Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA) - Phoenix Early Learning Center ($1k Sign-On Bonus)
Listed compensation
$42k-$60k
The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed
Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, nights and shift pattern and time off.
Job Description
Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA) - Phoenix Early Learning Center (K-3rd Grade)
AZACS is growing, and we invite you to apply to be part of our award-winning team
AZACS was awarded the 2023/2024 National ESEA Distinguished Schools Award for Arizona and the 2022 YASS Prize for innovation in education and providing a transformational experience by expanding unique individualized learning programs for autism charter schools.
Arizona’s first and only autism-focused charter school is expanding and seeking a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) to assess, diagnose, treat, and help students to communicate in the new state-of-the-art autism center.
- Under the supervision and direction of the Occupational Therapist, the COTA will be responsible for:
- Implement student engagement strategies
- Move students toward progress on goals
- Engage in data-driven instruction
- Implement Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) strategies
Duties
Under the supervision of an Occupational Therapist, a COTA must implement goals identified on student IEPs related to: fine motor skills life skills/training psychosocial adaptations sensory processing/adaptations visual motor skills
- Follow school-wide systems, rules, and positive behavior interventions
- Deliver services in a classroom integration model
- Coach the classroom staff on the implementation of occupational therapy goals
- Communicate effectively and proactively with students and families
- Responsible for paperwork compliance with data collections relating to IEP goals
- Accountability for growth and proficiency on IEP goals
- Participate in annual and ongoing staff training
Minimum Qualifications
- Experience delivering services in a school setting, in a classroom integration model is preferred
- Ability to approach situations with optimism and perseverance
- Excellent verbal, written, and organizational skills
- Minimum of two years COTA experience in a school setting preferred
- Experience and training in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) preferred
- Valid Arizona fingerprint clearance card
Required
Arizona IVP Fingerprint Clearance Card
- Associate’s degree or higher in Occupational Therapy from an accredited school of the Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) or the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (AOTE)
- Valid AOTCB certification
- Valid license issued by the Arizona Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners as a COTA
Benefits
- Up to $500 in non-taxable reimbursement for CEU and licensing fees incurred
- Up to $5,000 per year in non-taxable Tuition Reimbursement (based on years of service)
- A school located at a new state-of-the-art Autism Center
- Competitive pay based on experience
- 80 hours of Paid Time Off and Paid Federal Holidays
- Eligible to participate in benefits including medical, dental, vision, short-term disability, critical care, hospitalization, scheduled accident coverage, voluntary supplemental life, and pet insurance
- 401K with a company match
- Complementary access to Calm Health for you and up to 5 of your loved ones
Great Professional Development and Advancement Opportunities
- Check out the career pathways we offer! drive.google.com
- $1,000 Sign-On Bonus! ($500 after 30 days, the other $500 after 90 days of employment)
ADA and Other Requirements
Positions in this class require: stooping, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, fingering, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing, seeing, and repetitive motions.
Light Work
Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.
Working Conditions
Work is routinely performed in an indoor classroom environment.
The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed by this position. Additional duties are performed by the individuals currently holding this position and additional duties may be assigned.
Arizona Autism Charter Schools, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer in compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Civil Rights Act Title VII of 1972, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. Arizona Autism Charter Schools, Inc. does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability or age in employment or in any of its educational programs or in the provisions of benefits and services to students.
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Department: Related Service Provider
Employment Type: Full-Time Salaried 10P
Minimum Experience
Mid-level
Compensation
$42,000 - $60,000 DOE
Key Responsibilities
The Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant will implement student engagement strategies and move students toward progress on goals under the supervision of an Occupational Therapist. Responsibilities include implementing goals from student IEPs related to motor skills, life skills, psychosocial adaptations, and sensory processing.
Requirements
Candidates must possess a valid Arizona IVP Fingerprint clearance card and an Associate’s degree or higher in Occupational Therapy, along with valid AOTCB certification and an Arizona COTA license. Two years of COTA experience in a school setting and ABA experience are preferred.
Qualifications
- Education
- Professional certificate or licensure
- Experience
- 2+ years of experience
Key Skills
Occupational Therapist Career Context
In Arizona, the Occupational Therapy weighted monthly median benchmark on WeekdayDoc is ~$94k (112 salary observations; 534 listings), vs ~$97k nationally (4,521 salary observations; 25,570 listings). Monthly aggregates cover 2026-01-01 through 2026-10-01; these are not the modal's selected comparable-job medians.
The cost-of-living index for Arizona is 100.7 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$51k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $51k in an average-cost state. 60.3% of Arizona clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).
Occupational Therapy pay on WeekdayDoc is up 3.7% vs. the prior quarter (through Sep 2026).
Work-Life Balance Analysis
WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA) - Phoenix Early Learning Center ($1k Sign-On Bonus) at Arizona Autism Charter Schools a 6.0 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the Above average in Occupational Therapy Assistant — ranked against 1,043 active Occupational Therapy Assistant listings on WeekdayDoc. Contributing factors include no weekend requirements.
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