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As an occupational therapy assistant (OTA) graduate, you should create a career-specific resume which highlights your required fieldwork and other relevant work experience in a medical setting. (Click Occupational Therapy Assistant Resume Template, and use the instructions below to create your resume.)
Instructions for creating an occupational therapy assistant resume:
A. Heading
List your contact information at the top center like this:
JENNIFER SMITH
Street Address, City, MI 00000
(000) 000-0000 jsmithemail@gmail.com
LinkedIn (Hyperlink this phrase to your own LI profile.)
After you have your national certification and state license, use these credentials: JENNIFER SMITH, COTA/L
B. Professional Qualifications
Begin your resume with a summary of your professional qualifications. To write the bulleted statements in this section, be sure to use keywords, requirements and preferences mentioned in the job posting. (For more information see Begin Your Resume with Professional Qualifications and 185 Action Verbs That Will Make Your Resume Awesome.) Below is an example:
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
- Proficient in making knowledgeable choices for each patient following the occupational therapist’s written treatment plan
- Skilled in using verbal and written communication to obtain and accurately record patient information for documentation
- Excel in using compassion and active listening to build relationships with clients and understand their emotional and physical needs and goals
- Trained to effectively use a variety of techniques to implement the occupational therapist’s treatment plan
C. Licenses/Certifications
List licenses and certifications granted by a governing body. If they are listed as requirements in the job posting, choose the optimum place on the resume for this information. Below is an example:
LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS
Licensed Occupational Therapy Assistant- Anticipated/Pending/Obtained 00/0000
Michigan License No. 00000
BLS for the Healthcare Provider, American Heart Association Expires 00/0000
D. Fieldwork Experience
An occupational therapy assistant’s fieldwork includes important examples of professional experience. List your FIELDWORK EXPERIENCE first (in reverse chronological order) followed by a WORK EXPERIENCE section if you have other job experience. List your four fieldwork experiences using the following format:
FIELDWORK EXPERIENCE
Setting Location Semester/Hours
Outpatient Orthopedics Name of Organization Fall 0000/Hours: 000
OTA Student
- Used flexible approaches to accomplish treatment plan under the supervision of the occupational therapist with diverse clients, including children, adults, and geriatric patients
- Discussed the treatment plan and progress clearly with the client and caregivers displaying openness to questions and concerns
Skilled Nursing Facility Name of Organization Fall 0000/Hours: 000
OTA Student
- Implemented the treatment plan under the supervision of the occupational therapist with geriatric patients, taking into consideration their psychological and social characteristics during occupational engagement
- Discussed the treatment plan and progress clearly with the client and caregivers with special attention to possible cognitive difficulties
In-Patient Behavioral Unit Name of Organization Spring 0000/Hours: 000
OTA Student
- Observed patients before, during, and after therapy, noting their status and reporting to the occupational therapist
- Used energy and a positive approach in demonstrating interventions to patients and assisting them in learning them
Subacute Rehab Name of Organization Fall 0000/Hours: 000
OTA Student
- Conducted thorough screenings of residents at regular intervals to determine need for intervention/treatment
- Assisted the occupational therapist in the evaluation process, including short-term goals, long-term goals, and treatment plan
E. Education
Place your education information directly after FIELDWORK EXPERIENCE. You may include any colleges at which you have completed courses or from which you have obtained a degree. See the example below which shows how to list your degree:
EDUCATION
Baker College City, MI Expected graduation 12/0000
Associate of Applied Science Honors: Dean’s List
Occupational Therapy Assistant GPA: 0.00
Include the information listed above. If you had a relevant major or a specific education track, you can list it here. Other optional information: organizations, honors, and GPA if 3.5 +.
F. Work Experience
List non-medical work experience with two to three bullets which highlight soft skills. Also, be sure to list related medical experience outside of your fieldwork or other experience which would be desirable to the employer (e.g., Rehabilitation Aide, CNA) and highlight transferable skills.
WORK EXPERIENCE
Name of Organization City, MI 00/0000–00/0000
Job Title
- Do not simply list job duties; state an accomplishment or a skill you have shown in this job, beginning with an action verb
G. Optional Sections
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
Blood Services Team Member-American Red Cross 0000–0000
Coast Guard Festival volunteer for special needs children 0000
- Be sure to list the volunteer hours in the community, such as serving as a Coast Guard volunteer with special needs children.
- Depending on the length of your resume and your goals, the VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE section can simply be a list of your titles and the organizations or can include duties/achievements as in the FIELDWORK EXPERIENCE section.
RELEVANT COURSEWORK
This section may be placed after your education section and should only include specific coursework required for or desirable for the job you are targeting. Only highlight courses that may not be part of a typical OTA degree if these courses show important skills for the job. Examples: Pediatrics, Techniques in Mental Health, Neurological Foundations of Motor Control
Revised 31 July 2024