How long does occupational therapy assistant training take in Kentucky?

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

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

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

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), occupational therapy assistants in Kentucky earned a median annual wage of approximately $65,230. Employment concentration in Kentucky is roughly 0.76 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 Kentucky?

Kentucky currently employs approximately 500 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

Kentucky occupational therapy assistants earn a median annual wage of $65,230 ($31.36/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 500 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -9.8% below the national median of $72,300 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $65,230 ($31.36/hr)
25th percentile: $59,880 per year
75th percentile: $71,840 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $77,270 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $50,840 per year
Workers employed in Kentucky: 500
Versus national median: -9.8% below the U.S. median of $72,300
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.76 - this occupation is less concentrated in Kentucky than the national average

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

Kentucky employs about 500 occupational therapy assistants earning a median $65,230 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.

Compare Occupational Therapy Assistant Schools in Kentucky

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Tuition is the published annual figure for the latest reported year and excludes room, board, books and fees. 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 (published, per year)	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	University of Southern Indiana	60.4	$10,066 in-state / $22,907 out-of-state	$56,399	48%	Yes*	123 mi
2	Roane State Community College	59.9	$4,998 in-state / $18,630 out-of-state	$45,998	36%	Yes*	135 mi
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3	Madisonville Community College	55.9	$4,728 in-state / $6,432 out-of-state	$54,485	49%	Yes*	122 mi
4	Cincinnati State Technical and Community College	50.7	$5,517 in-state / $10,044 out-of-state	$59,235	16%	Yes*	106 mi
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5	Jefferson Community and Technical College	49.7	$4,808 in-state / $6,512 out-of-state	$50,106	35%	Yes*	42 mi
6	Ross College-Hopkinsville	29.4	Contact school for pricing	$34,405	61%	—	134 mi
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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.

Kentucky employs approximately 500 occupational therapy assistants according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $65,230 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 Kentucky, 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 (Kentucky): $65,230 per year ¹

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

How to become an Occupational Therapy Assistant in Kentucky? 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 Kentucky? Yes. Kentucky typically registers this role through the program and employer. See the licensing section below.

What do occupational therapy assistants earn in Kentucky? The median annual wage for occupational therapy assistants in Kentucky is $65,230 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $50,840 and experienced professionals can earn $77,270 or more ¹.

How to Become an Occupational Therapy Assistant in Kentucky

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 Kentucky. 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 Kentucky

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 Kentucky

Occupational Therapy Assistants Wages by Metro Area in Kentucky

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Cincinnati	480	$67,460	$68,470	$58,670	$80,800
Louisville/Jefferson County	170	$67,840	$67,420	$48,440	$78,720
Huntington-Ashland	80	$60,740	$61,510	$48,980	$78,320
Clarksville	50	$60,520	$61,830	$49,910	$80,130
Bowling Green	40	$61,690	$62,710	$57,680	$75,950
Lexington-Fayette	40	$65,210	$65,370	$50,840	$80,010
Owensboro	30	$70,840	$62,430	$39,140	$71,640

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 Kentucky? Kentucky currently employs approximately 500 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 Kentucky with an out-of-state license? Contact the program and employer for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do occupational therapy assistants earn in Kentucky compared to the national average? The median annual wage for occupational therapy assistants in Kentucky is $65,230, which is $3,110 below the national median of $68,340 according to BLS data ¹.

In Kentucky

Best Trade Schools in Kentucky (2026)

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in Kentucky

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)