Occupational Therapy Assistant Health Professionals
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Occupational therapy assistants support occupational therapists by working with people and communities to enhance their ability to engage in the occupations they want to, need to, or are expected to do, or by modifying the occupation or the environment to better support their occupational engagement. They work under the supervision of an occupational therapist.
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Where Do I Start?
Health Care Occupation-Specific Ethics
The moral standards and procedures, ethical questions and obligations specific to occupations in a health care setting such as respect for human dignity, self-determination, informed consent and patient confidentiality.
Sign up to trackReady to go deeper? Pick up to 3 skills to focus on from the list below.
These are common skills for this role. Real-world experience matters more than ticking every box — use this as a guide, not a checklist.
Skills You Need to Become an Occupational Therapy Assistant
Essential Skills
Essential Skills
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EssentialHealth Care Occupation-Specific Ethics knowledge
The moral standards and procedures, ethical questions and obligations specific to occupations in a health care setting such as respect for human dignity, self-determination, informed consent and patient confidentiality.
Recommended Books
1 book -
EssentialHygiene In A Health Care Setting knowledge
The procedures related to maintaining a hygienic environment within a health care setting such as hospitals and clinics. It can range from hand washing to cleaning and disinfection of medical …
Recommended Books
2 books -
EssentialOccupational Science knowledge
The study of everyday activity including the behaviours, characteristics, and patterns of behaviour and productivity.
Recommended Books
2 books -
EssentialMovement Techniques knowledge
The various types of movement and physical postures undertaken for relaxation, body-mind integration, stress reduction, flexibility, core support and rehabilitation purposes, and that are required for or underpin occupational performance.
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialSupervision Of Persons knowledge
The act of directing one individual or a group of individuals in a certain activity.
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialVocational Rehabilitation knowledge
The rehabilitation process of persons with functional, psychological, developmental, cognitive and emotional impairments or health disabilities to overcome barriers to accessing, maintaining or returning to employment or other useful occupation.
Recommended Books
1 book -
EssentialCommunity-Based Rehabilitation knowledge
The method of rehabilitation which involves the creation of social programs for the impaired or disabled persons to allow them integration into the community.
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialErgonomics knowledge
The science of designing systems, processes and products that complement the strengths of people so that they can use them easily and safely.
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialOccupational Physiology knowledge
The complex physiology of specific jobs and its relation to disorders and medical conditions and the way to optimize health, work ability, and productivity.
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialCommunicate Effectively In Healthcare skill
Communicate effectively with patients, families and other caregivers, health care professionals, and community partners.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialDevelop Therapeutic Relationships skill
Maintain the individual therapeutic relationship to engage the individual's innate healing capacities, to achieve active collaboration in the health education and healing process and to maximise the potential of healthy …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialEmpathise With The Healthcare User skill
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialEnsure Safety Of Healthcare Users skill
Make sure that healthcare users are being treated professionally, effectively and safe from harm, adapting techniques and procedures according to the person's needs, abilities or the prevailing conditions.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialFollow Clinical Guidelines skill
Follow agreed protocols and guidelines in support of healthcare practice which are provided by healthcare institutions, professional associations, or authorities and also scientific organisations.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialInteract With Healthcare Users skill
Communicate with clients and their carer's, with the patient's permission, to keep them informed about the clients' and patients' progress and safeguarding confidentiality.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialListen Actively skill
Give attention to what other people say, patiently understand points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times; able to listen carefully the needs of customers, …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialApply Techniques Of Occupational Therapy skill
Apply occupational therapy techniques, such as retraining, and splinting in the rehabilitation and recovery of patients, and advising patients on their daily activities.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialAssist Healthcare Users Achieve Autonomy In Everyday Activities skill
Assist healthcare users to achieve autonomy in all types of activity, like dressing, cooking, eating, and using a computer.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialExercise Patience skill
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialFacilitate Healthcare User's Engagement In Occupations skill
Identify meaningful and healthy occupations and strategies in partnership with the healthcare user, to enable him to reach his goals.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialInstruct On The Use Of Special Equipment For Daily Activities skill
Instruct on how to use specialised equipment such as wheelchairs and eating aids in their daily activities.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialMonitor Patients' Progress Related To Treatment skill
Observe and report on healthcare users' response to medical treatment, monitoring their progress or decay on a daily basis and modifying the treatment procedures whenever necessary.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialRemediate Healthcare User's Occupational Performance skill
Remediate or restore the cognitive, sensorimotor, or psychosocial components of the healthcare user`s occupational performance.
Course recommendations coming soon.
Optional Skills (5 of {{ profession.optional_skills|length }} displayed)
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OptionalGeriatrics knowledge
Geriatrics is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.
Recommended Books
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OptionalOrthopaedics knowledge
Orthopaedics is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalOccupational Therapy Theories knowledge
The fundamental theories that underlie occupational therapy practice, occupation-based models, and frames of reference used in this context.'
Recommended Books
5 book{{ skill.books|length|pluralize }} -
OptionalKinesiology knowledge
The study of human movement, performance and function, the sciences of biomechanics, anatomy, physiology and neuroscience.
Recommended Books
2 book{{ skill.books|length|pluralize }}Kinesiology for the Occupational Therapy Assistant -
OptionalFirst Aid knowledge
The emergency treatment given to a sick or injured person in the case of circulatory and/or respiratory failure, unconsciousness, wounds, bleeding, shock or poisoning.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalGeneral Medicine knowledge
General medicine is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalHealth Care Legislation knowledge
The patients` rights and responsibilities of health practitioners and the possible repercussions and prosecutions in relation to medical treatment negligence or malpractice.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalHuman Physiology knowledge
The science that studies the human organs and its interactions and mechanisms.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalMechanotherapy knowledge
The medical treatments provided by manual means such as massage or other types of mechanical devices.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalNeurology knowledge
Neurology is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalPhysical Medicine knowledge
The diagnosis and treatment methods applied to individuals with physical impairments or disabilities in order to help them restore their body functions lost because of medical injuries or medical diseases.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalRehabilitation knowledge
The methods and procedures used to help an ill or injured person restore lost skills and regain self-sufficiency and control.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalApply Health Sciences skill
Apply a broad range of bio-medical, psycho-social, organisational, educational, and societal aspects of health, disease, and healthcare to improve healthcare services and to improve quality of life.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalDeal With Emergency Care Situations skill
Assess the signs and be well-prepared for a situation that poses an immediate threat to a person's health, security, property or environment.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalProvide Health Education skill
Provide evidence based strategies to promote healthy living, disease prevention and management.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalRecord Healthcare Users' Progress Related To Treatment skill
Record the healthcare user's progress in response to treatment by observing, listening and measuring outcomes.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalWork In Multidisciplinary Health Teams skill
Participate in the delivery of multidisciplinary health care, and understand the rules and competences of other healthcare related professions.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalAssist In Performing Physical Exercises skill
Prescribe and assist physical exercises to help increase strength and dexterity.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalCreate Individual Treatment Programmes skill
Develop treatment programmes to suit each individual patient, helping patients achieve more independence and confidence in their daily lives.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalDevelop A Rehabilitation Programme skill
Develop a rehabilitation programme to help patients rebuild their skills and restore their confidence.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalPerform Occupation Analyses skill
Perform an occupation analysis and assess how an activity is experienced by an individual, taking into account the influence on their performance.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalPerform Patient Activity Analyses skill
Perform activity analyses of a patient in the sense of linking requirement and ability analyses. Understand the activity, its demands and context.
Course recommendations coming soon.