Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant

Onward Education; Illinois; On-site; USD 40,000 - 43,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Weekly pay

Medical, dental, vision

Dedicated recruiter support

Mission-driven team

Job summary

Onward Search Education is partnering with a Lake County, Illinois school district to hire a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) for the 2026/2027 school year. This on-site role supports K-12 students with a low caseload (approx. 30-40) under the supervision of a licensed OT.

The COTA will implement treatment plans, support fine motor and sensory skills, and help carry strategies into classroom activities. Collaboration with educators is essential.

Qualifications

• Active Illinois COTA license (or IL OT license if applying as OT) is required.
• Experience with pediatric or school-based populations strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Implement occupational therapy interventions and activities as directed by the supervising OT.
• Support students' fine motor development (handwriting, cutting, classroom tool use).
• Provide strategies addressing sensory processing and self-regulation needs.
• Assist with gross motor and functional school participation skills.
• Support students with self-help skills within the school context.
• Track progress, document sessions, and communicate observations to the supervising OT and school team.

Skills

COTA license

Pediatric experience

Team collaboration

Job description

Onward Search Education is partnering with a school district in Lake County, Illinois to hire a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) for the 2026/2027 school year. This is an on-site opportunity supporting K-12 students with a low caseload (approx. 30-40 students), providing hands‑on therapy services under the supervision of a licensed Occupational Therapist (OT).

Position Summary

As a School-Based COTA, you'll help students build the fine motor, sensory, and functional skills they need to access learning and succeed in their school routines. You'll implement treatment plans developed by the supervising OT and collaborate closely with educators and support staff to carry over strategies into the classroom environment.

Position Details

• Location: On-site
• Schedule: 8:00 AM - 3:30 PM
• Hours: 7.5 hours/day | 35 hours/week
• School Year / Dates: ASAP - May 28, 2027
• Grade Levels: K-12
• Program: LASSO 2 & LASSO 3
• Caseload: Low caseload ~30-40
• Pay Range: $29-$31/hour

Responsibilities:

• Implement occupational therapy interventions and activities as directed by the supervising OT.
• Support students' fine motor development (handwriting, cutting, classroom tool use).
• Provide strategies and activities addressing sensory processing and self-regulation needs.
• Assist with gross motor and functional school participation skills (coordination, posture, access tasks).
• Support students with school-based self‑help skills as needed (e.g., feeding, dressing routines within school context).
• Track progress, document sessions, and communicate observations to the supervising OT and school team.

Qualifications:

• Active Illinois COTA license (or IL OT license if applying as OT)
• PEL not required
• Experience working with pediatric or school‑based populations strongly preferred
• Comfortable collaborating with multidisciplinary teams (special education staff, related service providers, administrators)
• Strong documentation, communication, and student‑centered care skills

What We Offer:

• Competitive compensation (based on experience and district budget)
• Medical, dental, and vision options
• Weekly pay (for eligible assignments)
• Dedicated recruiter support from Onward Search Education
• A mission‑driven team focused on improving student access and outcomes