Best Occupational Therapy Assistant Programs Near You (2026)
Occupational Therapy Assistant training is offered by trade schools, community colleges and career institutes nationwide, and occupational Therapy Assistants earned a median of $72,300 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Use the program finder above to request information from schools that match your goals, or browse occupational therapy assistant programs by state and metro area below.
Key Facts
- National median wage: $72,300/yr (Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025)
- Pay range (10th-90th pct): $51,490 - $89,780 (Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025)
- Projected growth (2024-2034): +19.2%, ~7,200 openings/yr (Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034)
- U.S. employment: 51,290 workers (Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025)
How to Choose an Occupational Therapy Assistant Program
Start with accreditation: confirm the school holds recognized institutional or programmatic accreditation, because it affects credit transfer, eligibility for some certification exams and how employers view the credential. Then compare the credential awarded, total program length and schedule, and how much of the program is hands-on.
Occupational therapy assistant programs award an associate degree and include the fieldwork required for the national certification exam.
Expect two levels of supervised fieldwork in clinical and community settings in addition to campus labs. Graduates usually work in hospitals, schools, skilled nursing facilities and outpatient clinics.
ACOTE accreditation is required for graduates to sit for the NBCOT certification exam; confirm the program’s status before enrolling.
Before you enroll, ask each school what the schedule looks like week to week, how much time is spent in the lab, shop or clinic, which credential exams the curriculum covers, and how the school supports graduates in their job search. Outcomes vary by program and region, so ask for the school’s own completion figures and how they were measured.
Occupational Therapy Assistant Programs by State
Each state link goes to the most specific occupational therapy assistant page we publish for that state: a statewide occupational therapy assistant program guide where one exists, otherwise the state’s occupational therapy assistant career page or trade school directory.
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Top Metro Areas for Occupational Therapy Assistant Training
Large metros usually offer the widest choice of occupational therapy assistant programs and the most employers hiring graduates. These city guides list programs within driving distance and local wage data.
- Best Occupational Therapy Assistant Programs in New York City, New York (2026)
- Best Occupational Therapy Assistant Programs in New York, New York (2026)
- Best Occupational Therapy Assistant Programs in Los Angeles, California (2026)
- Best Occupational Therapy Assistant Programs in Chicago, Illinois (2026)
- Best Occupational Therapy Assistant Programs in Houston, Texas (2026)
- Best Occupational Therapy Assistant Programs in Phoenix, Arizona (2026)
- Best Occupational Therapy Assistant Programs in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (2026)
- Best Occupational Therapy Assistant Programs in San Antonio, Texas (2026)
- Best Occupational Therapy Assistant Programs in San Diego, California (2026)
- Best Occupational Therapy Assistant Programs in Dallas, Texas (2026)
- Best Occupational Therapy Assistant Programs in San Jose, California (2026)
- Best Occupational Therapy Assistant Programs in Austin, Texas (2026)
- Best Occupational Therapy Assistant Programs in Jacksonville, Florida (2026)
- Best Occupational Therapy Assistant Programs in Fort Worth, Texas (2026)
- Best Occupational Therapy Assistant Programs in Columbus, Ohio (2026)
Related Careers and Guides
- How to Become an Occupational Therapy Assistant in 2026
- How to Choose a Trade School
- Trade Schools by State
Disclaimer: Outcomes vary by location, experience, and local job market conditions. Employment or placement is not guaranteed. Program availability, admissions criteria, timelines, costs, and licensure requirements vary by school and state and may change without notice. Always verify details directly with the school and your state licensing board before enrolling.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does occupational therapy assistant training take?
It depends on the credential. Occupational therapy assistant programs award an associate degree and include the fieldwork required for the national certification exam. Program length and schedule vary by school, so confirm the details with each program before you enroll.
How much do occupational Therapy Assistants earn?
According to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), occupational Therapy Assistants in the U.S. earned a median annual wage of about $72,300. The 10th-to-90th percentile range was about $51,490 to $89,780 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Pay varies with location, experience, certification and employer.
Do I need a license or certification?
Requirements vary by state, role and employer. Some fields require a state license earned by completing approved training and passing an exam; others rely on voluntary industry certifications. Always confirm current rules with the licensing board or credentialing body in the state where you plan to work.
What is the job outlook for occupational Therapy Assistants?
The BLS projects employment of occupational Therapy Assistants to change about +19.2% nationally from 2024 to 2034, with roughly 7,200 openings expected each year on average (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034). Local demand can differ from the national figure.
Can I take occupational therapy assistant classes online?
Some coursework may be offered online, but most programs include hands-on lab, shop or clinical components that are completed in person. Ask each school how its program is delivered and what the in-person requirements are.
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
Data sources
Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.
| Data | Provider | Vintage |
|---|---|---|
| Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | May 2025 |
| Employment Projections | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | 2024-2034 |
| Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System | National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS) | 2024 |
| College Scorecard (school-level outcomes) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release |
| College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release (updated 2026-06-12) |
| Occupational licensing requirements | CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2026-02-22) |
| Registered apprenticeship programs | CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2025-10-25) |