Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant

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).

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.

• 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

• 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.

• 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

• 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