UO
University of Missouri Health Care
Jefferson City, Missouri

Certified Hand Therapist, PRN - Jefferson City

CounselorIncludes callPer Diem

Listed compensation

$52/hour

The week · per this posting

Ask the employer about the work setting, weekend coverage, nights and shift pattern and time off.

Posted 5mo ago

Job Description

Shift: PRN, Varied

Department: Therapy Services, Sam B Cook Healthplex

Compensation

  • Base Pay Range: $52.01 per hour, based on experience

About the Job

MU Health Care is looking for a passionate and skilled therapist to join our team as a Hand Therapy Specialist. We need someone who is dedicated to restoring function and improving the lives of patients with upper extremity impairments.

The ideal candidate will possess a deep commitment to continuous learning and professional growth, actively seeking out training opportunities and maintaining advanced certifications.

You will have the opportunity to showcase your expertise in designing and fabricating splints and assistive devices, providing cutting-edge treatments and modalities tailored to individual patient needs.

At MU Health Care, we uphold the highest standards of ethical practice and are looking for a candidate who shares our commitment to excellence in patient care.

If you're ready to make a meaningful impact and advance your career in hand therapy, we encourage you to apply and join our dynamic team dedicated to patient-centered care.

About MU Health Care

MU Health Care is proud to be named one of Forbes’ Best-in-State Employers seven years in a row, and that’s largely a result of the incredible culture and team we’ve built. At MU Health Care, we have an inspired, hard-working and collaborative environment driven by our mission to save and improve lives.

Here, we believe anything is possible and rally around solutions. We celebrate innovation and offer opportunities to be a part of something bigger — to have a voice and role in the work that is serving our community and changing the field of medicine.

Our academic health system — the only in mid-Missouri — is home to seven hospitals, including the region’s only Level 1 Trauma Center and region’s only Children’s Hospital, as well as over 90 specialty clinics. Here you can define your career among our many clinical and nonclinical positions — with growth, opportunity and support every step of the way.

  • Learn more about MU Health Care.
  • Learn more about living in mid-Missouri.

Employee Benefits

  • Health, vision and dental insurance coverage starting day one
  • Generous paid leave and paid time off, including nine holidays
  • Multiple retirement options, including 100% matching up to 8% and full vesting in three years
  • Tuition assistance for employees (75%) and immediate family members (50%)
  • Discounts on cell phone plans, rental cars, gyms, hotels and more
  • See a comprehensive list of benefits here.

Detailed Job Description

Actively identify and participate in training, education, development activities, and/or supervise Occupational Therapy or Certified Occupational Therapy Students to improve own knowledge and performance, including acquiring the CEU’s needed to maintain state licensure in the State of Missouri and Hand Certification.

  • Administer treatment that requires the advanced skills of a hand therapy specialist.
  • Complete documentation according to UMHC and department guidelines and policies.

Design, fabricate, and/or modify appropriate splints and other assistive devices or equipment for patient and act as clinical expert in the treatment of upper extremities injuries.

In accordance with physician orders, skillfully provide modalities including, but not limited to, use of heat/cold, fluidotherapy, iontophoresis, electrical simulation, hydrotherapy, ultrasound, and manual therapy.

Maintain standards in accordance with the code of ethics of the APTA if a physical therapist, or AOTA if an occupational therapist, and their respective State of Missouri Practice Acts to maintain eligibility for licensure.

Perform comprehensive patient evaluations in a time sensitive manner. Correlate data from the assessment to determine an individualized occupational therapy plan of care directed toward goals based on a developmentally appropriate approach.

May complete unit/department specific duties and expectations as outlined in department documents.

Required Qualifications

  • Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) certification by the Hand Therapy Certification Commission (HTCC).
  • Five (5) years of clinical experience, including 4,000 hours in the direct practice of hand therapy.

One of the Following

  • Occupational Therapist (OT) licensure by the Missouri Board of Occupational Therapy or OT Compact multi-state privilege. When primary state of residency changes, compact state OTs must apply under new state of residency within thirty (30) days;

OR

  • Physical Therapist (PT) licensure by the Missouri Board of Registration for the Healing Arts or PT Compact multi-state privilege. When primary state of residency changes, compact state PTs must apply under new state of residency within thirty (30) days.

Preferred Qualifications

Additional license/certification requirements as determined by the hiring department.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met with or without reasonable accommodation. The performance of these physical demands is an essential function of the job. This position is very active and requires ambulating, reaching, and moving objects weighing up to and over 20 lbs.

This role also routinely comes into contact with patients who may have contagious illnesses. This position is in a health care facility open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Rotating shifts as well as holiday and work during inclement weather will be required.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Missouri is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Key Responsibilities

The specialist will design and fabricate splints and provide advanced treatments for patients with upper extremity impairments. Responsibilities include performing comprehensive evaluations and implementing individualized occupational therapy plans of care.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a CHT certification and possess at least five years of clinical experience, including 4,000 hours in hand therapy. A valid Missouri license or compact privilege in Occupational Therapy or Physical Therapy is required.

Qualifications

Education
Professional certificate or licensure
Experience
5+ years of experience

Key Skills

Splint FabricationPatient EvaluationUpper Extremity TreatmentAssistive Device DesignClinical DocumentationTherapeutic ModalitiesCase Management

Counselor Career Context

Of the 40 active Mental Health Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 85% are remote, 28% have no call, 75% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for Missouri is 90.8 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 60.1% of Missouri clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Top contract/1099 Counselor Jobs

40 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution25 jobs · 13 employers

3
<$85k
1
$87k
10
$100k-115k
11
$115k-130k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks27 jobs · 13 employers

401k / retirement match
96%
Sign-on bonus
52%
CME allowance
30% this job
Loan repayment
4%
PSLF eligible
4%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

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+ 38 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.1this job 3.0
Better work-life than 20% of Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 8,038 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • Includes call

Living in Jefferson City

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$269k
Typical market rent
$1,017/mo
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
88.0
State income tax
Up to 5.3%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Aug 2026), Zillow market rents (Aug 2026).

BEA 2024 · Jefferson City, MO metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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

UO

About University of Missouri Health Care

Hospitals and Health Care
Columbia, Missouri
1,001-5,000 employees

Benefits & Perks

Health, vision and dental insurance coverage starting day one
Generous paid leave and paid time off, including nine holidays
Multiple retirement options, including 100% matching up to 8% and full vesting in three years
Tuition assistance for employees (75%) and immediate family members (50%)
Discounts on cell phone plans, rental cars, gyms, hotels and more