COTA Jobs for OPT Students
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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Experience the HCA Healthcare difference where colleagues are trusted, valued members of our healthcare team. Grow your career with an organization committed to delivering respectful, compassionate care, and where the unique and intrinsic worth of each individual is recognized. Submit your application for our COTA opening with Wesley Medical Center today and find out what it truly means to be a part of the HCA Healthcare team.
Benefits
Wesley Medical Center offers a total rewards package that supports the health, life, career and retirement of our colleagues. The available plans and programs include:
- Comprehensive medical coverage that covers many common services at no cost or for a low copay. Plans include prescription drug and behavioral health coverage as well as free telemedicine services and free AirMed medical transportation.
- Additional options for dental and vision benefits, life and disability coverage, flexible spending accounts, supplemental health protection plans (accident, critical illness, hospital indemnity), auto and home insurance, identity theft protection, legal counseling, long-term care coverage, moving assistance, pet insurance and more.
- Free counseling services and resources for emotional, physical and financial wellbeing.
- 401(k) Plan with a 100% match on 3% to 9% of pay (based on years of service).
- Employee Stock Purchase Plan with 10% off HCA Healthcare stock.
- Family support through fertility and family building benefits with Progyny and adoption assistance.
- Referral services for child, elder and pet care, home and auto repair, event planning and more.
- Consumer discounts through Abenity and Consumer Discounts.
- Retirement readiness, rollover assistance services and preferred banking partnerships.
- Education assistance (tuition, student loan, certification support, dependent scholarships).
- Colleague recognition program.
- Time Away From Work Program (paid time off, paid family leave, long- and short-term disability coverage and leaves of absence).
- Employee Health Assistance Fund that offers free employee-only coverage to full-time and part-time colleagues based on income.
Learn more about Employee Benefits
Note: Eligibility for benefits may vary by location.
We are seeking a(an) COTA for our team to ensure that we continue to provide all patients with high quality, efficient care. Did you get into our industry for these reasons? We are an amazing team that works hard to support each other and are seeking a phenomenal addition like you who feels patient care is as meaningful as we do. We want you to apply!
Job Summary and Qualifications
Assists the Occupational Therapist in implementing the patient’s treatment plan, education, dismissal planning and documentation with minimum weekly review and supervision by an Occupational Therapist.
What qualifications you will need:
- Basic Cardiac Life Support must be obtained within 30 days of employment start date.
- Associate Degree.
- Current Occupational Therapy Assistant licensure in the state of Kansas.
- Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA), or Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA).
For more than 100 years, Wesley Healthcare has provided exceptional care to thousands of families in Wichita and throughout Kansas and Northern Oklahoma. Wesley Medical Center is a member of the Wesley Healthcare network within Greater Wichita and has been an HCA Healthcare hospital since 1985.
Our physicians treat more than 24,000 patients annually, making Wesley Medical Center the most preferred hospital in Kansas and northern Oklahoma. Additionally, our obstetricians and childbirth staff deliver more than 6,000 babies each year, more than any hospital in a 13-state region.
Home to Wesley Children's Hospital, the region's first and Wichita's only children's hospital, we care for children in a unique space designed specially for kids and their families. And as a Level I Trauma Center and the only Level II Pediatric Trauma Center in Kansas, we are prepared to treat any medical emergency, any time of day.
HCA Healthcare has been recognized as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies® by the Ethisphere Institute more than ten times. In recent years, HCA Healthcare spent an estimated $3.7 billion in cost for the delivery of charitable care, uninsured discounts, and other uncompensated expenses.
"There is so much good to do in the world and so many different ways to do it." - Dr. Thomas Frist, Sr.
HCA Healthcare Co-Founder
If you find this opportunity compelling, we encourage you to apply for our COTA opening. We promptly review all applications. Highly qualified candidates will be directly contacted by a member of our team. We are interviewing apply today!
We are an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.
Introduction
Experience the HCA Healthcare difference where colleagues are trusted, valued members of our healthcare team. Grow your career with an organization committed to delivering respectful, compassionate care, and where the unique and intrinsic worth of each individual is recognized. Submit your application for our COTA opening with Wesley Medical Center today and find out what it truly means to be a part of the HCA Healthcare team.
Benefits
Wesley Medical Center offers a total rewards package that supports the health, life, career and retirement of our colleagues. The available plans and programs include:
- Comprehensive medical coverage that covers many common services at no cost or for a low copay. Plans include prescription drug and behavioral health coverage as well as free telemedicine services and free AirMed medical transportation.
- Additional options for dental and vision benefits, life and disability coverage, flexible spending accounts, supplemental health protection plans (accident, critical illness, hospital indemnity), auto and home insurance, identity theft protection, legal counseling, long-term care coverage, moving assistance, pet insurance and more.
- Free counseling services and resources for emotional, physical and financial wellbeing.
- 401(k) Plan with a 100% match on 3% to 9% of pay (based on years of service).
- Employee Stock Purchase Plan with 10% off HCA Healthcare stock.
- Family support through fertility and family building benefits with Progyny and adoption assistance.
- Referral services for child, elder and pet care, home and auto repair, event planning and more.
- Consumer discounts through Abenity and Consumer Discounts.
- Retirement readiness, rollover assistance services and preferred banking partnerships.
- Education assistance (tuition, student loan, certification support, dependent scholarships).
- Colleague recognition program.
- Time Away From Work Program (paid time off, paid family leave, long- and short-term disability coverage and leaves of absence).
- Employee Health Assistance Fund that offers free employee-only coverage to full-time and part-time colleagues based on income.
Learn more about Employee Benefits
Note: Eligibility for benefits may vary by location.
We are seeking a(an) COTA for our team to ensure that we continue to provide all patients with high quality, efficient care. Did you get into our industry for these reasons? We are an amazing team that works hard to support each other and are seeking a phenomenal addition like you who feels patient care is as meaningful as we do. We want you to apply!
Job Summary and Qualifications
Assists the Occupational Therapist in implementing the patient’s treatment plan, education, dismissal planning and documentation with minimum weekly review and supervision by an Occupational Therapist.
What qualifications you will need:
- Basic Cardiac Life Support must be obtained within 30 days of employment start date.
- Associate Degree.
- Current Occupational Therapy Assistant licensure in the state of Kansas.
- Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA), or Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA).
For more than 100 years, Wesley Healthcare has provided exceptional care to thousands of families in Wichita and throughout Kansas and Northern Oklahoma. Wesley Medical Center is a member of the Wesley Healthcare network within Greater Wichita and has been an HCA Healthcare hospital since 1985.
Our physicians treat more than 24,000 patients annually, making Wesley Medical Center the most preferred hospital in Kansas and northern Oklahoma. Additionally, our obstetricians and childbirth staff deliver more than 6,000 babies each year, more than any hospital in a 13-state region.
Home to Wesley Children's Hospital, the region's first and Wichita's only children's hospital, we care for children in a unique space designed specially for kids and their families. And as a Level I Trauma Center and the only Level II Pediatric Trauma Center in Kansas, we are prepared to treat any medical emergency, any time of day.
HCA Healthcare has been recognized as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies® by the Ethisphere Institute more than ten times. In recent years, HCA Healthcare spent an estimated $3.7 billion in cost for the delivery of charitable care, uninsured discounts, and other uncompensated expenses.
"There is so much good to do in the world and so many different ways to do it." - Dr. Thomas Frist, Sr.
HCA Healthcare Co-Founder
If you find this opportunity compelling, we encourage you to apply for our COTA opening. We promptly review all applications. Highly qualified candidates will be directly contacted by a member of our team. We are interviewing apply today!
We are an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.
How to Get Visa 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 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.
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently 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.
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