Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant

CERTIFIED OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSISTANT: JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Requirements

• Associates Degree in Occupational Therapy from an accredited program.
• Current state licensure or license eligible.
• Assumes responsibility for ongoing continuing education and professional development.
  
  

Physical Requirements

Physical demand for this job is classified as “medium work” which includes

• Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally
• Exerting up to 25 pounds of force frequently
• Exerting up to 10 pounds of force constantly
• Occasional push and pull of up to 25 pounds
• Standing frequently
• Walking frequently
• Bending frequently
• Overhead reach infrequently
• Squatting occasionally
• Kneeling occasionally
• Standing rotation occasionally
• Gripping frequently
• Sitting occasionally
• Stair climbing occasionally
• Average workday is up to 8 hours
• Employee may be subject to unpredictable and hazardous patient/resident behaviors
  
  

Northwoods Rehab will provide reasonable accommodation upon request from the employee.

JOB RELATIONSHIPS

Responsible to and reports to the supervising Occupational therapist and Director of Therapy/Rehab.

Job Responsibilities

COTA Job Description - updated 10/1/2025

• Provides occupational therapy services to patients by assisting in assessment, treatment, program
  
  

planning and implementation, related documentation, and communication.

• Conducts screenings of patients at regular intervals to determine the need for
  
  

intervention/treatment.

• Identifies indications for evaluations of residents at appropriate intervals under the direction of the
  
  

Occupational Therapist.

• Assists the Occupational Therapist in the evaluation process in the areas of self-care, homemaking,
  
  

functional mobility and coordination and other areas as directed.

• Assists the Occupational Therapist in identifying a target list, short-term goals, long-term goals and
  
  

treatment plan.

• Conducts individual treatment as assigned by the Occupational Therapist and outlined in treatment
  
  

plan that includes, but is not limited to, areas of activities of daily living, functional mobility, range

of motion, strength, coordination, cognitive/perceptual remediation and functional maintenance.

• Assists in the selection of occupational therapy techniques/media and in the sequence of activities,
  
  

adapts techniques/media as indicated by resident performance and following consultation with the

Occupational Therapist. No major modification to the treatment plan is made without prior

consultation with the Occupational Therapist.

• Monitors patient’s response to intervention and consults with Occupational Therapist if
  
  

modification is indicated.

• Assists in establishing and modifying individual patient schedules in conjunction with the
  
  

Occupational Therapist and other team members.

• Adheres to department and patient schedule and modifies as appropriate for treatment regimen.
• Maintains acceptable patient care ratios as determined by the Occupational Therapist.
• Provides, recommends, and fabricates adaptive devices or other equipment. Trains resident, family
  
  

and appropriate staff in the use or application of the above.

• Participates in patient, family and staff education.
• Confers formally and informally with other team members in coordinating the total rehabilitation
  
  

program of the patient.

• Adheres to Northwoods Rehab procedures regarding documentation of occupational therapy
  
  

services.

• Provides treatment in accordance with established standards of practice and department
  
  

procedures.

• Maintains safe and clean work area and adheres to community safety standards, as well as
  
  

complying with all Infection Control, Universal Precautions and OSHA standards for the healthcare

Professional.

• Consistently demonstrates sound judgment in the planning, implementation and follow-up of
  
  

Patient therapy programs.

• Maintains positive relationships and rapport with coworkers, supervisors, residents, family
  
  

members, and community personnel and administration.

• Reports to work on time and coordinates schedule for efficient patient treatments.
  
  

COTA Job Description - Updated 10/1/2025

• Assists with and participates in Quality Assurance Program as required.
• Adheres to established confidentiality standards of the resident, as well as the organization.
• Projects a positive and professional image at all times.
• May be asked to travel to participate in home assessments.
• Maintains passwords for the software required for position and keeps all passwords secure.
• Performs such other duties as assigned and as required to effectively discharge the responsibilities
  
  

of the position and are in the best interest of Northwoods Rehab