Occupational Therapy Assistants

Get a Great Job after Just a Year in Our Occupational Therapy Program

One of the most important figures in the life of a disabled person may be the occupational therapist assistant who helps the person learn to function normally in everyday life. That assistant, or OTA, could be you, after graduating from the occupational therapy program at St. Louis College of Health Careers.

If you want to help people with disabilities to live better, enrolling in the occupational therapy program at SLCHC is a perfect choice if you are seeking a career change or looking for a new direction in life.

Occupational therapist assistants typically report a great deal of satisfaction in performing their jobs, and job prospects in the near future are bright.

Like all health careers for which SLCHC trains students, employment in the occupational therapy field is expected to increase significantly. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that jobs in that field are expected to grow 30 percent by 2018, a growth rate that is considered to be much faster than the national average. An aging population is the main reason.

Certified After a Year in Occupational Therapy School

What’s more, you can be employed as an OTA after less than a year in our occupational therapy program. A Saint Louis College of Health Careers job placement counselor will support you in your job search. We maintain close ties to St. Louis area healthcare employers, who regularly notify us of job openings. Call SLCHC today at 1-888-789-4820 to learn more, and ask if you qualify for financial support.

What is Occupational Therapy?

Simply, occupational therapists and their assistants help people who have become disabled figure out how to live their lives. Disabilities may stem from permanent conditions such as diseases, long-term injuries, or chronic pain, emotional, mental health or learning problems.

For example, someone who suffers debilitating injuries in an auto collision must learn, with the help of an OTA, how to do every day chores such as moving from a bed to a wheelchair, or preparing a meal. Similarly, a person with a learning disability must be taught how to function independently.

An OTA generally works with an occupational therapist to assess a disabled individual's needs. The OTA often does more hands-on therapy if there are many demands on the occupational therapist's time.

SLCHC's occupational therapy school has applied for accreditation and has been granted Developing Program Status by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). Our classes take place only at the county campus, located in Fenton.

Call Saint Louis College of Health Careers at 1-888-789-4820 for more information on becoming an OTA through our occupational therapy program. Fill out the application or contact forms on the right, or talk to a SLCHC representative using the “chat live” feature at the top of the page.