How long does occupational therapy assistant training take in Iowa?

Most people become an Occupational Therapy Assistant in Iowa through an ACOTE-accredited OTA program, the NBCOT COTA exam, and state OTA licensure.

How to Become an Occupational Therapy Assistant in Iowa (2026)

Q: How much do occupational therapy assistants earn in Iowa?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), occupational therapy assistants in Iowa earned a median annual wage of approximately $64,140. Employment concentration in Iowa is roughly 0.77 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole.

Q: What is the job outlook for occupational therapy assistants in Iowa?

Iowa currently employs approximately 400 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 19.2% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Iowa occupational therapy assistants earn a median annual wage of $64,140 ($30.84/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 400 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -11.3% below the national median of $72,300 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $64,140 ($30.84/hr)
25th percentile: $52,990 per year
75th percentile: $74,660 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $79,800 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $47,670 per year
Workers employed in Iowa: 400
Versus national median: -11.3% below the U.S. median of $72,300
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.77 - this occupation is less concentrated in Iowa than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

Iowa employs about 400 occupational therapy assistants earning a median $64,140 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as an Occupational Therapy Assistant here means completing an ACOTE-accredited OTA program, the NBCOT COTA exam, and state OTA licensure. Confirm credential rules with the program and employer.

Key Facts

Median wage (Iowa): $64,140/yr (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Employed in Iowa: 400 workers (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Location quotient: 0.77x U.S. average (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Projected growth: 19.2% (2024-2034) (Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024)

Compare Occupational Therapy Assistant Schools in Iowa

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	Kirkwood Community College	56.3	Contact school for pricing	$48,663	Not reported	Yes*	90 mi
2	Western Technical College	56.2	Contact school for pricing	$53,114	36%	Yes*	141 mi
3	Indian Hills Community College	56.1	Contact school for pricing	$50,322	Not reported	Yes*	105 mi
4	Hawkeye Community College	54.6	Contact school for pricing	$49,163	38%	Yes*	48 mi
5	Ross College-Davenport	23.4	Contact school for pricing	$34,405	62%	—	152 mi

Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

Iowa employs approximately 400 occupational therapy assistants according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $64,140 ¹. Nationally, occupational therapy assistant employment is projected to grow 19.2% from 2024 to 2034, with about 7,200 openings per year ². This page covers how to become an Occupational Therapy Assistant in Iowa, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: ACOTE-accredited occupational therapy assistant program (find programs)
Typical timeline: an ACOTE-accredited OTA program, the NBCOT COTA exam, and state OTA licensure
Exam: NBCOT COTA
Median wage (Iowa): $64,140 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become an Occupational Therapy Assistant in Iowa

How to become an Occupational Therapy Assistant in Iowa? Complete an ACOTE-accredited OTA program, the NBCOT COTA exam, and state OTA licensure. Apply through the program and employer.

How long does it take? Most people finish an ACOTE-accredited OTA program, the NBCOT COTA exam, and state OTA licensure. Confirm current hour totals with the program and the program and employer.

Do I need a license in Iowa? Yes. Iowa typically registers this role through the program and employer. See the licensing section below.

What do occupational therapy assistants earn in Iowa? The median annual wage for occupational therapy assistants in Iowa is $64,140 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $47,670 and experienced professionals can earn $79,800 or more ¹.

How to Become an Occupational Therapy Assistant in Iowa

Meet program entry rules. OTA programs typically require a high school diploma or GED and prerequisites.
Complete an ACOTE-accredited OTA program. Finish an associate-level ACOTE-accredited program in Iowa. This is not a registered apprenticeship.
Pass NBCOT COTA. Pass the NBCOT Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant exam.
Apply for state OTA licensure. Apply to the program and employer. Do not treat occupational therapist rows as the assistant path.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Occupational Therapy Assistant License Requirements in Iowa

Occupational therapy assistants complete an ACOTE-accredited program, pass NBCOT COTA, and apply to the program and employer.

Typical path

Complete an ACOTE-accredited OTA program.
Pass NBCOT COTA.
Apply to the program and employer for OTA licensure.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with the program and employer before you enroll.

Occupational Therapy Assistant Wages by Metro Area in Iowa

Occupational Therapy Assistants Wages by Metro Area in Iowa

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), occupational therapy assistants wages in Iowa vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Des Moines-West Des Moines	80	$64,250	$66,830	$50,780	$83,780
Omaha	80	$65,930	$66,170	$49,950	$81,110
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island	60	$61,510	$66,030	$42,710	$93,600
Cedar Rapids	50	$52,560	$56,060	$46,750	$72,850
Waterloo-Cedar Falls	40	$61,560	$62,040	$47,670	$74,320

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for occupational therapy assistants in Iowa? Iowa currently employs approximately 400 occupational therapy assistants ¹. Nationally, occupational therapy assistant employment is projected to grow 19.2% from 2024 to 2034 ².

Can I work as an occupational therapy assistant in Iowa with an out-of-state license? Contact the program and employer for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

What training programs are available in Iowa? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Iowa.

How much do occupational therapy assistants earn in Iowa compared to the national average? The median annual wage for occupational therapy assistants in Iowa is $64,140, which is $4,200 below the national median of $68,340 according to BLS data ¹.

In Iowa

Best Trade Schools in Iowa (2026)

Top local programs

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Citations

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/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

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)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)