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Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA School-Based
Full-Time | MondayFriday | 8:00 AM 3:30 PM
Join our team and make a meaningful impact supporting students in a school-based setting! This full-time COTA role offers a consistent weekday schedule, allowing for excellent work-life balance while helping children and adolescents achieve their goals.
Position Overview
In this role, you will provide occupational therapy services to students under the direction of a licensed Occupational Therapist. Youll play a key part in helping students develop the skills they need to succeed both in and out of the classroom.
School-based experience is strongly preferred, and occasional travel between school locations may be required.
What Youll Do
- Deliver therapeutic interventions based on treatment plans developed by the Occupational Therapist
- Support students across a variety of age groups within your scope of practice
- Monitor student progress and communicate updates or recommended changes to the supervising OT
- Assist with standardized assessments and document results accurately
- Maintain timely, accurate, and compliant documentation for all services provided
- Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams, including participation in meetings and in-service education
- Supervise and support clinical support staff as appropriate
- Adapt treatment approaches based on individual student needs and responses
- Travel between school locations as needed
What Were Looking For
- Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA license in the state of practice
- Experience in school-based occupational therapy (strongly preferred
- Strong communication, organization, and collaboration skills
- Ability to work independently while staying connected to a broader care team
- Passion for supporting children and helping them reach their full potential
Why Join Us?
- Consistent daytime schedule (no evenings or weekends
- Meaningful work supporting students in a school environment
- Opportunity to collaborate with a supportive and experienced therapy team
- Professional growth through ongoing learning and development
- Graduate of an accredited Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA program approved by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA, with an Associate degree
- Current licensure (or eligibility for licensure as a COTA in the state of practice
- NBCOT certification required
- CPR/BLS certification (AHA-approved, including skills demonstration required within 30 days of hire
- Knowledge of human growth and development across the lifespan
- Ability to read, understand, and interpret medical records and clinical documentation
- Strong organizational, time management, and problem-solving skills
- Effective written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team
- Demonstrated professionalism and ability to interact with patients, families, and healthcare team members
- Commitment to ongoing learning and professional development (professional organization involvement preferred
- Ability to adapt to a variety of patient needs and changing priorities in a clinical/school-based environment
- May work in areas where medications are stored; no direct medication handling required
Clearances (School-Based Requirements
- Act 33 Child Abuse Clearance (with renewal
- Act 34 Criminal Clearance (with renewal
- Act 114 FBI Clearance (Department of Education, with renewal
- Act 73 FBI Clearance (with renewal, if applicable
Additional Requirements
- Completion of all required orientation and competency programs (system, facility, and department-specific
UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran
U
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center