
| ||||
Operation Monitoring | Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly. | |||
| ||||
Systems Analysis | Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes. | |||
| ||||
Systems Evaluation | Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system. | |||
| ||||
Management of Personnel Resources | Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job. | |||
| ||||
| ||||
Important Ability Competencies | Competency Description | |||
Oral Comprehension | The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences. | |||
| ||||
Oral Expression | The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand. | |||
| ||||
Written Comprehension | The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing. | |||
| ||||
Problem Sensitivity | The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem. | |||
| ||||
Written Expression | The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand. | |||
| ||||
Speech Clarity | The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you. | |||
| ||||
Deductive Reasoning | The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense. | |||
| ||||
Inductive Reasoning | The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events). | |||
| ||||
Information Ordering | The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations). | |||
| ||||
Near Vision | The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer). | |||
| ||||
Speech Recognition | The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person. | |||
| ||||
Category Flexibility | The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways. | |||
| ||||
Originality | The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem. | |||
| ||||
Selective Attention | The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted. | |||
| ||||
Arm-Hand Steadiness | The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position. | |||
| ||||
Finger Dexterity | The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects. | |||
| ||||
Static Strength | The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects. | |||
| ||||
Fluency of Ideas | The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity). | |||
| ||||
Flexibility of Closure | The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material. | |||
| ||||
Multilimb Coordination | The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion. | |||
| ||||
Perceptual Speed | The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object. | |||
| ||||
Visualization | The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged. | |||
| ||||
Time Sharing | The ability to shift back and forth between two or more activities or sources of information (such as speech, sounds, touch, or other sources). | |||
| ||||
Far Vision | The ability to see details at a distance. | |||
| ||||
| ||||
Tools/Technology Example | Product Category | |||
Accounting software | Accounting software | |||
| ||||
Billing software | Accounting software | |||
| ||||
Bookkeeping software | Accounting software | |||
| ||||
BrainTrain Captain's Log | Computer based training software | |||
| ||||
BrainTrain IVA+Plus | Computer based training software | |||
| ||||
BrainTrain SmartDriver | Action games | |||
| ||||
Client caseload management software | Medical software | |||
| ||||
Database software | Data base user interface and query software | |||
| ||||
Email software | Electronic mail software | |||
| ||||
Fifth Walk BillingTracker | Accounting software | |||
| ||||
FileMaker Pro software | Data base user interface and query software | |||
| ||||
Financial record software | Accounting software | |||
| ||||
Graphics software | Graphics or photo imaging software | |||
| ||||
Laboratory information system LIS software | Medical software | |||
| ||||
Language arts educational software | Computer based training software | |||
| ||||
Math educational software | Computer based training software | |||
| ||||
Microsoft Access | Data base user interface and query software | |||
| ||||
Microsoft Excel | Spreadsheet software | |||
| ||||
Microsoft Outlook | Electronic mail software | |||
| ||||
Microsoft PowerPoint | Presentation software | |||
| ||||
Microsoft Word | Word processing software | |||
| ||||
Patient documentation software | Medical software | |||
| ||||
Scheduling software | Calendar and scheduling software | |||
| ||||
Screen reader software | Device drivers or system software | |||
| ||||
SpectraSoft DocuPRO | Medical software | |||
| ||||
Spreadsheet software | Spreadsheet software | |||
| ||||
Text scanning software | Optical character reader OCR or scanning software | |||
| ||||
TheraClin Systems iMAPR | Medical software | |||
| ||||
Visual Health Information VHI PC-Kits | Medical software | |||
| ||||
Voice recognition software | Voice recognition software | |||
| ||||
Web browser software | Internet browser software | |||
| ||||
Word processing software | Word processing software | |||
| ||||
dBase | Data base user interface and query software | |||
| ||||
Alternative computer keyboards | Keyboards | |||
| ||||
Arm braces | Arm orthopedic softgoods | |||
| ||||
Augmentative communication systems | Adaptive communication switches for the physically challenged | |||
| ||||
Automatic dishwashing systems | Commercial use dishwashers | |||
| ||||
Back braces | Back or lumbar or sacral orthopedic softgoods | |||
| ||||
Balance boards | Balance beams or boards or bolsters or rockers for rehabilitation or therapy | |||
| ||||
Beading needles | Bead accessories | |||
| ||||
Braille writers | Braille devices for the physically challenged | |||
| ||||
C clamps | C clamps | |||
| ||||
Canes | Canes or cane accessories | |||
| ||||
Ceramic modeling tools | Clay or modeling tools | |||
| ||||
Ceramics kilns | Kilns for firing ceramics | |||
| ||||
Cold packs | Therapeutic heating or cooling pads or compresses or packs | |||
| ||||
Communication boards | Letter or symbol boards for the physically challenged | |||
| ||||
Compression devices | Vascular sequential compression devices or tubing | |||
| ||||
Compressive garments | Vascular or compression apparel or supports | |||
| ||||
Continuous passive motion CPM equipment | Continuous passive motion CPM devices or accessories | |||
| ||||
Crochet hooks | Crochet hooks | |||
| ||||
Crutches | Crutches or crutch accessories | |||
| ||||
Desktop computers | Desktop computers | |||
| ||||
Dynamometers | Dynamometers | |||
| ||||
Fax machines | Facsimile machines | |||
| ||||
Gait belts | Gait belts for rehabilitation or therapy | |||
| ||||
Glue guns | Glue guns | |||
| ||||
Goniometers | Goniometers | |||
| ||||
Hammers | Hammers | |||
| ||||
Hand drills | Power drills | |||
| ||||
Hand sanders | Power sanders | |||
| ||||
Headpointers | Headpointers or mouthsticks for the physically challenged | |||
| ||||
Heat guns | Heat guns | |||
| ||||
Hydraulic lifts | Clinical hydraulic lifts or accessories | |||
| ||||
Hydrotherapy equipment | Full body immersion hydrotherapy baths or tanks | |||
| ||||
Industrial dryers | Clothes dryers | |||
| ||||
Joy sticks | Game pads or joy sticks | |||
| ||||
Knitting needles | Hand sewing needles | |||
| ||||
Lacing needles | Lacing or stringing accessories | |||
| ||||
Latch hooks | Weaving accessories | |||
| ||||
Leather scissors | Leather accessories | |||
| ||||
Light commercial washing machines | Laundry type washing machines | |||
| ||||
Lower extremity braces | Leg orthopedic softgoods or accessories | |||
| ||||
Macrame boards | Macrame accessories | |||
| ||||
Mechanical stethoscopes | Mechanical stethoscopes or accessories | |||
| ||||
Metal shears | Shears | |||
| ||||
Metalsmith molds | Precious metal die castings | |||
| ||||
Microwave ovens | Commercial use microwave ovens | |||
| ||||
Mini punch sets | Punches or nail sets or drifts | |||
| ||||
Mini screwdriver sets | Screwdrivers | |||
| ||||
Mouthsticks | Headpointers or mouthsticks for the physically challenged | |||
| ||||
Multi-purpose saw sets | Saws | |||
| ||||
Needlenose pliers | Needlenose pliers | |||
| ||||
Notebook computers | Notebook computers | |||
| ||||
Optical pointers | Headpointers or mouthsticks for the physically challenged | |||
| ||||
Orthotic devices | Orthotics or foot care products | |||
| ||||
Ovens | Commercial use ovens | |||
| ||||
Page turners | Page turners for the physically challenged | |||
| ||||
Patient positioning devices | Positioning devices | |||
| ||||
Personal computers | Personal computers | |||
| ||||
Photocopying equipment | Photocopiers | |||
| ||||
Precision knives | Utility knives | |||
| ||||
Protective gowns | Medical staff isolation or cover gowns | |||
| ||||
Punching awls | Awls | |||
| ||||
Rasps | Rasps | |||
| ||||
Rawhide mallets | Leather accessories | |||
| ||||
Reflex hammers | Reflex hammers or mallets | |||
| ||||
Rivet setters | Rivet tools | |||
| ||||
Rotary punches | Leather accessories | |||
| ||||
Safety gloves | Protective gloves | |||
| ||||
Safety goggles | Goggles | |||
| ||||
Sewing needles | Sewing needles | |||
| ||||
Sliding boards | Patient shifting boards or accessories | |||
| ||||
Slings | Arm orthopedic softgoods | |||
| ||||
Slip joint pliers | Slip or groove joint pliers | |||
| ||||
Slip mixers | Clay or modeling tools | |||
| ||||
Sphygmomanometers | Blood pressure cuff kits | |||
| ||||
Squares | Squares | |||
| ||||
Stretchers | Patient stretchers or stretcher accessories | |||
| ||||
Surgical masks | Medical staff isolation or surgical masks | |||
| ||||
T squares | T squares | |||
| ||||
Tablet computers | Tablet computers | |||
| ||||
Talking word processor software | Voice synthesizers for the physically challenged | |||
| ||||
Therapeutic hot packs | Therapeutic heating or cooling pads or compresses or packs | |||
| ||||
Trackpads | Touch pads | |||
| ||||
Transfer belts | Gait belts for rehabilitation or therapy | |||
| ||||
Treatment tables | Mats or platforms for rehabilitation or therapy | |||
| ||||
Triangles | Triangles | |||
| ||||
Vises | Bench vises | |||
| ||||
Walkers | Walkers or rollators | |||
| ||||
Wheelchairs | Wheelchairs | |||
| ||||
Wing dividers | Leather accessories | |||
| ||||
Wire cutters | Wire cutters | |||
| ||||
Wood burners | Wood burning tools | |||
| ||||
Wood chisels | Wood chisels | |||
| ||||
Word prediction software | Writing aids for the physically challenged | |||
| ||||
Writing support software | Writing aids for the physically challenged | |||
| ||||
| ||||
Prerequisite Qualification Category | Education and Experience Level | |||
Required Level of Education | Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree) | |||
| ||||
On-Site or In-Plant Training | Up to and including 1 month | |||
| ||||
On-the-Job Training | Anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month | |||
| ||||
On-Site or In-Plant Training | None | |||
| ||||
On-the-Job Training | Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months | |||
| ||||
| |||
Alternate Job Title(s) | |||
Behavior Specialist | |||
Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA) | |||
Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant/Licensed (COTA/L) | |||
Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) | |||
Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant-Licensed (COTA-L) | |||
Health Service Worker | |||
Independent Living Specialist | |||
Licensed Occupational Therapy Assistant | |||
Occupational Therapist Assistant | |||
Occupational Therapist Assistants | |||
Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) | |||
Occupational Therapy Technician | |||
Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) | |||
Rehabilitation Assistant | |||
School Based Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant | |||
| |||||||||||||||||||||
Copyright © 1995
- 2023 International Compensation Technologies and The Clayton Wallis Company. All Rights Reserved World Wide ictcw.com Member, WorldatWork - Formerly American and Canadian Compensation Associations (ACA/CCA) |