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31-2011.00 · Task explorer

Occupational Therapy Assistants: reported tasks and exploration worksheet

Assist occupational therapists in providing occupational therapy treatments and procedures. May, in accordance with state laws, assist in development of treatment plans, carry out routine functions, direct activity programs, and document the progress of treatments. Generally requires formal training.

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This source lists 22 tasks, including 21 marked Core and 1 marked Supplemental. Labels and dates are retained below. Employers can combine or divide these responsibilities differently; explore the task itself before assuming it belongs in every version of the role.

Task source dates: 08/2022.

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22 tasks shown

Core · Task 4258 · 08/2022 · Incumbent

Instruct, or assist in instructing, patients and families in home programs, basic living skills, or the care and use of adaptive equipment.

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Core · Task 4255 · 08/2022 · Incumbent

Maintain and promote a positive attitude toward clients and their treatment programs.

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My example, evidence or question

Core · Task 4262 · 08/2022 · Incumbent

Report to supervisors, verbally or in writing, on patients' progress, attitudes, and behavior.

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Core · Task 4261 · 08/2022 · Incumbent

Implement, or assist occupational therapists with implementing, treatment plans designed to help clients function independently.

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My example, evidence or question

Core · Task 4256 · 08/2022 · Incumbent

Monitor patients' performance in therapy activities, providing encouragement.

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Core · Task 4254 · 08/2022 · Incumbent

Observe and record patients' progress, attitudes, and behavior and maintain this information in client records.

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Core · Task 4257 · 08/2022 · Incumbent

Select therapy activities to fit patients' needs and capabilities.

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My example, evidence or question

Core · Task 18700 · 08/2022 · Incumbent

Attend continuing education classes.

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My example, evidence or question

Core · Task 4260 · 08/2022 · Incumbent

Aid patients in dressing and grooming themselves.

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My example, evidence or question

Core · Task 4259 · 08/2022 · Incumbent

Evaluate the daily living skills or capacities of clients with physical, developmental, or mental health disabilities.

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Core · Task 18699 · 08/2022 · Incumbent

Communicate and collaborate with other healthcare professionals involved with the care of a patient.

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Core · Task 4264 · 08/2022 · Incumbent

Work under the direction of occupational therapists to plan, implement, or administer educational, vocational, or recreational programs that restore or enhance performance in individuals with functional impairments.

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Core · Task 4263 · 08/2022 · Incumbent

Alter treatment programs to obtain better results if treatment is not having the intended effect.

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My example, evidence or question

Core · Task 4266 · 08/2022 · Incumbent

Assemble, clean, or maintain equipment or materials for patient use.

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Core · Task 4269 · 08/2022 · Incumbent

Transport patients to and from the occupational therapy work area.

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My example, evidence or question

Core · Task 4265 · 08/2022 · Incumbent

Design, fabricate, or repair assistive devices or make adaptive changes to equipment or environments.

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My example, evidence or question

Core · Task 18701 · 08/2022 · Incumbent

Attend care plan meetings to review patient progress and update care plans.

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My example, evidence or question

Core · Task 4270 · 08/2022 · Incumbent

Demonstrate therapy techniques, such as manual or creative arts or games.

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My example, evidence or question

Core · Task 4267 · 08/2022 · Incumbent

Teach patients how to deal constructively with their emotions.

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Core · Task 4271 · 08/2022 · Incumbent

Order any needed educational or treatment supplies.

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Core · Task 4268 · 08/2022 · Incumbent

Perform clerical duties, such as scheduling appointments, collecting data, or documenting health insurance billings.

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Supplemental · Task 4272 · 08/2022 · Incumbent

Assist educational specialists or clinical psychologists in administering situational or diagnostic tests to measure client's abilities or progress.

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Make the shortlist useful

Choose one to three activities that tell you something different about the work. Avoid selecting several ways of describing the same interest.
For each, write an example you can discuss or a question that would change your understanding of the role.
Keep source task IDs with your notes so you can return to the same description. Do not include private employer or customer information.

The exported worksheet distinguishes the reported task from your own notes. It supports exploration, not a hiring decision or a validated assessment.

Keep your worksheet

Download before leaving this page. Unsaved writing remains only in the page and is cleared on refresh. Notes and learning actions are not sent to a server. This guide describes an occupation and supports study planning; it does not provide clinical, legal or equipment-operating procedures.

Source and practice material

Occupational context uses the O*NET® 31.0 Database from the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0. View the occupation.

Skill Workbench selected and adapted the occupational information and added its own fictional cases, calculations, guidance and worksheets. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these additions. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.