Acute Care Occupational Therapist
Mission Viejo, CA
Host Healthcare
5x8 hrs, Days
Referral Bonus
$2,120/weekOverview
- Start Date07/14/2026
- Shift Breakdown5x8 hrs
- ShiftDays
- Duration13 weeks
Pay
Benefits
- Referral bonus
- School loan reimbursement
- Vision benefits
- Wellness and fitness programs
- Company provided housing options
- License and certification reimbursement
- Life insurance
- Medical benefits
- Mileage reimbursement
- Pet insurance
- Discount program
- Employee assistance programs
- Guaranteed Hours
- Health savings account
- Holiday Pay
- 401k retirement plan
- Continuing Education
- Dental benefits
Description
Occupational Therapist - Acute Care Hospital
Location: Mission Viejo, California
Employment Type: Travel/Contract
Contract Length: 13 weeks
Job Details
- Work schedule primarily Monday through Friday, with 3 weekend shifts required every 6 weeks
- Shift: Day shift, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM (5x8 hours)
- 40 hours per week
- Acute care hospital setting with 488 staffed beds
- May be required to float to nearby facilities within a 50-mile radius
- Opportunity to cross-train at outpatient center (optional)
- Use of Epic electronic health record system
- Free parking available
Required Experience & Skills
- Minimum 2 years of Occupational Therapy experience in acute care (hard stop)
- ICU experience highly preferred
- First-time travelers may be considered only if they have 3+ years of experience
- Experience with patient populations including CVA, multiple trauma, cardiac, orthopedic, open heart, general medicine, oncology, neurology, spine, and total joint rehabilitation
- Must be a well-rounded caregiver capable of handling diverse acute care cases
Required Licenses & Certifications
- Valid California Occupational Therapy license (no pending licenses accepted)
- Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required
- Advanced certifications (e.g., ACLS, PALS, NRP) may be required based on clinical track but not explicitly stated for this role
Compliance & Documentation Requirements
- Background check within 90 days of start, covering all locations lived/worked in past 7 years; must be updated annually
- Drug screening: 9-panel drug screen within 12 months of start (instant acceptable)
- Physical exam within 1 year of start, signed by MD, NP, PA, or DO, confirming ability to work with or without accommodation
- Immunizations and health screenings required:
- TDAP vaccine within 10 years (declination accepted)
- Negative TB test or chest X-ray within 12 months, updated annually
- MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccination or positive titer with acceptable alternatives
- Hepatitis B vaccination or signed declination
- Varicella vaccination or positive titer with acceptable alternatives
- Seasonal flu vaccine during flu season (declination accepted)
- COVID vaccination record preferred; declinations accepted with adherence to masking policies
- Respiratory safety clearance required annually for respirator use (travel only)
- Fit mask testing required onsite or valid record within 1 year, updated annually
Requirements/Qualifications
- Valid Occupational Therapist license in California
- Minimum of 2 years of Occupational Therapy experience
- Occupational Therapy experience within the last year
- Experience in an Acute Care setting
- Basic Life Support (BLS) certification
Additional Requirements
- Minimum of 2 professional references covering at least 1 year of employment in a comparable specialty/setting within the last 3 years
- Employment application covering at least the last 5 years of employment with month/year format for dates
- Skills checklist updated annually as applicable
- Completion of annual regulatory and specialty-specific training modules via assigned learning management system
- Passport-style badge photo with neutral background required prior to start
- Float policy acknowledgment required due to possible floating between facilities
Notes
- Guaranteed hours may be subject to facility call-offs once per two-week pay period
- Local radius for assignment is 50 miles; flexibility to float to nearby facilities may be required
- Pending license applications are not accepted
- Return-to-Office (RTO) restrictions must be included at time of submission
This position is ideal for Occupational Therapists with acute care experience seeking a travel contract in a hospital setting with a diverse patient population and opportunities for professional growth.
Employer
Host Healthcare
249 nurses recommend working with Host Healthcare
Pros
Kayla Trevino has been absolutely phenomenal as my recruiter. She’s quick to get on the contracts I’ve requested, responsive, and helpful. Kayla has displayed professionalism with every interaction. She has no issues bargaining to get as close to my needs as requested and keeps me updated with every development. I’m thrilled to have her in my corner and look forward to a continued partnership!
Cons
I have no cons with Kayla! The only thing I could say would be I hope Host acquires more contracts in my area so I can continue working with her.
Recommends working with Host Healthcare

At Host Healthcare, we provide a truly comfortable experience as you explore your travel nursing, therapy, or allied career. We make your travel healthcare journey easy by taking care of all the details, so you don’t have to.
We are on a mission to help others live better and we do this by helping the healers of the world be as comfortable as possible. With access to tens of thousands of travel nursing, therapy, and allied jobs in all 50 states, our responsive and friendly recruiters find your dream position based on what’s important to you.
During your assignment, get access to premium benefits, including Day 1 medical that continues up to 30 days between assignments, 401K matching, travel reimbursements, dedicated housing support, and more. We also offer 24/7 support from our team and access to our on-staff clinicians so you can feel comfortable and confident throughout your entire assignment.
Travel comfortably with Host Healthcare.
About Mission Viejo, CA
As a Travel Occupational Therapist in Mission Viejo, CA here's what you should know:- Mission Viejo's cost of living is higher than the national average, primarily due to housing costs.
- Wages generally match up with the higher cost of living.
- Summer average highs are around 82°F, and winter average lows are around 45°F.
- Short term rentals are available but may be limited.
- It's recommended to start the search early to secure suitable options.
- Mission Viejo is car-friendly with well-maintained roads.
- Public transportation options are available but may not be as extensive as in larger cities.
- The city has a diverse population with a wide age range.
- Common health issues include allergies and respiratory conditions due to air quality.
- There is a growing population of travel nurses in the area.
- Mission Viejo offers a variety of restaurants, especially with a focus on international cuisine.
- There are opportunities to enjoy art and music at local venues.
- Sports enthusiasts can engage in activities like golf and tennis, and outdoor enthusiasts can explore the nearby hiking trails and parks.
Browse similar jobs
Travel Occupational Therapist
- Salinas, CA
- Amergis Healthcare Staffing, Inc.-Allied
- 5x8 hrs, Days
Physical Therapist
- Alturas, CA
- TheraEx Therapy
- 5x8 hrs
Travel Occupational Therapist
- Salinas, CA
- Integrated Healthcare Services
- 5x8 hrs, Days