Recreational Therapy | University of Utah

Skills & Competencies

Skills developed through this program

Auto-populatedfrom O*NET via SOC 31-2011.00

Skills

Social PerceptivenessService OrientationActive ListeningSpeakingReading ComprehensionTime ManagementCritical ThinkingMonitoring

Knowledge

Customer and Personal ServicePsychologyEducation and TrainingEnglish LanguageTherapy and Counseling

Abilities

Oral ComprehensionOral ExpressionWritten ExpressionProblem SensitivityWritten ComprehensionNear VisionDeductive ReasoningInformation OrderingSpeech ClarityInductive Reasoning

Tasks

Instruct, or assist in instructing, patients and families in home programs, basic living skills, or
Maintain and promote a positive attitude toward clients and their treatment programs.
Report to supervisors, verbally or in writing, on patients' progress, attitudes, and behavior.

Technology

Accounting softwareBilling and invoicing softwareMedical softwareComputer based training softwareAction games

Tools

Alternative computer keyboardsArm bracesAugmentative communication systemsAutomatic dishwashing systemsBack bracesBalance boardsBeading needlesBraille writersC clampsCanesCeramic modeling toolsCeramics kilnsCold packsCommercial cooking ovensCommercial microwave ovens

Work Values

RelationshipsAchievementWorking ConditionsSupportIndependenceRecognition

Career Pathways

Occupations this program prepares you for

Auto-populatedfrom O*NET + BLS

Occupations matched to this program, with median wage, top wage, growth, and openings
SOC	Occupation	Method	Wage	Growth	Openings
Match confidence: medium31-2011.00	Occupational Therapy Assistants	title_inference	$68,340 median$86,930 top	+19.31%	950

Program Pathways

Credentials this program stacks toward

No program pathways.

What You'll Learn

Key competencies developed through this program

Auto-populatedfrom NSX Competency Framework

Mastery: advanced (Level 4)(based on Master's Degree)

Program development — design and implement structured occupational therapy assistant service delivery models that align with organizational goals and regulatory requirements across multi-site healthcare settings.
Staff mentorship — guide, train, and evaluate new occupational therapy assistants and students, translating clinical standards into observable competency benchmarks within a department or facility.
Quality improvement leadership — lead systematic review of therapy outcomes data, identify performance gaps, and drive evidence-based protocol changes that elevate care standards organization-wide.
Policy and procedure authorship — develop and update departmental policies for documentation, safety, and patient care workflows, ensuring compliance with state licensure and accreditation bodies.
Supervisory reporting systems — establish structured verbal and written reporting frameworks that enable consistent, high-quality communication between assistants and occupational therapists across a department.
Community and family education strategy — create scalable instructional programs on adaptive living and home care for diverse patient populations, incorporating adult learning principles and cultural competence.
Interdisciplinary collaboration leadership — represent the occupational therapy assistant role in facility-level care coordination committees, shaping policies that integrate therapy services with nursing, social work, and case management.
Budget and resource stewardship — oversee procurement and maintenance of therapeutic equipment and adaptive devices, balancing cost efficiency with patient care quality in a healthcare organization.
Continuing education program design — develop and facilitate in-service training curricula for therapy support staff, aligning content with current O*NET competencies and evolving clinical evidence.
Ethical and professional standards advocacy — model and uphold the highest standards of integrity, empathy, and patient-centered practice while influencing departmental culture and guiding staff through complex ethical decisions.

Program Details

Detailed information about this program

No detailed information available.

Requirements

What you need to earn this credential

No requirements listed.

Financial Aid

Eligible funding programs

No funding information available.

Scholarships

No scholarships listed.