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Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA)
Company : Select Medical
Location : San Diego, CA, 92103-2289
Job Type : Full Time / Part Time
Date Posted : 6 January 2026
Overview
Position: Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA)
Location: Select Specialty Hospital - San Diego
Schedule: 8 hour shifts, M-FCompensation: $29-$43/hr
Select Specialty Hospital - San Diego is a critical illness recovery hospital committed to providing world-class inpatient post-ICU services to chronic, critically ill patients who require extended healing and recovery. We help patients during some of the most vulnerable, painful moments of their lives – and Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants (COTA) play a central role in providing compassionate, excellent care every step of the way.
Why Join Us:
- Start Strong: Extensive and thorough orientation program to ensure a smooth transition into our setting.
- Advance Your Career: Tuition reimbursement and continuing education opportunities
- Elevate Your Skills: Clinical ladder program.
- Ease the Burden: Student debt benefit program
- Your Health Matters: Comprehensive medical/RX, health, vision, and dental plan offerings
- Recharge & Refresh: Generous PTO to maintain a healthy work-life balance
- Invest in Your Future: Company-matching 401(k) retirement plan, as well as life and disability protection
- Your Impact Matters: Join a team of over 44,000 nationwide committed to providing exceptional care.
Responsibilities
- Reporting directly to the Occupational Therapist, you will be treating patients with complex needs and challenging diagnoses.
- Conducting individual patient therapy regimens under the supervision of an Occupational Therapist (OT).
- Monitoring patient's response to treatment and modifying treatment during sessions as indicated in collaboration with an OT.
- Completing appropriate documentation according to department policies and procedures.
- Participating in departmental, hospital, and community continuing education seminars and in-services.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications
- Current state licensure or eligibility for state licensure as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant required.
- Certified BLS or completion in first 90 days of employment required or as required by state regulations.
Additional Data
Equal Opportunity Employer, including Disabled/Veterans.We will consider for employment all qualified Applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including but not limited to the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the San Diego County Fair Chance Ordinance.
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Frequently asked questions
Select Medical’s COTA role in San Diego focuses on critical illness recovery with patients post-ICU, emphasizing complex care under occupational therapist supervision. This specialized setting offers unique experience in chronic condition rehabilitation, contrasting with more general outpatient or pediatric occupational therapy assistant jobs.
Select Medical supports career growth through tuition reimbursement, continuing education, and a clinical ladder program. These benefits empower COTAs in San Diego to expand their expertise and potentially transition into advanced therapy roles or management within specialized healthcare environments.
COTAs must hold a current California state licensure to practice legally. Additionally, certification in Basic Life Support (BLS) is mandatory, typically required within the first 90 days of employment, aligning with state regulations and hospital protocols in San Diego.
Key skills include patient assessment, adapting treatment plans under OT supervision, meticulous documentation, and compassionate communication. These enable effective care for critically ill patients recovering from complex diagnoses, ensuring therapy sessions respond dynamically to patient needs.
San Diego shows steady demand for COTAs due to its aging population and specialized recovery centers. Competition is moderate, with employers favoring candidates who have local licensure and experience in inpatient or post-acute care settings, making it important to highlight these qualifications.
The $29-$43 hourly wage reflects San Diego's moderately high cost of living and the specialized nature of the hospital setting. This range aligns with or slightly exceeds average California COTA salaries, rewarding the skill level and responsibilities required in critical illness recovery facilities.
Select Medical provides a generous PTO package encouraging rest and personal time, comprehensive health benefits, and a 401(k) plan with company matching. These perks create a supportive environment for COTAs to maintain both professional growth and personal wellbeing.
COTAs here work primarily with patients recovering from critical illnesses post-ICU, often facing complex, chronic conditions. This challenges assistants to apply adaptive therapeutic techniques under OT supervision to promote functional independence in a demanding clinical environment.
The organization offers an extensive orientation program designed to acclimate new COTAs smoothly. This includes comprehensive training on hospital protocols, patient care standards, and ongoing mentorship, fostering confidence and competence early in their tenure.
Select Medical’s COTA roles emphasize inpatient care for critically ill, chronic patients requiring extended recovery, unlike typical outpatient or pediatric therapy jobs. This focus offers a unique clinical challenge and growth opportunity within a nationally recognized healthcare network.