A certified occupational therapy assistant (COTA) has graduated from an accredited occupational therapy assistant education program and completed fieldwork requirements. This occupational therapy practitioner has passed the NBCOT national certification examination for certifed occupational therapy assistants.
As described by the US Bureau for Labor Statistics, occupational therapy assistants work under the direction of occupational therapists to provide rehabilitative services to persons with mental, physical, emotional, or developmental impairments. The ultimate goal is to improve clients’ quality of life and ability to perform daily activities. For example, occupational therapy assistants help injured workers re-enter the labor force by teaching them how to compensate for lost motor skills or help individuals with learning disabilities increase their independence.
page last updated 6/13/2013 3:41 PM