Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant

Position Type:
Classified/Occupational Therapy Assistant

Date Posted:
1/14/2026

Location:
To be determined

Closing Date:
Until Filled

Hours per Day:
20 hours per week /$36.07 - $44.39 per hour

Days of the Week:
Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday,Friday

Shift Times:
Days and times may vary, depending on need POSITION SUMMARY: As a licensed health care provider within the educational system, this position assists the occupational therapist in providing occupational therapy services to support the education of students with special needs. The certified occupational therapy assistant is professionally responsible to, and under the supervision and direction of, a licensed occupational therapist(s) for all therapy-related issues.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. This list is meant to be representative, not exhaustive. Some incumbents may not perform all the duties listed while in other cases related duties may also be assigned. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Assist the occupational therapist in conducting observations and/or screenings of students with physical/motor disabilities using formal or informal procedures.
• Assist therapist in administering therapy testing protocols.
• Assist in recording and documenting observations and/or screening results.
• Work in cooperation with the occupational therapist to maintain an appropriate record-keeping and reporting system.
• Design and implement therapeutic activities based upon goals and objectives in student's IEP records.
• Establish schedule and proceed with service delivery and other assigned duties.
• Independently travel to school sites delivering occupational therapy services
• Provide direct occupational therapy services for individual students, or groups of students, based on the goals and objectives established by the occupational therapist.
• Use professional judgment in modifying functional techniques of therapeutic activities within the established Therapy Plan.
• Locate and prepare specialized therapy materials and equipment for student use. Maintain therapy equipment, assemble and modify adaptive equipment, and prepare equipment inventory lists and update as necessary. Document intervention procedures and results using appropriate forms.
• Compile data, records, and work samples for preparation of reports, IEP's, assessments, and conferences.
• As a member of the motor team, participate in the school District's comprehensive planning process for the education of children with special needs.
• Provide information and establish relationships with school personnel, parents, and non-school agencies to promote the education of students with physical/motor disabilities. Participate in training sessions for staff and families.
• Participate in professional growth continuing education opportunities as required by established state licensure laws and District expectations.
• Adhere to established ethical standards of the occupational therapy profession, state law, and District policy.
• Perform related duties consistent with scope and intent of the position under professional law and District policy.

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES:

Work in direct contact with students affected by a variety of disabilities including, but not limited to, medically fragile students to promote their prescribed occupational therapy programs.
May also require working directly with disturbed and/or emotionally distraught students.
Perform related duties consistent with the scope and intent of the position.

The preceding list of responsibilities is not exhaustive and may be supplemented as necessary.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and Experience
Associate degree for Occupational Therapy Assistant from accredited college or school, including fieldwork.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

1. Current Washington State License for COTA.
2. Certification in good standing with professional association.
3. Excellent communication skills and effective problem solving ability.
4. Work scheduled hours on a consistent basis

KNOWLEDGE OF:
Knowledge and understanding of accepted occupational therapy practices and procedures.

ABILITY TO:
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, parents and staff members.
Ability to work effectively on a team.
Demonstrated efficient time-management skills.
Demonstrated professional competence, patience, and the physical capacity to transfer and manipulate students.
Relate effectively in a multicultural and multiracial community and maintain cultural awareness and sensitivity to work corporately and collaboratively with staff, parents and the public
Interact effectively and collegially with adults and students and ability to maintain positive and effective working relationships
Demonstrate strong written and verbal communication skills
Demonstrate strong organizational skills
Perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodations

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES RELATED TO CULTURAL COMPETENCE AND EQUITY:
Knowledge/awareness of own cultural identity and how this influences behavior, and desire to learn about the cultural identity of others.
Ability to establish and nurture an environment that promotes cultural competence and equitable treatment of staff, students, and patrons of the District.
Ability to understand and hold self and others accountable for promoting the Federal Way Public Schools' commitment to "Each Scholar: A Voice. A Dream. A Bright Future."
Ability to recognize that each person is a unique individual even as we celebrate their group cultural heritage.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee will frequently sit, stand and walk, bend neck and back, squat, kneel, and use hands for fine manipulation and repetitive grasping and pushing/pulling. The employee will occasionally be required to climb stairs/ladder, lift and reach overhead, and lift/carry. The employee must constantly lift/carry up to 5 lbs and must frequently lift/carry up to 10 lbs and occasionally lift/carry a maximum of 35 lbs. The employee is occasionally required to push/pull a maximum force of 100 lbs.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in indoor conditions and intermittently works near video display. The employee is occasionally exposed to outdoor weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Position is occasionally exposed to angry, frustrated individuals, typically in a school classroom environment.

WORK SCHEDULE:
This position works 201 days per school year with a flexible workday for evening and weekend events. Work schedules may vary depending on specific needs; each school site will determine the work calendar.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIP:
Position reports directly to, and is evaluated by the Director of CTE with the input from the building principal. Director of CTE will oversee Career Center budget.

REPRESENTATION:
Federal Way Professional-Technical Employees Association

LEVEL OF COMPENSATION:
Level C.2 on the Prof-Tech Salary Schedule

CLASSIFICATION HISTORY
Update with physical demands/working conditions 01/2015
Update qualifications 8/1/2016
Update qualifications 12/1/2017

Disclaimer
The preceding list is not exhaustive and may be supplemented as necessary. The statements contained herein reflect general details as necessary to describe the principal functions of this job, the scope of responsibility and the level of knowledge and skills typically required, but should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements, skills or duties so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside their normal responsibilities from time to time as needed.

All employment open positions are made available on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, gender, age, disability or veteran status.

Job descriptions are written as a representative list of the ADA essential duties performed by the entire classification. They cannot include, and are not intended to include, every possible activity and task performed by every specific employee.