COTA Jobs in California
COTA jobs in California represent one of the most active occupational therapy assistant markets in the country, with steady demand in pediatrics, skilled nursing facilities, school-based therapy, and outpatient rehabilitation from entry-level to senior-level positions. The largest hiring concentrations are in Los Angeles, San Diego, and the San Francisco Bay Area, where systems like Kaiser Permanente, Dignity Health, and Kindred Healthcare have established long-term cota hiring pipelines. School districts and pediatric outpatient clinics across Southern California consistently post the highest volume of openings. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Job ID JR207231
Date posted 06/15/2026
Location: San Diego, California
Job Type: Regular
Shift: Day
Responsibilities
Hours:
Shift Start Time: 7:30 AM
Shift End Time: 6 PM
AWS Hours Requirement: 10/40 - 10 Hour Shift
Additional Shift Information: Wednesday - Saturday
Weekend Requirements: As Needed
On-Call Required: No
Hourly Pay Range (Minimum - Midpoint - Maximum): $34.170 - $44.090 - $49.370
This position is covered by a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with SEIU-UHW. As part of the terms of employment, employees in this role are required to join the union within 31 days of hire and remain a member (e.g. dues paying, fee paying, religious exception contributor) for the duration of the collective bargaining agreement.
This position was originally posted to ratified SEIU members from 06/5/2026 – 6/13/26. The position is now available to be filled by internal candidates that are not members of the ratified Bargaining Unit or External candidates to Sharp.
What You Will Do
Under the direction of an occupational therapist, provides occupational therapy care to patients with impaired functional mobility as a result of neuromuscular, musculoskeletal, and/or cardiopulmonary involvement or injury.
Required Qualifications
- AHA Basic Life Support for Healthcare Professional (AHA BLS Healthcare) - American Heart Association - REQUIRED
- California Occupational Therapy Assistant - CA Board of Occupational Therapy - REQUIRED
Preferred Qualifications
- Associate's Degree In a COTA program.
- 3 Years Experience in all aspects of this discipline.
Essential Functions
Department development:
- Participates in departmental activities, such as CQI, staff meetings, and chart review.
- Participates in committees and system wide activities when requested as departmental representative.
- Present discipline specific resource information to patients and families.
Documentation:
- Documentation is completed in a timely, complete, legible, concise and accurate manner.
- Documentation follows Sharp HealthCare guidelines, professional guidelines, and meets third-party payor and regulatory requirements.
- Maintains records pertinent to departmental operations.
- Completes all documentation elements as appropriate (Interdisciplinary Plan of Care, Education record, billing, and others).
Operational efficiency:
- Communicates patient care and departmental issues.
- Accepts changes and demonstrates flexibility when asked regarding work schedules and assignments.
- Completes additional assignments in a timely manner.
- Offers suggestions for resolving operational issues within the department.
- Maintains departmental cleanliness and safety.
- Uses time effectively.
- As requested, assists in the ordering of all necessary equipment and supplies, submits all requisitions to the therapist, and consistently demonstrates a cost-conscious attitude in the ordering and usage of materials.
- Assists in continuous Quality Improvement Program.
- Provides supervision and clinical direction to other assistants in the department if needed.
- Has responsibility for one major departmental project.
- Is consulted as a representative of his/her profession.
- Shares ideas therapeutic principles.
- Provides in-service/education program or training.
- Participates in student program.
Patient care:
- Implements treatment following treatment plan reporting subjective/objective patient response.
- Reports patient pain that interferes with optimal level of function or participation in rehabilitation; and implements intervention.
- Performs all aspects of patient care in an environment that optimizes patient safety and reduces the likelihood of medical/health care errors.
- Participates in utilizing a teaching plan based upon identified learning needs and reports effectiveness of learning; family is included in teaching as appropriate.
- Demonstrates knowledge and safe use of modalities, equipment and therapeutic procedures.
- Implements patient care to ensure patients' needs are met and hospital policy is followed.
- Implements plan with sensitivity to the comprehensive, age/culturally appropriate issues using patient care interventions with patient and family.
- Recognizes need for additional assessment by primary therapist.
- Under the direction of the therapist appropriately implements modified treatment plans adapting, within the capabilities of the patient in order to achieve the highest level of functioning.
- As directed by the therapist, assists in determination of and provides to patient available community resources in order to make appropriate referrals for service in areas of specific patient needs.
- Provides community resources and liaison contact with community agencies in order to make appropriate referrals for service in areas of specific patient needs.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Knowledge of occupational therapy treatment methods.
- Ability to keep neat, accurate, concise records. Ability to document patient care and progress efficiently in the electronic health record.
- Effective professional communication skills.
- Actively involved in professional development.
- Ability to direct work of aides and/or student interns.
Sharp HealthCare is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with disability or any other protected class.
See All 9 COTA Jobs in California
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Find COTA JobsCOTA Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
COTA Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- HealthPRO Heritage2

- Riverview, LLP2

- Ascend Rehab1

- Servpro Industries1

- Sharp HealthCare1

Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services4
- Agriculture & Farming2
- Consulting & Professional Services1
- Food & Beverage1
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in COTA jobs across California.
- Active California Occupational Therapy Assistant license issued by the California Board of Occupational Therapy
- Associate degree in occupational therapy assisting from a ACOTE-accredited program
- Current NBCOT certification as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
- CPR and Basic Life Support certification current at time of hire
- Experience with electronic health record systems such as Epic or Raintree
- Ability to meet California Department of Public Health health screening and background check requirements
COTA Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a cota in California?
To become a cota in California, you must complete an associate degree from an ACOTE-accredited occupational therapy assistant program, pass the NBCOT certification exam, and then apply for a license through the California Board of Occupational Therapy. California requires all practicing cotas to hold an active state license before working with patients. The California Board of Occupational Therapy oversees both initial licensure and renewal requirements.
How much do COTAs make in California?
COTAs in California earn a median of about $81,770 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $65,680 for the lowest 10% to over $104,990 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire cotas in California?
Employers hiring cotas in California right now include HealthPRO Heritage, Riverview, LLP, and Ascend Rehab, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. California's large integrated health systems, skilled nursing chains, and unified school districts are among the most consistent sources of cota openings in the state year-round.
Which California cities have the most cota jobs?
Cotati, Hayward, and Antioch have the most cota openings in California right now. Los Angeles leads due to the sheer concentration of hospital systems, school districts, and outpatient clinics, while San Diego and the Bay Area generate strong demand through their large integrated health networks and growing pediatric and geriatric outpatient sectors.
Are there remote cota jobs in California?
Yes, but they're rare. Cota work is inherently hands-on and almost always requires in-person patient contact, so fully remote roles make up a small share of openings. About 0% of cota openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of June 2026, and those positions are most often in supervision, case documentation review, or telehealth-adjacent coordination roles rather than direct clinical care.
How can I get hired as a cota in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying directly to new-grad positions at California's skilled nursing facilities and school districts, which regularly hire cotas without prior clinical experience beyond fieldwork hours. Large systems like Kaiser Permanente and regional school districts run structured new-graduate onboarding programs. Completing your California Board of Occupational Therapy licensure before applying and highlighting ACOTE-accredited fieldwork in pediatric or geriatric settings gives candidates a clear edge over those still awaiting licensure.
Where can I find and apply to cota jobs in California?
You can find and apply to cota jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings across skilled nursing facilities, school districts, outpatient clinics, and hospital systems. Find roles that fit your experience and location, then apply directly to each employer through the listing.
See All 9 COTA Jobs in California
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