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2-step progression from Occupational Therapy Assistant to Occupational Therapist. Potential salary increase of 44% from entry to advanced level.
Entry Salary
$68,340
Occupational Therapy Assistant
Top Salary
$98,340
Occupational Therapist
Total Steps
2
licenses
Median Salary
$68,340
Associate degree in OTA + NBCOT-COTA
Avg. Licensing Cost
$725 – $727
Avg. Timeline
2.2 years – 2.4 years
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Median Salary
$98,340
Master's/Doctorate in OT + NBCOT-OTR
Avg. Licensing Cost
$821
Avg. Timeline
2.7 years – 3.3 years
The occupational therapy career ladder is a professional progression from Occupational Therapy Assistant to Occupational Therapist. It includes 2 licensing levels, each with increasing education, responsibility, and earning potential.
Advancing from Occupational Therapy Assistant ($68,340 median) to Occupational Therapist ($98,340 median) represents a 44% salary increase based on BLS national median data.
Each step requires additional education and licensing. Occupational Therapy Assistant: Associate degree in OTA + NBCOT-COTA. Occupational Therapist: Master's/Doctorate in OT + NBCOT-OTR. The total time depends on the pace of your education and state-specific processing times.
Salary data from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024 national medians. Licensing costs and timelines are averages across all US states derived from verified state licensing board data. Individual state requirements vary — see state-specific pages for details.