Physical Therapy Assistant vs. Occupational Therapy Assistant

Demand is exceptionally high for Physical Therapist Assistants in Los Angeles. The role of a Physical/Occupational therapy assistant is critical — hospitals, home health services, private clinics, and solo-practice therapists all rely on talented and hardworking assistants to keep their patients on the path toward recovery. At CBD College, we offer Associate’s degrees for both Occupational Therapy Assistants and Physical Therapist Assistants, providing you with professional training in state of the art labs and classrooms and with a variety of clinical experiences to build the foundation for your future career.

But what are the differences between both professions? Here’s a quick comparison to make things a little easier:

Physical Therapist Assistant

Physical therapist assistants are responsible for assisting patients as they recover from surgery, injury, and illness. They use specific medical techniques such as massage, stretching, ultrasound, and hydrotherapy to keep their patients on the road to recovery. They’re also responsible for educating patients, building recovery plans, and aiding the physical therapist in his or her work. It is a hands-on position that demands hard work and a strong personal touch.

Occupational Therapy Assistant

Occupational therapy assistants focus primarily on getting a patient back into daily life as opposed to pain management or surgery recovery, and provide quite a bit of instruction on the proper use of equipment or on ways to make life easier with an injury or illness.

Both of these careers are exceptionally rewarding. Based on current labor statistics, both are in high demand, — the demand for occupational therapy assistants is expected to grow 43% from 2012 to 2022, while the demand  for physical therapy assistants is set to grow 41% over the same time span.

For more information about CBD College and our programs please visit www.CBD.edu or contact us at 877.770.4CBD for additional guidance. We are here to help.