by Updated on | $ $ Associate's Degree: $5,000-$24,000 |
The assistants of occupational therapists work under the supervision of the occupational therapist to provide rehabilitative services to those people who need help in the completion of their everyday tasks.
Children and older adults, as well as everyone suffering from an injury, may use the services of an occupational therapist assistant to gain the needed skills.
Typical Costs
The occupational therapy assistants need to earn an associate’s degree, usually taking two years to complete at a community college for the sum between $5,000-$24,000.
The tuition at the Community College of Rhode Island in Warwick, R.I., for example, costs $5,800, and the program lasts for 15 months.
At the same time, the tuition at Baptist Health Schools Little Rock in Arkansas costs $ 18,500, and the program lasts for 21 months of classes.
The price for the state-issued licensure and certification for an occupational therapist assistant is between $90-$180.
Michigan’s occupational therapist assistant certification fee, for example, is $90, while Georgia’s fee is $100.
Based on information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 40 states require occupation therapist assistants to be licensed, while the others require registration.
The board certification costs $500 and could be granted by taking the exam with the National Board for Certifying Occupational Therapy, which is considered a requirement for practicing in some states.
The California Board of Occupational Therapy presents information for all state licensing boards in the U.S. and reveals their specific requirements.
What Is Included
- The programs for the occupational therapist assistants have to cover coursework in healthcare, anatomy, and physiology, basic medical terminology, gerontology and pediatrics, mental health, adult physical disabilities, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- The accredited programs need further to include 24 weeks of supervised work experience in the field.
- Schools need to be accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education.
- Attendance in an accredited school is a requirement to take the national certification exam.
Additional Costs
The additional costs for an occupational therapist assistant degree usually vary from $3,000-$13,000 in total.
The accommodation and board at the Community College of Rhode Island in Warwick, R.I., for example, costs $3,000-$7,000 annually, with $4,000-$6,000 being the estimated, such as additional expenses like transportation and insurance.
For example, the Eastern New Mexico University has additional costs as $2,000-$4,000 for transportation to and from clinical placements, and $2,500 on books, supplies, and fees.
Discounts
The students can apply for scholarships from national organizations such as the American Occupational Therapy Foundation, that awards funding of $150-$5,000.
Some individual colleges such as SUNY Orange in Middletown, N.Y., can further offer scholarships to students who are enrolled in an occupational therapist assistant program.
Shopping For Occupational Therapist Assistant School
- The American Occupational Therapy Association publishes a guide for prospective students and a list of accredited schools and programs.
- The National Board for Certifying Occupational Therapy provides study tools for students taking the certification exam.