by our College Data Analytics TeamIn 2020-2021, occupational therapist assistant was the 146th most popular major nationwide with 4,848 degrees awarded. This is a difference of 1,231 over the prior year, a growth of 25.4%.
This year's Best Occupational Therapist Assistant Schools ranking compares 175 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Explore this or one of our many other custom occupational therapist assistant rankings further below.
Occupational Therapist Assistant majors are found most commonly in careers in which 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 is important. Talking to others to convey information effectively and understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents are all required skills for careers related to this major.
occupational therapist assistant degree applicants generally need have finished high school or their GED. Many schools may also have GPA and SAT/ACT score minimums that must be met. In addition to these basic occupational therapist assistant program qualifications, to serve in some occupational therapist assistant careers, special certification may be required outside of your degree.
There are many different occupational therapist assistant degree levels. Occupational Therapist Assistant programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest occupational therapist assistant degree you can get. The type of occupational therapist assistant degree you choose will determine how long it takes to get your diploma.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
An associate degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to occupational therapist assistant, with approximately 43.1% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to occupational therapist assistant tend obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 47.4% |
| Master’s Degree | 21.0% |
| Doctoral Degree | 10.7% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 10.0% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 8.2% |
About 55.4% of workers in careers related to occupational therapist assistant obtain at least bachelor's degrees. The chart below shows what degree level those who work in occupational therapist assistant have obtained.
The education level required is different depending on the occupational therapist assistant career you are seeking.
Want a job when you graduate with your occupational therapist assistant degree? Occupational Therapist Assistant careers are expected to grow 26.4% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to occupational therapist assistant.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Health Specialties Professors | 294,000 | 25.9% |
| Occupational Therapy Assistants | 50,700 | 29.0% |
As you might expect, salaries for occupational therapist assistant graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for occupational therapist assistant graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers occupational therapist assistant grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Health Specialties Professors | $122,320 |
| Occupational Therapy Assistants | $60,410 |
With over 240 different occupational therapist assistant degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased occupational therapist assistant school rankings to help you with this.
One of 13 majors within the Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services area of study, Occupational Therapist Assistant has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Medical/Clinical Assistant | 56,466 |
| Physical Therapy Assistant | 7,420 |
| Pharmacy Technician/Assistant | 7,393 |
| Other Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | 3,493 |
| Emergency Care Attendant (EMT Ambulance) | 3,031 |
