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OhioHealth
Shelby, North Carolina

Per Diem Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA)

Occupational Therapy AssistantNo nightsPer Diem

Compensation

Pay not listed

The week · per this posting

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Posted 1h ago · Verified live

Job Description

We are more than a health system. We are a belief system. We believe wellness and sickness are both part of a lifelong partnership, and that everyone could use an expert guide. We work hard, care deeply and reach further to help people uncover their own power to be healthy. We inspire hope. We learn, grow, and achieve more – in our careers and in our communities.

Job Description Summary

This position is responsible for assisting staff Occupational Therapists in accordance with the Ohio Occupational Therapy Board laws and rules.

Following the set POC, the occupational therapist assistant provides patient treatment, patient/family instruction, discharge planning and may assist in the occupational therapy evaluation as appropriate. The OTA documents in the medical record and communicates with the multidisciplinary team.

The OTA collaborates with the supervising occupational therapist including, but not limited to, the need for OT reassessment. This position helps patients achieve maximum functional outcomes. Acts as a clinical instructor for students and actively participates in department functions.

Responsibilities And Duties

  • Direct Patient Care 90 - 100%
  • Treats patients (Evaluates as directed by OT)

1. After physician referral, administers portions of the assessments that are assigned by the supervising OT in which OTA has demonstrated to be competent.

2. After evaluation, the OTA treats patients based on plan of care and provides appropriate treatment techniques.

3. Requests updates/revisions to POC as needed.

4. Responsible for maintaining/meeting the productivity expectation of their department.

Plans and helps coordinates discharge plan with multidisciplinary team:

1. Instructs patient and caregiver family.

2. Recommends DME required for discharge.

3. Provides information to physicians, nurses, case managers, social workers and other team members.

4. Involved in the multidisciplinary patient plan of care and discharge readiness.

Documents evaluation portions, as appropriate, progress toward goals, discharge plan/continuity of care for multidisciplinary team, and other involved medical and insurance parties.

Indirect Patient Care 1 - 10%

Department Functions

1. Supervises patient assignments and duties of rehab technicians.

2. Is involved in department quality improvement through data collection and participation in team and staff meetings.

3. Assumes duties delegated by management in the absence of department management, as needed.

Education/Mentoring

1. Takes active role in orienting new staff members.

2. Serves as clinical instructor for affiliating OTA students

3. Serves as an advocate for the discipline on the multidisciplinary team.

4. Represents department at the problem-solving and committee meetings.

The major duties, responsibilities and essential functions listed above are not intended to be all-inclusive of the duties, responsibilities and essential functions to be performed in this job. Employee is expected to perform all other duties as requested by management.

As a High Reliability Organization (HRO), responsibilities require focus on safety, quality and efficiency in performing job duties.

The job profile provides an overview of responsibilities and duties and is not intended to be an exhaustive list and is subject to change at any time

Minimum Qualifications

Associate's Degree (Required)BLS - Basic Life Support - American Heart Association, OTA - Occupational Therapist Assistant - American Occupational Therapy Assoc.

Additional Job Description

Field of study in Occupational Therapy. Current O. T. licensure in the State of Ohio. BLS Certification. Understanding of commonly treated disease processes. New graduate with very good references.

Work Shift

Day

Scheduled Weekly Hours

As Needed

Department: Rehabilitation - Inpatient

Join us!... if your passion is to work in a caring environment... if you believe that learning is a life-long process... if you strive for excellence and want to be among the best in the healthcare industry

Equal Employment Opportunity

OhioHealth is an equal opportunity employer and fully supports and maintains compliance with all state, federal, and local regulations.

OhioHealth does not discriminate against associates or applicants because of race, color, genetic information, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, ancestry, national origin, veteran status, military status, pregnancy, disability, marital status, familial status, or other characteristics protected by law.

Equal employment is extended to all person in all aspects of the associate-employer relationship including recruitment, hiring, training, promotion, transfer, compensation, discipline, reduction in staff, termination, assignment of benefits, and any other term or condition of employment

Key Responsibilities

The Occupational Therapist Assistant provides direct patient care by following established plans of care, administering assessments, and coordinating discharge planning with the multidisciplinary team. Additionally, the role involves supervising rehab technicians, participating in quality improvement initiatives, and serving as a clinical instructor for students.

Requirements

Candidates must hold an Associate's Degree in Occupational Therapy and possess a current Occupational Therapist Assistant license in the State of Ohio. A Basic Life Support (BLS) certification from the American Heart Association is also required.

Qualifications

Education
Associate degree

Key Skills

Medical documentationPatient instructionClinical instructionMultidisciplinary collaborationAssessment administrationDME recommendation

Occupational Therapist Career Context

In North Carolina, the Occupational Therapy weighted monthly median benchmark on WeekdayDoc is ~$92k (167 salary observations; 872 listings), vs ~$97k nationally (5,279 salary observations; 29,546 listings). Monthly aggregates cover 2026-01-01 through 2026-11-01; these are not the modal's selected comparable-job medians.

The cost-of-living index for North Carolina is 94.3 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 59.2% of North Carolina clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

What does the Occupational Therapy market look like in North Carolina?
MeasureThis jobMarket
Work-life score5.1 / 10 · above average in occupational therapy assistantranked against 1,043 Occupational Therapy Assistant listingslisting-based score, 0–10
Listed paynot listedOccupational Therapy median $64k (middle half $64k–$69k)13 comparable listings, Nov 2026
North Carolina vs national$92k median in North Carolina$97k nationally (−5%)167 state / 5,279 national salary observations
Cost of livingNorth Carolina index 94.3US average = 100BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Occupational Therapy listings in North Carolina238 active9,004 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Sign-on & loan repaymentnot statedNorth Carolina occupational therapist listings (all specialties): 14% state a sign-on bonus (median $5k) · 6% offer loan repayment268 active listings, Nov 2026
New Occupational Therapy listings3,212 in the last 30 days1,658 the 30 days before (+94%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Occupational Therapy pay trend+4.1% vs prior quarter—through Oct 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index (1,043 Occupational Therapy Assistant listings), BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Nov 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Top contract/1099 OTA Jobs

3 matches · ranked by pay
#1

Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA) - (Full-Time) - Valley Health/Mary Free Bed

Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital · Winchester, Virginia

$26.03-$34.93/hr
#2

Occupational Therapist Assistant | COTA

Rehab Without Walls Neuro Rehabilitation · Rockland, Maine

$30-$33/hr
#3

Occupational Therapist Assistant

$27.58-$31.88/hr
+ 1 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 4.8this job 5.1
Better work-life than 50% of Occupational Therapy Assistant listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 1,043 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • No nights

Living in Shelby

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$250k
Typical market rent
$1,160/mo
Residents’ average commute
20 min
State income tax
Up to 4.8%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Sep 2026), Zillow market rents (Sep 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

City-level figures. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.