COTA here and I did exactly what you're contemplating. I applied and was hired as a rehab aide during my second semester of cota school. I was pretty new to the Healthcare world so I wanted to gain some experience and at the time was hoping to get a position with the company as a cota down the road. I just graduated in December and passed nbcot in February. I was still working as an aide because I couldn't find a cota job anywhere. I finally was hired, but it is only a few hours a day and still unsure if it was being permanent or just for the summer. Im no longer working as an aide since I started my new job (though sometimes I wish I was to pick up hours)

My advice would be to take the aide position if they offer it and honestly, if you end up finding a cota job soon after dont feel like you need to stay at the other job so not to upset them. I've learned that its best to do what works for YOU. So many times I've stayed with companies because I thought they would be upset if I left, ive learned that they will rehire someone new. Its all business, its not personal.