H-1B Visa Occupational Therapy Assistant Jobs
Occupational Therapy Assistant roles qualify as H-1B visa specialty occupations when the position requires an associate degree or higher in occupational therapy assisting. Many hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and school districts sponsor H-1B visas for OTAs, particularly in underserved regions where demand consistently outpaces the domestic workforce.
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INTRODUCTION
BAYADA Home Health Care has an immediate full, part or prn position for a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) to provide visits for our Davidson County Visits office located in Thomasville, NC covering Chatham and Lee counties in North Carolina. As a home health care Occupational Therapy Assistant, you will be an integral member of a multi-disciplinary health care team that provides rehabilitative care and skilled nursing to clients, affording them the opportunity to receive the medical care required to remain at home. BAYADA Home Health Care has a special purpose: to help people of all ages to have a safe home life with comfort, independence, and dignity. We believe our clients and their families deserve the highest quality of home health care delivered with compassion, excellence, and reliability - our core values.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Each Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant must:
- Be licensed as an Occupational Therapist Assistant by the state of North Carolina.
- Must be willing to travel in assigned territory.
- Have graduated from an occupational therapy curriculum accredited jointly by the Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation of the AMA and the AOTA, as indicated by school transcript or diploma; or
- Have two years of appropriate experience as an Occupational Therapy Assistant and a satisfactory grade on a proficiency exam conducted, approved or sponsored by the U.S. Public Health Service when initial qualification occurred before December 31, 1977
- Have at least one year’s work experience under the supervision of a qualified Occupational Therapist.
BAYADA believes that our employees are our greatest asset:
- BAYADA offers a comprehensive benefits plan that includes the following: Paid holidays, vacation and sick leave, vision, dental and medical health plans, employer paid life insurance, 401k with company match, direct deposit and employee assistance program.
- Enjoy being part of a team that cares and a company that believes in leading with our values.
- Develop your skills with training and scholarship opportunities.
- Advance your career with specially designed career tracks.
- Be recognized and rewarded for your compassion, excellence, and reliability.
Apply now for immediate consideration.
As an accredited, regulated, certified, and licensed home health care provider, BAYADA complies with all state/local mandates. BAYADA is celebrating 50 years of compassion, excellence, and reliability. BAYADA Home Health Care, Inc., and its associated entities and joint venture partners, are Equal Opportunity Employers. All employment decisions are made on a non-discriminatory basis without regard to sex, race, color, age, disability, pregnancy or maternity, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship status, military status, or any other similarly protected status in accordance with federal, state and local laws. Hence, we strongly encourage applications from people with these identities or who are members of other marginalized communities.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding H-1B Visa Sponsorship as an Occupational Therapy Assistant
Verify your NBCOT certification before applying
H-1B employers filing for OTA roles expect active NBCOT COTA certification before they'll initiate sponsorship. Confirm your certification is current and your state license is in good standing before targeting sponsors.
Filter employers by LCA filing history
Use Migrate Mate to search employers who have filed Labor Condition Applications for OTA or occupational therapy roles. Active LCA history signals a company already understands the H-1B process and won't hesitate at the sponsor step.
Target healthcare systems over staffing agencies
Direct-hire hospital systems and school districts are more reliable H-1B sponsors than staffing agencies. Agencies often can't file as the petitioning employer for specialty occupation roles, leaving you without a viable sponsor.
Check prevailing wage before negotiating your offer
Your employer's LCA must certify a wage meeting or exceeding the DOL prevailing wage for your SOC code and work location. Run your role through the OFLC Wage Search before accepting an offer to confirm the numbers align.
Request premium processing when timelines are tight
If your OPT or prior status expires within a few months of your start date, ask your employer to file with USCIS premium processing. This cuts adjudication to 15 business days and protects your cap-gap window if you're transitioning from F-1 status.
Confirm your role's specialty occupation classification
Some OTA postings list an associate degree as preferred rather than required, which weakens the specialty occupation argument for USCIS. Review the O*NET occupation profile for OTAs and ensure the job description explicitly requires a degree in occupational therapy assisting.
H-1B Visa Occupational Therapy Assistant: Frequently Asked Questions
Does an Occupational Therapy Assistant role qualify as an H-1B specialty occupation?
Yes, OTA positions qualify when the employer requires at least an associate degree in occupational therapy assisting as a minimum entry requirement. USCIS evaluates the job description, not just the title. If the posting says a degree is preferred rather than required, the specialty occupation case weakens, so always check the exact language before applying to sponsored roles.
Which types of employers are most likely to sponsor H-1B visas for OTAs?
Hospital systems, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, pediatric therapy practices, and school districts with persistent staffing shortages are the most active H-1B sponsors for OTA roles. These employers tend to have in-house HR teams or retained immigration counsel who are familiar with the LCA and I-129 process. Browse OTA roles with verified sponsorship history on Migrate Mate to identify active filers in your target location.
Does my employer need to file a PERM labor certification to sponsor my H-1B as an OTA?
No. PERM is required for green card sponsorship through employment, not for the H-1B. For the H-1B, your employer files a Labor Condition Application with DOL and then submits Form I-129 to USCIS. PERM only becomes relevant if the same employer later decides to sponsor you for permanent residence.
Can I work at multiple clinic locations on a single H-1B as an OTA?
Only if your employer filed the LCA to cover each worksite location. DOL requires a separate LCA posting for each physical location where you'll work. If your employer adds a new location after your H-1B is approved, they must file an amended I-129 with USCIS before you begin working at that site. Confirm this with your employer before accepting a role that involves multiple sites.
How does the H-1B cap lottery affect OTA job seekers?
Most OTA employers in the private sector are subject to the annual H-1B cap, which means your petition enters the lottery each April for an October 1 start. Nonprofit hospitals, government-affiliated health systems, and certain educational institutions are cap-exempt, allowing year-round filing with no lottery risk. If lottery timing is a concern, prioritizing cap-exempt employers is a practical strategy worth building your job search around.