Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA), Occupational Therapy
How this pay compares
This posting does not state an hourly rate. Open occupational therapy assistant jobs in Tennessee post a median of $32 an hour, the middle half $30.43–$33.75, across 10 jobs that state their pay. Occupational therapy assistants employed in Tennessee earn a median of $30.01 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 therapy assistants in Tennessee: pay by town and employer
Workplace injuries
Claiborne Medical Center in Tazewell reported 9 work injuries and illnesses to OSHA for 2025 over 505,809 hours worked: 3.6 per 100 full-time workers, against 5.1 per 100 full-time workers at general hospitalsnationwide. With its hours, the best estimate leaning on similar sites is 3.7 per 100 full-time workers. This is the employer's own report. Workplace injuries by employer.
Medicare rating of Claiborne Medical Center
Medicare gives Claiborne Medical Center no star rating (Jul 2026). 88% of its patients said their nurses always communicated well (the middle US hospital: 79%). Medicare did not cut its pay for patient harm in fiscal 2026. Patients' ratings of their care, not employees' of the job. Its other hospitals · Tennessee hospitals by rating.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness
Medicare lists Claiborne Medical Center as a government hospital: the kind of employer PSLF counts (a government organization or a 501(c)(3) non-profit) for its own full-time staff, toward forgiveness of federal Direct Loans after 120 qualifying payments. The federal PSLF Help Tool confirms an employer by the EIN on your W-2. Every PSLF-eligible hospital hiring.
Licensed in another state?
Tennessee issues and accepts OT Compact privileges: an occupational therapist or OT assistant whose home state is a member can take this job on a compact privilege instead of a Tennessee license. (Occupational Therapy Compact Commission, 9 Nov 2026.) Every state's OT Compact status.
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
Overview
Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA)
PRN/OCC, Variable Hours & Shifts
Claiborne Medical Center Overview
Claiborne Medical Center, a member of Knoxville-based Covenant Health, offers a full range of medical services including emergency care, general and orthopedic surgery, rehabilitation, and diagnostic services. Our radiology services are certified by the American College of Radiology in Computerized Tomography (CT), Mammography, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Nuclear Medicine, and Ultrasound. Claiborne also provides skilled and long-term care through Claiborne Health and Rehabilitation Center. Our team of physicians and staff is dedicated to putting our patients first, every day. For more information, visit ClaiborneMedicalCenter.com.
Position Summary
Under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist, provides treatment programs for occupational therapy patients as defined by State Practice Act. Monitors patients' progress and modifies treatment plans as per the physical therapist.
Responsibilities
- Clinical practice – Administers treatment programs, including specialized treatment
- Adheres to the "Definition and Utilization of the Occupational Therapy Assistant" as stated in the current American Occupational Therapy Association policy.
- Monitors patient progress and makes recommendations to the occupational therapist in accordance with patient needs and evidence based practice.
- Documents patient progress in medical records for assigned patients.
- Provides input for patient care and discharge planning with other health professionals.
- Meets established targets for passive/active treatment ratios
- Involves patient and family in treatment, education and goal setting. Coordinates with other medical personnel regarding patient’s progress, needs and discharge planning.
- Demonstrates knowledge and competency including providing for age-specific needs of the population served
- Serves as a resource person for support staff and other health system staff
- Assists with training, orientation and supervision of support staff.
- Assumes responsibility for the educational development of assigned COTA students
- Maintains and updates patient documentation in accordance with professional, departmental, organizational, and payer guidelines and timeframes. Maintains established targets for compliance with chart audits.
- Meets established target for:
- Quality/outcome measures
- Service/patient satisfaction measures
- Financial/productivity measures
- Growth/patients-per-day measures
- Demonstrates leadership including, but not limited to:
- Supervision of support staff
- Participates in professional organization/meetings (TOTA, AOTA)
- Volunteers for Covenant Health activities such as the marathon, golf tournament, sports physicals, employee education, etc.
- Completes partnering activities per established targets per month.
- . Physician office visits
- Community lectures/volunteer
- Case Manager visits/marketing
- Provide in-services
- Follows policies, procedures, and safety standards. Completes required education assignments annually. Works toward achieving goals and objectives, and participates in quality improvement initiatives as requested.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
Minimum Education:
None specified; however, must be sufficient to meet the standards for achievement of the below indicated license and/or certification as required by the issuing authority.
Minimum Experience
One (1) year experience preferred.
Licensure Requirement:
Current Tennessee Occupational Therapy Assistant license. CPR required.
From Covenant Health's job posting, checked 12 Nov 2026. The employer's own page is the final word on requirements and availability.
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About Covenant Health
Covenant Health hires nurses, nursing assistants and front-office staff in Tennessee.
Hires in TennesseePay on its listings: 0% of its open jobs state an hourly rate
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