Travel Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant Jobs
Make a Difference as a Travel COTA
Under the direction of an occupational therapist, a certified occupational therapy assistant (COTA) treats patients who have difficulty performing work and daily living activities due to illnesses, injuries and disabilities. They help clients perform exercises as specified in a treatment plan and teach them how to use equipment that may make certain activities easier. A COTA may help develop treatment plans if state law permits.
Interested in traveling as an occupational therapy assistant? Browse travel occupational therapy assistant jobs at outstanding facilities across the country and find your fit.
What Do Travel Occupational Therapy Assistants Do?
OTAs play an instrumental role in improving patients’ lives by helping them regain functional abilities after illness, injury, or disability. One of the highlights of this career is the opportunity to work with a diverse range of individuals, from children with developmental disabilities to aging adults struggling with mobility due to age-related conditions.
By facilitating patient empowerment, a certified occupational therapist assistant not only fosters physical recovery but also instills a renewed sense of confidence, ability and self-worth among those they serve.
Typical COTA Job Responsibilities:
- Implement treatment techniques and plans designed by occupational therapists
- Teach patients how to use therapeutic equipment, and monitor progress
- Educate patients’ families and caregivers on how to support the patient’s therapeutic goals at home
- Document patients’ responses to therapy and report back to the occupational therapist, playing a crucial role in assessing the efficacy of treatment plans and making necessary adjustments
Choose where you go
With opportunities for travelers all over the country, we’ve selected areas with the most popular medical traveling jobs to help you find your best fit.
Advantages & Perks for Travel COTA Jobs
Competitive pay
Travel therapists are needed everywhere. Compensation packages for traveling therapists give you the freedom to live in and explore you environment.
Per diem
When you become a travel certified occupational therapy assistant, we give you a weekly, tax-free per diem to help cover daily expenses, like transportation and meals.
Certifications
State licenses and therapy certification costs are paid for because we want you to be a qualified rockstar!
Travel life
When you’re a medical traveler you get to live the best of your travel and work lives, together! Plus, you’ll gain valuable life experience along the way.Medical Traveler Compliance & Licensure
Being a travel certified occupational therapy assistant can help you achieve the career you’ve always wanted, but what if your dream job is asking for certifications you don’t have? Fusion can help you with that! We can help you find therapy training, licensing, and certifications to help you build your skills and take your career forward, plus the financial assistance to help you get there.
Degrees and Certifications
Licenses and certifications can leave you scratching your head when you should be stoked about traveling. We want you to know exactly what you’re getting into. Since degrees and certifications depend on your modality and specialty, Fusion’s compliance experts work with your recruiter and the facility to make sure that you have all relevant credentials required for our traveling therapy jobs.
Compliance Requirements
Some of your compliance requirements are the same across the board, but there are others that will depend on your specialty.
The three parts of compliance
- Occupational health records: Required immunizations and health examinations
- Documentation: Tax forms, insurance paperwork, and licenses
- Testing: Certifications, online training, and workplace safety exams
FAQs
How much do travel certified occupational therapist assistant jobs pay?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for a travel certified occupational therapy assistant was $61,510. The average annual salary varies based on factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and specialty.
What is the job outlook for travel COTA jobs?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for COTAs is projected to grow 32% from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. This growth is primarily attributed to the aging baby-boomer population who are staying active later in life but are susceptible to health conditions, such as strokes, which could require therapy services.
Where do travel COTAs work?
COTAs find employment in diverse healthcare and educational settings. These include hospitals, where COTAs help patients recover from injuries or adapt to life-changing illnesses. They also work in rehabilitation centers, providing therapy to individuals recovering from strokes, surgeries, or traumatic injuries. Other certified occupational therapists work in pediatric settings, like schools or specialized children's services, assisting children with developmental disorders to maximize their functional abilities and succeed in educational pursuits. Additionally, COTAs work in skilled nursing facilities and home healthcare, helping patients adapt their living environments and routines to cope with disabilities or the physical limitations of aging.
How long is a typical travel therapy assignment?
In the United States, a typical travel certified occupational therapist assistant position lasts 13 weeks, but anything between 8 and 26 weeks is common. Medical facilities often offer to renew your contract, too, which is called an extension. Extension offers are usually made in the last 3 to 5 weeks of your travel assignment, but if you’re interested in staying on longer, you should reach out to your recruiter.
I'm a new graduate, when can I start traveling?
For most therapy allied professionals, you can jump right into the travel life you’ve always wanted as soon as you have your degree in hand. What degree that is will also depend on your therapy career. While physical therapists (PTs) require a doctoral degree, occupational therapists (OTs) and speech-language pathologists (SLPs) need their master’s degrees. After graduation, PT grads and OT grads can start traveling professionally right away, but SLPs must complete a clinical fellowship year and get certified before traveling.
Do travel therapy jobs offer benefits?
Fusion offers benefits starting with your first travel assignment including three Medical plans to choose from, one PPO plan and two High Deductible Plans, as well as Dental, Vision, Basic Life, and Short-Term Disability. If traveling to the state of Hawaii, Hawaii has its own mandated coverage and you will be offered that coverage at that time. If you were previously on the BCBS Nebraska Medical coverage and/or the Ameritas Dental and Vision, this coverage will be terminated when moving to Hawaii for an assignment. Learn more about benefits.