Occupational Therapy Assistants (OTAs) are in high demand nationwide. Patients struggling with disease, disorders, and limitations need your care and expertise. You help restore their daily activities throughout their various environments and roles. Plus, as a travel OTA with Cross Country Allied, you can perform the job that you love in exciting destinations you’ve always wanted to visit. From the tropics of Hawaii and South Florida to the wilderness of Alaska and Montana — we have traveling OTA jobs across the country. There’s an open road waiting for you to explore.
As an occupational therapy assistant, you are directly involved in helping people develop, recover and improve skills needed for daily living and working. You collaborate with occupational therapists to help design and carry out treatment plans for patients. From helping injured workers return regain lost motor skills to teaching students with learning disabilities strategies for independence — our patients and the healthcare community need you.
Occupational therapy assistants work primarily in occupational therapists’ offices, hospitals, and nursing care facilities. Most occupational therapy assistants work full-time. Occupational therapy assistants may work during evenings or on weekends to accommodate patients' schedules. At Cross Country Allied, we continually receive new traveling OTA jobs in a wide array of environments, schedules and locations.
Occupational therapy assistant salary varies according to facility, location, qualifications, and experience. The median occupational therapy assistant salary for OTAs was $56,690 in 2017, with the lowest 10 percent earning less than $39,020 and the highest 10 percent earning more than $80,320 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Travel occupational therapy assistant salary reflects the salary range of permanent OTAs; however, travel OTAs are paid in hourly compensation through their travel OT company. In addition to their hourly pay, travel OTAs that work with Cross Country Allied receive referral bonuses, comprehensive health benefits, subsidized or free housing, and more!
Employment of occupational therapy assistants is projected to grow 29 percent from 2016 to 2026, much faster than the average for all occupations according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Newly emerging areas of practice in occupational therapy related to the needs of an aging population are increasing the demand for OTAs and travel OTA services.
As an occupational therapy assistant, you’ll typically need an associate’s degree from an accredited program. The Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education has a list of programs for OTAs. OTA programs generally require two years of full-time study. They include classroom instruction in subjects such as psychology, biology, and pediatric health. Occupational therapy assistants also must complete at least 16 weeks of fieldwork as part of their education to gain hands-on work experience.
Upon graduation from an accredited OTA program, you may then take the national exam to become a certified occupational therapy assistant (COTA). Further, you may need licensure in the states in which you wish to practice. At that point, you’ll be ready to find your ideal traveling OTA job.
Being part of a sought-after field like occupational therapy gives you unlimited options as to where you can take your skills. You have the opportunity to travel to cities and towns that most people will never get to experience. The talented recruiters at Cross Country Allied will get to know you and help you find the ideal assignment that meets all of your expectations. Plus, wherever your travels take you, an excellent benefits package will be waiting:
Let Cross Country Allied help you meet your goals as a traveling occupational therapist assistant. Call us at 800.223.9230 or search our travel OTA jobs and apply online!
