Occupational Therapy Aides

People in this career often have these skills:

• Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people.
• Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
• Active Listening - 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.
• Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

People in this career often know a lot about:

• Therapy and Counseling - Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
• English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• Psychology - Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
• Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

• Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

People in this career often have talent in:

• Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
• Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

People in this career often do these activities:

• Encourage patients during therapeutic activities.
• Prepare medical reports or documents.
• Communicate patient status to other health practitioners.
• Administer screening tests to determine abilities or treatment needs.
• Monitor patient progress or responses to treatments.

• Record vital statistics or other health information.
• Maintain medical records.
• Prepare patient treatment areas for use.
• Maintain medical equipment or instruments.
• Inventory medical supplies or equipment.
• Move patients to or from treatment areas.
• Teach basic living or other adaptive skills to patients or caregivers.
• Teach medical procedures or medical equipment use to patients.
• Implement therapeutic programs to improve patient functioning.
• Teach medical procedures to healthcare personnel.
• Monitor work areas or procedures to ensure compliance with safety procedures.
• Manage control system activities in organizations.
• Schedule patient procedures or appointments.
• Stock medical or patient care supplies.
• Perform clerical work in medical settings.
• Engage patients in exercises or activities.
• Accompany patients or clients on outings to provide assistance.

• Physical Therapist Aides

• Home Health Aides

• Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers

• Childcare Workers

• Psychiatric Aides

• Physical Therapist Assistants

• Personal Care Aides

• Pharmacy Aides

• Animal Control Workers

• Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers