Occupational Therapy Assistant job description.
An Occupational Therapy Assistant works under the supervision of an occupational therapist to help patients regain or improve daily living and work skills after injury, illness, or disability. They implement treatment plans, guide therapeutic exercises, and document patient progress toward functional goals.
The Occupational Therapy Assistant job description · $29
The full editable .docx — role summary, 7 worked responsibilities, qualifications, and skills, formatted for your letterhead. Delivered to your inbox within 24 hours — usually instantly.
Role: Occupational Therapy Assistant Reports to: Occupational Therapist or Rehabilitation Director
An Occupational Therapy Assistant works under the supervision of an occupational therapist to help patients regain or improve daily living and work skills after injury, illness, or disability. They implement treatment plans, guide therapeutic exercises, and document patient progress toward functional goals.
- Implement treatment plans developed by the supervising occupational therapist
- Guide patients through therapeutic exercises and adaptive techniques
- Monitor and document patient progress toward functional goals
What's inside the document.
One-paragraph plain-English explanation of the role's outcome and scope.
7 responsibilities phrased the way the work is actually done.
4 qualifications a candidate must have to perform on day 30.
3 qualifications that would make a candidate excellent in year two.
5 skill chips you can copy directly into your ATS.
Occupational Therapist or Rehabilitation Director
A complete document set.
- Word document (.docx) — fully editable
- PDF — signature-ready
- Google Docs — one-click copy to your Drive
- 12 months of updates to this document
- Commercial-use licence for internal and client work
The work, not the title.
- Implement treatment plans developed by the supervising occupational therapist
- Guide patients through therapeutic exercises and adaptive techniques
- Monitor and document patient progress toward functional goals
- Educate patients and caregivers on home exercise programs
- Prepare and maintain therapy equipment and treatment areas
- Communicate patient status updates to the supervising therapist
- Assist with patient scheduling and treatment session coordination
Required — and what would make a candidate excellent.
- Associate degree from an accredited occupational therapy assistant program
- Current licensure/board certification as required by state and employer
- Strong interpersonal and patient care skills
- Physical ability to assist with patient mobility and exercises
- Experience in a hospital, rehab, or outpatient clinic setting
- Pediatric or geriatric therapy experience
- CPR/BLS certification
Eight steps from download to publish.
- 01Open the Occupational Therapy Assistant job description in Word or your one-click Google Docs copy.
- 02Replace placeholders for company name, reporting line, and location with your specifics.
- 03Tighten the summary to one paragraph that names the team's outcome, not just the role.
- 04Edit the responsibilities to match the actual scope of the seat — aim for 6 to 8 items, not 12.
- 05Separate required qualifications from preferred. Required is what a candidate must have to do the work on day 30; preferred is what would make them excellent in year two.
- 06Add salary range guidance using BLS, Payscale, or your own band data — do not copy generic figures.
- 07Have the hiring manager and one peer read it. Cut anything that wouldn't survive a candidate question.
- 08Publish to your ATS, intranet, and external careers page.
The right document at the right moment.
Use this Occupational Therapy Assistant job description any time you are opening or reopening a seat at this level. The entry band sets the calibration — copy the document, tighten it to your specific scope, and circulate to the hiring panel before the first interview.
The reporting line (Occupational Therapist or Rehabilitation Director) and skills list are starting points. Override either if your org structure or stack differs from the norm — the template is a draft, not a contract.
Honest answers before you download.
- What licensure does an occupational therapy assistant need?
- Candidates need current licensure/board certification as required by state and employer, typically after completing an accredited associate degree program.
- Can an OTA work independently?
- No, OTAs work under the supervision of a licensed occupational therapist who develops the treatment plan and oversees patient care.
Other documents in this neighbourhood.
Occupational Therapist
An Occupational Therapist helps patients develop or regain the skills needed for daily living and work activities following injury, illness, or disability.
Physical Therapy Aide
A Physical Therapy Aide supports physical therapists and assistants by preparing treatment areas, assisting patients with mobility, and handling clerical and clinic upkeep tasks.
Physical Therapist
A Physical Therapist evaluates and treats patients with movement impairments caused by injury, illness, or disability.
This Occupational Therapy Assistant job description is a professionally drafted starting point for your hiring process and is not legal advice. Hiring practice varies by jurisdiction (e.g. pay-transparency laws differ across US states and AU jurisdictions). Adapt this document for your specific location and have employment counsel review any clauses you add before publishing. Salary varies by region, employer type, and experience. Reference BLS or current industry surveys for ranges. Full disclaimer.