Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant Job
Are you a persistent and creative problem solver? Do you want to help students improve their daily lives in tangible ways every day? Are you interested in beginning or advancing your career as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA)?
If so, we invite you to explore independent contractor openings through Pediatric Therapeutic Services (PTS). Learn more about the vital role COTAs play, the benefits of working alongside PTS in a school-based environment, and what you need to do to get started below!
What Will You Do as a COTA Alongside PTS?
As a COTA working alongside PTS, you will help students with physical or developmental disabilities do the tasks they need to do to access their education. Along with that, you will document and implement strategic therapeutic interventions, while working under the supervision of a registered Occupational Therapist.
What Skills, Knowledge, & Certifications Do You Need to Work as a School-Based COTA?
If you want to succeed as a COTA, you must successfully complete what is usually a two-year ACOTE (Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education) accredited degree program (some only take 16 or 18 months). This then leads to an associate degree, usually an Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.).
During the first year of your chosen A.A.S. program, you can expect to study things like pediatrics, as well as the following and much more:
- Kinesiology
- Medical terminology
- Physical rehabilitation
- Neuroscience concepts
- Intervention techniques
In the second year, you will then move into fieldwork or clinical practice, which falls under one of two categories, including introductory Level I Fieldwork and in-depth Level II Fieldwork. Once you pass the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT®) Certification Examination, you will be ready to begin serving students as a COTA!
What Are the Benefits of Working as a School-Based COTA Alongside PTS?
When you work alongside PTS, you work as an independent contractor, school-based COTA. We differ from other staffing services because we continue to offer guidance to our therapists, even after placement within a specific school or district.
One of our top priorities is to ensure positive, long-term relationships with the therapists, schools, and districts we work with—and that includes you! In addition to the benefits of working as an independent contractor, you will have:
- Opportunities to continue advancing in your career.
- Available School-Based Academy offered every August.
- Networking opportunities with fellow COTAs and Occupational Therapist Registered (OTRs).
To further support the COTSs we partner with, we also offer a free professional development resource library filled with therapist-designed interventions and suggestions for helping students succeed.
Kick-off & Advance Your Career as a School-Based COTA
Ready to get started? If so, browse through current COTA job openings in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware today. Then, apply to partner with PTS to help students access a fuller and more fulfilling educational experience!