COTA Jobs in New Mexico
COTA jobs in New Mexico are concentrated in school districts, skilled nursing facilities, and outpatient rehabilitation clinics, with steady demand from entry-level positions through experienced senior roles. Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Las Cruces generate the largest share of openings, anchored by employers like Presbyterian Healthcare Services, Lovelace Health System, and the New Mexico Public Education Department. Pediatric rehab, geriatric care, and school-based occupational therapy are the most consistently sought specialties across the state. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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Showing 5 of 33+ COTA jobs
Part Time and Per Diem options available.
Student Loan Assistance Program available!
Join our world-class team of driven, passionate healthcare professionals who are focused on service excellence and providing top quality care!
At Rehabilitation Hospital of Southern New Mexico, we are more than a hospital—we are a community of caregivers driven by purpose, compassion, and a shared mission to help patients regain independence after life-changing illness or injury.
Located in Las Cruces, NM, our hospital offers state-of-the-art therapy, personalized care plans, and an interdisciplinary team approach that delivers exceptional outcomes. Whether you’re a clinician, therapist, or healthcare leader, you’ll find a rewarding career here where your work truly makes a difference.
We are seeking a COTA to join our team of passionate patient caregivers!
As a participating hospital of Ernest Health, we offer robust recognition, wellness, and retention programs. These programs focus to enhance the employees’ work experience, recognize, and celebrate achievements. We also encourage employees to share their work experience through “My Ernest Journey” and through our Engagement Survey, where our approach is “You Spoke, We Listened”. These platforms provide additional avenues for employees to give feedback about their work experience and share what is important to them.
Benefits: Full Time / Part Time
- PPO and High Deductible Medical Plan options
- Flexible Spending and Health Savings Account options available
- Dental and Vision coverage
- 401K with employer matching
- Life insurance
- Short-and-long term disability
- Employee Assistance Program
- Wellness Program with quarterly wellness challenges with participation incentives
- Earned Time Off - start accruing vacation time on start date
- Continuing education opportunities
- Current licensure as a COTA required per state guidelines.
- Current Basic Life Support/CPR card required.
- One year of direct patient care experience in rehabilitation hospital setting preferred.
Additional Qualifications/Skills:
- Demonstrates critical thinking skills: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
- Demonstrates an understanding of treatment costs and financial support as they relate to quality and efficiency.
- Knowledge of clinical operations and procedures.
- Ability to maintain quality, safety, and/or infection control standards.
- Demonstrates general computer skills including: data entry, word processing, email, and record management.
- Effective organizational and time management skills.
- Effective written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to maintain proper levels of confidentiality.
- Ability to work closely and professionally with others.
- Ability to move quickly from one task to another and to prioritize tasks.
- Ability to use appropriate equipment necessary for the job
Responsibilities:
Part Time and Per Diem options available.
Student Loan Assistance Program available!
Join our world-class team of driven, passionate healthcare professionals who are focused on service excellence and providing top quality care!
At Rehabilitation Hospital of Southern New Mexico, we are more than a hospital—we are a community of caregivers driven by purpose, compassion, and a shared mission to help patients regain independence after life-changing illness or injury.
Located in Las Cruces, NM, our hospital offers state-of-the-art therapy, personalized care plans, and an interdisciplinary team approach that delivers exceptional outcomes. Whether you’re a clinician, therapist, or healthcare leader, you’ll find a rewarding career here where your work truly makes a difference.
We are seeking a COTA to join our team of passionate patient caregivers!
As a participating hospital of Ernest Health, we offer robust recognition, wellness, and retention programs. These programs focus to enhance the employees’ work experience, recognize, and celebrate achievements. We also encourage employees to share their work experience through “My Ernest Journey” and through our Engagement Survey, where our approach is “You Spoke, We Listened”. These platforms provide additional avenues for employees to give feedback about their work experience and share what is important to them.
Benefits: Full Time / Part Time
- PPO and High Deductible Medical Plan options
- Flexible Spending and Health Savings Account options available
- Dental and Vision coverage
- 401K with employer matching
- Life insurance
- Short-and-long term disability
- Employee Assistance Program
- Wellness Program with quarterly wellness challenges with participation incentives
- Earned Time Off - start accruing vacation time on start date
- Continuing education opportunities
- Current licensure as a COTA required per state guidelines.
- Current Basic Life Support/CPR card required.
- One year of direct patient care experience in rehabilitation hospital setting preferred.
Additional Qualifications/Skills:
- Demonstrates critical thinking skills: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
- Demonstrates an understanding of treatment costs and financial support as they relate to quality and efficiency.
- Knowledge of clinical operations and procedures.
- Ability to maintain quality, safety, and/or infection control standards.
- Demonstrates general computer skills including: data entry, word processing, email, and record management.
- Effective organizational and time management skills.
- Effective written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to maintain proper levels of confidentiality.
- Ability to work closely and professionally with others.
- Ability to move quickly from one task to another and to prioritize tasks.
- Ability to use appropriate equipment necessary for the job
Responsibilities:
See All 33 COTA Jobs in New Mexico
Find roles in New Mexico that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find COTA JobsCOTA Jobs by City in New Mexico
Where New Mexico roles are concentrated, by current openings.
COTA Job Market in New Mexico
A snapshot from current New Mexico openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services
What New Mexico Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in COTA jobs across New Mexico.
- Active New Mexico Occupational Therapy Assistant license issued by the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department
- Current NBCOT COTA certification in good standing
- Associate degree in occupational therapy from an ACOTE-accredited program
- Completed fieldwork Level II requirements prior to starting employment
- Basic Life Support certification from an approved provider
- One or more years of clinical experience in a relevant care setting preferred
COTA Jobs in New Mexico: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a cota in New Mexico?
You must hold a license issued by the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department, Occupational Therapy Practice Board, which requires graduating from an ACOTE-accredited occupational therapy assistant program, passing the NBCOT COTA exam, and submitting a state licensure application. New Mexico does not participate in the OT Licensure Compact, so out-of-state applicants need to apply directly for a New Mexico license before working in the state.
Which companies hire cotas in New Mexico?
Companies currently hiring cotas in New Mexico include Powerback Rehabilitation, Voyage Health, and HiredFirst, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. New Mexico's mix of large hospital systems, tribal health programs, and rural critical access facilities means demand is spread across the state, not just concentrated in Albuquerque.
Which New Mexico cities have the most cota jobs?
Albuquerque, Clovis, and Las Cruces have the most cota openings in New Mexico. Albuquerque drives the largest share because it is home to the state's major hospital systems and the University of New Mexico Health campus, while Santa Fe and Las Cruces draw consistent postings from school districts and outpatient rehab practices serving those regional populations.
Are there remote cota jobs in New Mexico?
Yes, but they're rare. Cota work is hands-on by nature and the vast majority of positions require on-site presence with patients. About 0% of cota openings tied to New Mexico are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, and those are almost exclusively documentation-heavy or supervisory roles rather than direct patient care positions.
How can I get hired as a cota in New Mexico with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying to new-graduate positions at school districts and skilled nursing facilities, which tend to provide structured mentorship that standalone clinics do not. Presbyterian Healthcare Services and Lovelace Health System have hired new graduates into supervised roles, and the New Mexico Public Education Department regularly brings on early-career cotas for school-based placements. Completing your fieldwork hours at a New Mexico facility, obtaining your state license before interviews, and holding current NBCOT certification all give you a clear edge over candidates who have not yet credentialed in-state.
Where can I find and apply to cota jobs in New Mexico?
You can find and apply to cota jobs in New Mexico on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from employers across the state. Search the listings, find the roles that fit your experience and location, and apply directly to the ones that match.
See All 33 COTA Jobs in New Mexico
Find roles in New Mexico that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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