OPT COTA Jobs
COTA jobs are a strong fit for OPT students with a degree in occupational therapy assisting. Most roles require an active NBCOT certification and state licensure, both of which employers verify before hiring. Your 12-month OPT window is enough time to build clinical hours across school, rehab, or home health settings.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
HealthPro Heritage has a great opportunity for a Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA) to join our outstanding team at our Long Term Care facility Bishop Wicke in Shelton, Connecticut.
Don't miss your chance to use your passions to help changes lives!
- Part time and PRN positions available
- Outstanding Team to work with
- Pay range of $35-$40 an hour
Why Choose HealthPro Heritage?
- Purpose-Driven Work: Be part of a mission-driven organization dedicated to compassionate care and innovative therapy solutions.
- Growth Opportunities: Enjoy continuous learning and development opportunities tailored to support your professional growth.
- Collaborative Culture: Thrive in a supportive environment where teamwork, respect, and open communication are at the heart of everything we do.
- Commitment to Excellence: Join a team recognized for clinical expertise and commitment to delivering high-quality care and outcomes.
- Competitive Benefits Package: Enjoy competitive compensation along with a comprehensive benefits package designed with YOU in mind!
Join Us in Making a Difference
At HealthPro Heritage, we offer a fulfilling career where you can positively impact lives and achieve personal and professional growth. As a therapist-led, diverse organization, we provide clinical services across various settings, including nursing facilities, retirement communities, hospitals, home care, and pediatric schools and clinics. Join us to be part of a team that values your skills, listens to your input, and makes a meaningful difference in the community.
Responsibilities
- Patient Care & Treatment Implementation: Assist in delivering individualized therapy based on treatment plans developed by the Occupational Therapist, including activities to improve daily living skills (e.g., dressing, eating, mobility).
- Progress Monitoring & Documentation: Track and document patient progress, maintaining accurate records in compliance with facility policies, and report changes or concerns to the Occupational Therapist.
- Collaboration & Patient Education: Work with interdisciplinary teams (e.g., PT, OT, nursing) to provide holistic care, and educate patients and families on therapeutic exercises, adaptive equipment, and strategies for independence.
- Therapeutic Activities & Support: Lead or assist patients with exercises, activities of daily living, and other therapeutic tasks, while creating a positive and supportive environment to encourage patient engagement.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Education: Associate’s degree in Occupational Therapy Assistant program from an accredited school.
- Certification: Certification as an Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) through the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT).
- Licensure: Current state licensure (or eligibility) to practice as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant.
- Experience: Previous experience in an occupational therapy setting (hospital, clinic, school, etc.) is preferred, but new graduates are also encouraged to apply.
HealthPRO Heritage and its subsidiaries provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, HealthPRO Heritage and its subsidiaries comply with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.
INTRODUCTION
HealthPro Heritage has a great opportunity for a Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA) to join our outstanding team at our Long Term Care facility Bishop Wicke in Shelton, Connecticut.
Don't miss your chance to use your passions to help changes lives!
- Part time and PRN positions available
- Outstanding Team to work with
- Pay range of $35-$40 an hour
Why Choose HealthPro Heritage?
- Purpose-Driven Work: Be part of a mission-driven organization dedicated to compassionate care and innovative therapy solutions.
- Growth Opportunities: Enjoy continuous learning and development opportunities tailored to support your professional growth.
- Collaborative Culture: Thrive in a supportive environment where teamwork, respect, and open communication are at the heart of everything we do.
- Commitment to Excellence: Join a team recognized for clinical expertise and commitment to delivering high-quality care and outcomes.
- Competitive Benefits Package: Enjoy competitive compensation along with a comprehensive benefits package designed with YOU in mind!
Join Us in Making a Difference
At HealthPro Heritage, we offer a fulfilling career where you can positively impact lives and achieve personal and professional growth. As a therapist-led, diverse organization, we provide clinical services across various settings, including nursing facilities, retirement communities, hospitals, home care, and pediatric schools and clinics. Join us to be part of a team that values your skills, listens to your input, and makes a meaningful difference in the community.
Responsibilities
- Patient Care & Treatment Implementation: Assist in delivering individualized therapy based on treatment plans developed by the Occupational Therapist, including activities to improve daily living skills (e.g., dressing, eating, mobility).
- Progress Monitoring & Documentation: Track and document patient progress, maintaining accurate records in compliance with facility policies, and report changes or concerns to the Occupational Therapist.
- Collaboration & Patient Education: Work with interdisciplinary teams (e.g., PT, OT, nursing) to provide holistic care, and educate patients and families on therapeutic exercises, adaptive equipment, and strategies for independence.
- Therapeutic Activities & Support: Lead or assist patients with exercises, activities of daily living, and other therapeutic tasks, while creating a positive and supportive environment to encourage patient engagement.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Education: Associate’s degree in Occupational Therapy Assistant program from an accredited school.
- Certification: Certification as an Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) through the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT).
- Licensure: Current state licensure (or eligibility) to practice as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant.
- Experience: Previous experience in an occupational therapy setting (hospital, clinic, school, etc.) is preferred, but new graduates are also encouraged to apply.
HealthPRO Heritage and its subsidiaries provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, HealthPRO Heritage and its subsidiaries comply with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in COTA
Get NBCOT certified before you apply
Most employers won't move forward without active NBCOT certification. Schedule your exam early in OPT so you're not losing weeks of your authorization window waiting on results. Some states also require a separate license before your first day.
Target employers who regularly hire STEM-adjacent health roles
Larger rehab networks, hospital systems, and school districts have dedicated HR teams familiar with work authorization. Smaller private practices often lack the infrastructure to navigate OPT paperwork, making them slower to extend offers to international candidates.
Be upfront about your OPT end date
Tell employers your authorization end date early, not after an offer. This lets them plan around your timeline and assess whether they can support an H-1B visa or other visa before your status expires. Surprises late in hiring slow everything down.
Line up a supervising OT before your start date
Most states require COTAs to work under an occupational therapist's supervision. Confirming that supervision structure is in place before your first day prevents compliance issues and shows employers you understand state-specific practice requirements.
Apply to STEM OPT extension-eligible programs if you qualify
OTA degrees from programs classified under a STEM CIP code may qualify for the 24-month STEM extension, giving you up to 36 months total. Check your degree classification with your DSO before assuming you're limited to 12 months.
Use Migrate Mate to filter for OPT-friendly COTA roles
Not every job posting is open to OPT candidates. Migrate Mate surfaces COTA roles from employers who have sponsored international workers before, so you spend less time filtering out positions that won't consider your work authorization status.
COTA OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a COTA on OPT?
Yes, if you graduated from an accredited occupational therapy assistant program in the U.S. OPT authorizes you to work in a job directly related to your degree field. A COTA role qualifies as long as you hold active NBCOT certification and any state licensure required where you'll be practicing.
Does my OTA degree qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
It depends on your program's CIP code classification. Some OTA programs are classified under health science codes that qualify for the 24-month STEM extension, while others are not. Check with your Designated School Official before your initial OPT period ends. If you qualify, applying for the extension gives you up to 36 months of total work authorization.
How do I find COTA employers who accept OPT candidates?
Migrate Mate is the most direct way to find COTA roles from employers with a track record of hiring international workers on OPT. Filtering by visa sponsorship history saves time compared to applying broadly and discovering work authorization is a barrier only after a phone screen.
Do COTA jobs typically sponsor H-1B visas?
Some do, but it varies significantly by employer type. Large hospital systems, school districts, and national rehab networks are more likely to have sponsored H-1B workers before and have HR processes in place. Smaller private practices and home health agencies are less consistent. Asking about sponsorship willingness early in conversations is the most reliable way to gauge it.
What happens to my OPT if I work per diem or in multiple part-time COTA roles?
Per diem and part-time work counts toward your OPT authorization as long as you're working at least 20 hours per week in aggregate and each role is related to your degree field. Your DSO needs to be informed of your employment situation. Gaps exceeding 90 cumulative days of unemployment during OPT can put your status at risk, so maintaining qualifying hours across all positions matters.