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Explore New Cities While Helping Patients Thrive
Being a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant isn’t just about following treatment plans or filling out charts—it’s about helping people take back control of their lives, regain confidence, and enjoy the little things they might have lost. You see progress in ways no one else does, and you know that even tiny improvements can be life changing. Now picture bringing that impact on the road—visiting new cities, working with different patients, and leaving your mark wherever you go. That’s the adventure of being a travel COTA.
The Basics of a Travel COTA Contract
Instead of committing to one clinic or facility long-term, travel COTAs take on temporary assignments in hospitals, outpatient centers, rehab facilities, and home health. Contracts typically last around three months. Travel COTA roles often fill critical staffing gaps, whether in a busy city hospital or a smaller community clinic with limited OT resources. By partnering with a travel therapy agency, you gain a team that manages the logistics—licensure support, onboarding, benefits, and even help finding housing—so you can focus on what you do best: patient care. You get to choose your location, bring your expertise, and leave the behind-the-scenes work to someone else.
Thriving as a Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant on the Move
Travel COTAs tend to be flexible, curious, and eager to learn. If you enjoy adjusting to new systems, collaborating with different teams, and connecting with patients from all walks of life, you’ll likely thrive in a travel role. Each contract is an opportunity to expand your skills, tackle new challenges, and see occupational therapy practiced in diverse settings. And yes—you’ll also get to explore new cities, meet new friends, and make memories along the way.
Making a Difference Wherever You Go
Every day, you help patients regain the ability to do what matters most—whether it’s dressing independently, returning to work, or enjoying their favorite activities. Travel allows you to multiply that impact. One month, you might be helping a child develop fine motor skills in a pediatric clinic; the next, you could be supporting adults recovering from surgery in a hospital rehab unit. No matter where you go, your skills are making a meaningful difference in the lives of those who need it most.
Working as a travel COTA isn’t just a career choice—it’s a lifestyle. It’s a chance to see the country through the lens of your profession, explore new cities, meet new people, and grow both personally and professionally. You’ll still be doing what you love—helping patients regain independence and improve their quality of life—but with the added excitement of fresh experiences that make every day meaningful.