Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant COTA

Ampersand Therapy LLC; Tacoma, Northern (WA, KY); Hybrid; USD 48,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Sick Leave

Healthcare Benefits

401(k) with company matching

W-2 employment with professional/liabi

Reimbursement for licensure, CEUs, and

Mileage reimbursement at IRS rate

Referral bonuses

No non-compete clauses

Paid time off for volunteer work and d

Job summary

Ampersand Therapy LLC is seeking a dedicated Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA) for a full-time, in-person role in Tacoma, WA for the 2026-2027 school year. You will work in a K–12 public school setting, collaborating with teachers, special education staff, and families to deliver school-based OT services.

Qualifications include a WA OTA license and COTA certification; prior school-based experience is preferred but not required.

Qualifications

• Must hold Washington OTA license.
• Must hold COTA certification.
• Previous school-based experience preferred, but not required.

Responsibilities

• Provide school-based OT treatment.
• Collaborate with teachers, special education staff, and families.
• Maintain timely documentation and progress notes.

Skills

Team collaboration

Documentation

School-based OT knowledge

Education

Washington OTA license

COTA certification

Job description

Job Title: Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant COTA Pay Range: $35-45/hour

Job Description: School-Based Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA) – Full Time | Tacoma, WA | 2026-2027 School Year

Ampersand Therapy is seeking a passionate and dedicated Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA) to join our team for the 2026-2027 school year in Tacoma, Washington. This is a full-time, in-person position in a school setting. Whether you’re an experienced school-based COTA or just beginning your school therapy journey, we’d love to hear from you!

Job Highlights

• Location: Tacoma, WA
• Position: Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA) – School Setting
• Schedule: Full Time, 2026-2027 school year
• Setting: In-person, K–12 public school environment
• Start Date: ASAP

Responsibilities

• Provide school-based OT treatment
• Collaborate with teachers, special education staff, and families
• Maintain timely documentation and progress notes

Qualifications

• Must have Washington OTA license
• Must have COTA certification
• Previous school-based experience preferred, but not required

Benefits

• Paid Sick Leave
• Healthcare Benefits*
• 401(k) with company matching
• W-2 employment with general and professional liability insurance
• Reimbursement for licensure, CEUs, and other professional expenses
• Mileage reimbursement at IRS rate between school sites
• Referral bonuses
• No non-compete clauses
• Paid time off for volunteer work and donation matching*(*Benefits apply to 0.8 FTE and above, following a short waiting period)

Why Join Ampersand Therapy?

Ampersand Therapy is a local, women- and therapist-operated company founded by providers who understand what it’s like to work in schools. Our mission is to build a community of therapists who feel supported, appreciated, and empowered to make a difference. We proudly serve school districts throughout Western Washington and across several other states. You’ll work alongside a small, passionate team of school-based specialists—some of whom are still active providers in schools themselves. We offer mentorship and support, especially for newer school-based specialists, and are deeply committed to equity, sustainability, and community involvement.

Our Core Values:

• Equity & Inclusion: Creating a diverse and inclusive environment for all
• Community Impact: Supporting nonprofits and empowering our team to give back
• Environmental Responsibility: Committed to reducing our carbon footprint and supporting sustainable practices

Ampersand Therapy is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment and sense of belonging for all employees. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or any other identity characteristics. We encourage all qualified individuals to apply and join our team.

Apply today to join a supportive team of school-based professionals in Tacoma, WA! We're a small business, local to many of the areas we hire in, and are proud to be women, minority, and therapist-founded and run. We began our career working in schools both as district and contract employees. We sought to create an alternative to working with big staffing companies. The result is a small team of like-minded specialists who are striving to create a company that we would want to work for. Because we are therapists ourselves, we are deeply appreciative of and understand the work that you do. We're also in a unique position to be able to support and mentor those who are new to this practice area. We're so passionate about students that we're often working in the schools ourselves. You might find us doing treatments alongside you!