Occupational Therapist PD
- BLS
- Driver's license
How this pay compares
This posting states $63 an hour. Open occupational therapist jobs in California post a median of $64.11 an hour, the middle half $59.70–$70, across 306 jobs that state their pay, so this one is within the middle half of what they post. Occupational therapists employed in California earn a median of $59.86 an hour (source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics), according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025) (source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics).
Occupational therapists in California: pay by town and employer
Licensed in another state?
California is not issuing OT Compact privileges, so an occupational therapist or OT assistant licensed in another state needs a California license for this job. (Occupational Therapy Compact Commission, 9 Nov 2026.) For a California license, apply to the California Board of Occupational Therapy for a license by endorsement ($50, by its own page): what California asks. Every state's OT Compact status.
What California requires of an occupational therapist
Occupational Therapist license, from the California Board of Occupational Therapy.
- Applicants apply through BreEZe with the $50 application fee, Live Scan or fingerprint cards, an NBCOT verification of certification or score transfer sent directly from NBCOT, a passport photo, a verification of every health-related license held in any jurisdiction and an official transcript from the qualifying program.
- Staying active: Licenses run two years and expire on the last day of the licensee's birth month; renewal requires 24 professional development units earned during the renewal period, at least half directly related to delivering occupational therapy services.
Occupational therapist jobs and requirements in California · Every state's rule
Physical, occupational, speech and respiratory therapy jobs in our research
- How long these jobs stay listed: Still listed at 7 days 87.1%
- Applicant demand per open job on this site (1.00x is the average job): Index 0.21x · Clicks 25
- How often these jobs state their pay: Jobs stating any pay 52.9% · Stating an hourly rate 32.3%
From every open job we read and every apply click on this site, as of 11 Nov 2026. Every figure for Physical, occupational, speech and respiratory therapy jobs
About the job
The Occupational Therapist interprets, organizes, applies and modifies as necessary medically prescribed occupational therapy to inpatients and/or outpatients. The Occupational Therapist plans and implements programs to meet individual needs and provides care consistent with the Scope of Practice Standards and Code of Ethics of the American Occupational Therapy Association and the California Board of Occupational Therapy. Competency skills include the ability to provide care in a safe environment utilizing appropriate communication with sensitivity to special populations. This includes patients with diverse cultural backgrounds, age, developmental issues and physical impairments.
The Occupational Therapist II is an independent clinician who is a leader in applying the Cottage Health (CH) Values of excellence, integrity, and compassion in patient care. A Level II clinician provides care in a skilled and effective manner, utilizing learned technical, interpersonal, and critical thinking skills.
All job qualifications listed indicate the minimum level necessary to perform this job proficiently.
LEVEL OF EDUCATION
Minimum
- Graduation from an accredited school of Occupational Therapy (Master's Degree, or Bachelor's Degree with equivalent experience).
CERTIFICATIONS, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS
Minimum
- License applicant for the state of California (currently holds out-of-state license) licensed applicant or licensed as a Occupational Therapist in the State of California, American Heart Association (AHA) Basic Life Support (BLS) certified.Pediatric Specialty Clinics or Outpatient Therapy treating CCS clients: CCS paneling application submitted within 6 months of employment or within 6 months of meeting minimum requirements to apply.
Preferred
- Valid CA Driver's License. Outpatient or Hand Therapy: Certification in Physical Agent Modalities (PAMS) and Certification in Hand Therapy by California Board of Occupational Therapy (CBOT)
TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS
Minimum
- Knowledge of occupational therapy techniques and modalities. Knowledge of body mechanics, including procedure for handling and moving patients. Basic computer skills for chart review and documentation in electronic medical record.
YEARS OF RELATED WORK EXPERIENCE
Minimum
- Six (6) months of Occupational Therapist experience
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, and ABILITIES
All knowledge, skills, and abilities listed indicate the minimum level deemed necessary to perform this job proficiently.
- Ability to recognize and define problems, analyze data, develop and implement solutions and evaluate outcomes. Uses good judgment in all decision making and seeks supervisory counsel appropriately. Uses a positive, solution oriented approach
- Ability to interact effectively with patients, families, colleagues, other healthcare professionals, and community members. Demonstrates sensitivity to cultural and ethnic differences. Able to identify and articulate sources of stress and develop effective coping behaviors. Able to resolve conflicts in a proactive and constructive manner. Accepts constructive criticism and uses feedback as an opportunity for professional growth. Maintains a positive attitude in response to change and challenges.
- The employee communicates effectively. Ability to communicate patient information, both verbal and written, in a thorough, concise and effective manner. Effective oral and written communication and human relations skills, including motivation techniques. Ability to identify sources of and seek out feedback and to effectively use and provide feedback for improving personal interaction.
- Commitment to Learning: Continually seeks new knowledge and understanding. Demonstrates effective use of time and resources. Professionalism: Ability to exhibit appropriate professional conduct and to represent the profession effectively. Excellence: Consistently uses current knowledge and an evidence-based approach to treatment planning and patient care. Integrity: Steadfast adherence to high ethical principles of professional standards. Compassion and Caring: Exhibits empathy in communication and interactions. Demonstrates consideration for the needs and values of others.
Cottage Health is a leading acute care hospital system, located on the central coast of California, widely known for our superior patient care, innovation, medical research and education. Our health system operates primarily in Santa Barbara, CA, since 1888, and consists of three acute care hospitals, a Rehabilitation Hospital, multiple clinics and a multi-site Urgent Care system. Our mission is to serve the central coast communities with excellence, integrity, and compassion. Every day we touch thousands of lives in many different ways, resolute in our mission to put patients first. We take pride in helping our patients get back to living their lives - in the places they love.
*Pay for non-physician positions is determined based on related years of experience and internal equity. Eligible employees may also receive additional forms of compensation, including shift differentials, on-call pay, incentive pay, and bonus opportunities, where applicable. Manager and above positions may participate in Cottage Health’s annual management incentive program. Physician compensation is determined based upon specialty and may include bonus potential. For more information on our comprehensive Total Rewards offerings, please visit https://cottagehealth.org/careers/total-rewards .
If you're already a Cottage Health employee, please apply on this link only.
From Cottage Health's job posting, checked 13 Nov 2026. The employer's own page is the final word on requirements and availability.
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About Cottage Health
Cottage Health hires nurses, lab staff and imaging techs in Santa Barbara, Goleta and other towns in California.
Hires in CaliforniaPay on its listings: shown on each listing that states it
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