Occupational Therapy Assistant vs. Physical Therapist Assistant: What’s the Difference?

October 23, 2026

Occupational therapy assistants (OTAs) and physical therapy assistants (PTAs) are hands-on healthcare roles supervised by licensed therapists. OTAs help patients develop or regain the skills needed for daily activities, while PTAs focus on improving movement, mobility, strength, and physical function. Both are potentially rewarding careers for people interested in healthcare and improving patient well-being, but which is right for you? Here we’ll take a close look at the differences between an occupational therapy assistant and a physical therapy assistant.

What Is an Occupational Therapy Assistant?

Occupational therapy assistants help licensed occupational therapists treat patients who need help developing or improving everyday skills. Therapeutic activities may address fine motor skills, coordination, cognition, and social participation. Patients range in age from older clients with cognitive or mobility issues to young children who need help meeting developmental milestones. (1)

What Is a Physical Therapist Assistant?

Physical therapist assistants help patients recover from injury, surgery, or illness by regaining movement and managing pain. Following a licensed physical therapist’s treatment plan, a PTA helps patients improve movement, strength, and physical function. (2)

Key Differences Between a PTA vs. an OTA

	Occupational Therapist Assistant (1)	Physical Therapist Assistant (2)
Focus of Care	Participation in daily activities	Movement and physical function
Patient Goals	Greater independence in everyday tasks	Improved mobility, strength, and pain management
Therapeutic Activities	May help improve fine motor, cognitive, coordination, and adaptive skills	May use stretching, strengthening, exercise, and mobility training
Supervising Professional	Licensed occupational therapist	Licensed physical therapist
Professional Credentials	The NBCOT COTA exam (3)	The NPTE for physical therapist assistants (4)*

Individual responsibilities and scope of practice for PTAs and OTAs vary by state.

OTA vs. PTA: Typical Responsibilities

Occupational Therapist Assistant (1)	Physical Therapist Assistant (2)
Guide clients in therapeutic exercises to improve motor skills and functional abilities Lead children who have disabilities or developmental delays in play activities that promote coordination and socialization Teach clients new ways to accomplish everyday tasks Instruct clients in the use of special equipment Record clients’ progress, report to occupational therapists, and do other administrative tasks	Observe patients before, during, and after therapy Note patient status and report it to a physical therapist Help patients with specific exercises Treat patients using a variety of techniques, such as massage and stretching Teach patients to use walkers and other equipment. Educate patients and family members about treatment and home therapy

Occupational Therapist Assistant (1)

Physical Therapist Assistant (2)

Guide clients in therapeutic exercises to improve motor skills and functional abilities
Lead children who have disabilities or developmental delays in play activities that promote coordination and socialization
Teach clients new ways to accomplish everyday tasks
Instruct clients in the use of special equipment
Record clients’ progress, report to occupational therapists, and do other administrative tasks

Observe patients before, during, and after therapy
Note patient status and report it to a physical therapist
Help patients with specific exercises
Treat patients using a variety of techniques, such as massage and stretching
Teach patients to use walkers and other equipment.
Educate patients and family members about treatment and home therapy

PTA vs. OTA: Education and Licensing

Both OTAs and PTAs typically need an associate’s degree from accredited programs that require up to two years of study in subjects such as psychology and biology, plus supervised hands-on work experience. Both professions may also require certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and basic life support. (1) (2)

All states require OTAs and PTAs to secure licensure by completing an accredited education program with fieldwork requirements and then passing a national exam. (3)(4) Check with your state board for current licensing requirements.

Typical Work Settings for OTAs and PTAs

OTAs and PTAs often work in similar settings, including:

Outpatient clinics and rehabilitation centers
Hospitals
Skilled nursing facilities
Home healthcare settings
Schools, particularly for pediatric therapy
Physicians’ offices (1) (2)

How to Choose Between an OTA and a PTA Career

Choosing a career as a physical therapy assistant vs. an occupational therapy assistant depends largely on the therapeutic activities that interest you and the patients you want to support. A PTA career might be right with you if:

You are empathic and enjoy helping people overcome pain and injury.
You enjoy collaborating on a shared goal. Clear communication is essential for teaching exercises, tracking patient progress, and reporting to supervising therapists.
You have a detail-oriented mindset.
You are comfortable standing, kneeling, bending, lifting equipment, and using your hands for manual therapy.
You like taking a supporting role and can follow a therapist’s treatment plan carefully.

An OTA career, in contrast, might appeal to you if:

You like the idea of helping patients participate more independently in their daily lives.
You can be understanding and encouraging when clients are frustrated or overwhelmed by physical or cognitive setbacks.
You can follow precise instructions and accurately record patient progress.
You stay positive when progress is slow and are willing to pivot to other methods when a specific exercise proves inadequate.
You have the stamina needed to bend, kneel, stoop, and occasionally lift or support patients.

Discover Carrington College’s Physical Therapist Assistant Program

If you’re interested in a rewarding healthcare career in California, Carrington College offers a hands-on Physical Therapist Assistant program that results in an Associate of Science degree and prepares you to sit the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) for PTAs*.

Contact us for more information about Carrington College’s medical programs and find out whether you’re suited for a rewarding healthcare career.

References

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (n.d.). Occupational therapy assistants and aides. U.S. Department of Labor. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/occupational-therapy-assistants-and-aides.htm. Accessed 5 October, 2026. a b c d e
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (n.d.). Physical therapist assistants and aides. U.S. Department of Labor. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physical-therapist-assistants-and-aides.htm. Accessed 5 October, 2026. a b c d e
National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy. (n.d.). National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy. https://www.nbcot.org/. Accessed 5 October, 2026. a b
Federal State Boards of Physical Therapy. (n.d.). National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE). https://www.fsbpt.org/secondary-pages/exam-candidates/national-exam-npte. Accessed 5 October, 2026. a b

*Carrington College prepares students to take appropriate certification and licensure exams related to their individual majors. The College does not guarantee students will successfully pass these exams or be certified or licensed as a result of completing the program.

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