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  • Communicative Disorders Assistant (graduate certificate)

Communicative Disorders Assistant (graduate certificate)

Credential
Ontario College Graduate Certificate
Location
Oshawa
School
School of Health & Community Services (HCS)
Length
Three consecutive semesters
OCAS Code
CDA
Next Intake
September 2021   +View all Intakes
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Apply Now
  • Overview
  • Program Details
  • Admission Requirements
  • Courses
  • Costs
  • Career Options
  • Field Placement
  • Transfer

Program Overview

Communicative disorders assistants, under the guidance of speech-language pathologists and/or audiologists, help implement effective treatment plans that will assist people of all ages to communicate more effectively.

Admission Requirements

  • Diploma or degree with emphasis on communicative disorders; linguistics; psychology; social sciences; health sciences; and/or human/social services curriculum
  • Proof of English language proficiency required

This program may be highly competitive and have a specific selection process and application deadline. For more information, please contact recruitment@durhamcollege.ca or call 905.721.3126.

View All Requirements

Tuition

Year one domestic: $5,026 (CAD)
Year one international: $15,626 (CAD)

View Full Costs

Semester 1 Courses

  • Anatomy & Physiology Of Communication And Swallowing (ANTY 1509)
  • Introduction To Audiology (AUD 1509)
  • Augmentative & Alternative Communication And Assistive Technology (AUG 1509)
  • Child Language Acquisition And Related Disorders I (CHLD 1509)
  • Clinical & Professional Practice I (CLIN 1509)
  • Adult Neurogenic Disorders And Rehabilitation I (NEUR 1509)
  • Articulation & Phonology (PHON 1509)

View All Courses

Audio/Video
Audio/Video
Reception
Reception
Counselling
Counselling

Technology recommendations

To help students succeed in programs with remote learning requirements, Durham College’s IT Services department has identified minimum technology recommendations. While these are not program requirements, these suggestions will help ensure students have the right tools to support a quality remote learning experience.

View All Recommendations

Intakes and Availability

Date Domestic Availability International Availability
September 2021WaitlistedOpen

Career Options

WHAT YOU COULD BE:

  • Audiometric/hearing technician
  • Behavioural therapist
  • Communicative disorders assistant
  • Communication health assistant
  • Infant hearing screener/technician
  • Rehabilitation assistant
  • Speech language therapy assistant

View all Career Options

Program Details

This graduate certificate program is designed for students with previous education and/or relevant experience (please see the entrance requirements section of this page for more details).

Communicative disorders assistants (CDAs), under the guidance of qualified speech-language pathologists and/or audiologists, play a variety of roles including providing speech and language therapy to children and adults in addition to carrying out speech/language screenings and hearing screenings and assessments.

Durham College’s program, which is recognized by the Communicative Disorders Assistant Association of Canada (CDAAC), Speech-Language and Audiology Canada (SAC) and the Ontario Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists (OSLA), will enable you to obtain the knowledge, skills, confidence and credentials needed to deliver a wide range of communication services to clients of all ages with speech, language and/or hearing disorders.

We provide you with a thorough understanding of physiological and functional speech/language and hearing disorders and the development of essential programming skills and communication intervention techniques  as we prepare you for a rewarding career in the field of communicative disorders and teach you the most current and effective therapy techniques.

Our faculty members are dedicated speech-language pathologists, audiologists and CDAs with many years of clinical experience in communicative disorders. They foster student learning through:

  • Classroom-based and online learning
  • Clinical observations before placement begins
  • Technology-assisted learning
  • Dynamic guest speakers
  • Practical lab activities
  • Specialized workshops and field trips

You will practice your skills in our dedicated CDA classroom, clinical resource library and speech-language/AAC and audiology lab, which is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and clinical resources that allows students to hone their clinical and professional skills.

Students gain practical clinical experience throughout the academic year with the opportunity to participate in our on-campus DC Kids Speech and Language Clinic and Hearing Screening Clinic. Our on-site community speech and language clinic, in partnership with Grandview Children’s Centre, provides assessments and intervention to clients from preschool-age to high school. Under the supervision of our registered Speech-language Pathologist, students participate in assessments, assist in the development of treatment plans and provide therapy to a wide range of clients.

The program also includes two clinical field placements in the second semester, totalling over 500 hours, often leading to full-time positions after graduation.

In The News

  • DC thanks placement host employers for another great year
  • The Oshawa Horseless Carriagemen chime in to support DC students
  • Durham College receives generous donation; celebrates 10-year partnership
  • Generous donation to CDA program benefits students

Program Learning Outcomes

  1. Interact with others in ways that contribute to effective working relationships.
  2. Establish and sustain therapeutic relationships with patients/clients and their significant others/caregivers.
  3. Contribute, under the supervision of an audiologist or speech-language pathologist, to the process of undertaking patient/client screenings and assist with assessments.
  4. Contribute, under the supervision of an audiologist or speech-language pathologist, to the development, implementation, modification and evaluation of speech/language/hearing programs to achieve the goals of the treatment plan.
  5. Promote personal safety and the safety of others in providing effective care.
  6. Communicate effectively, through oral, written and non-verbal means with patients/clients, their significant others/caregivers, audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and/or other team members.
  7. Educate, under the supervision of an audiologist or speech-language pathologist, patients/clients and their significant others/caregivers concerning their role in implementing the treatment plan.
  8. Use assistive technology and augmentative communication resources and perform routinely required maintenance.
  9. Comply with requirements for accountability, responsibility and legal, professional and ethical standards of practice.
  10. Develop and implement strategies to maintain professional competence.

Admission Requirements

  • Diploma or degree with emphasis on communicative disorders; linguistics; psychology; social sciences; health sciences; and/or human/social services curriculum.
  • Applicants with a diploma or degree outside the scope named above will be considered if they have a minimum one year of work or volunteer experience in a communicative disorders profession-specific setting.
  • Proof of English language proficiency required.

Applicants whose first language is not English or who are internationally educated in a non‐English speaking country must meet Durham College’s English Language Proficiency Policy.

This program may be highly competitive and have a specific selection process and application deadline. For more information, please contact recruitment@durhamcollege.ca or call 905.721.3126.

 

Courses

The courses listed below are for incoming students. If you are a current student, please refer to your program of study for the year you began your program. Your program of study can be found on MyCampus.

Semester 1

  • Anatomy & Physiology Of Communication And Swallowing (ANTY 1509)
  • Introduction To Audiology (AUD 1509)
  • Augmentative & Alternative Communication And Assistive Technology (AUG 1509)
  • Child Language Acquisition And Related Disorders I (CHLD 1509)
  • Clinical & Professional Practice I (CLIN 1509)
  • Adult Neurogenic Disorders And Rehabilitation I (NEUR 1509)
  • Articulation & Phonology (PHON 1509)

Semester 2

  • Practicum Seminar (CLIN 2511)
  • Integrated Practicum I (PRCT 2509)
  • Integrated Practicum II (PRCT 2510)

Semester 3

  • Amplification Systems & Aural Rehabilitation (AUD 3509)
  • Fluency & Voice Disorders (CDA 3509)
  • Child Language Acquisition And Related Disorders II (CHLD 3509)
  • Clinical & Professional Practice II (CLIN 3509)
  • Adult Neurogenic Disorders And Rehabilitation II (NEUR 3509)
  • Populations With Special Needs (SPEC 3509)

Courses and course descriptions are subject to change. Please note that as a result of COVID-19 the 2020-21 program of study may be modified to accommodate program delivery changes. Students should refer to their timetable for the most up-to-date course information.

Costs

Career Options

WHAT YOU COULD BE:

  • Audiometric/hearing technician
  • Behavioural therapist
  • Communicative disorders assistant
  • Communication health assistant
  • Infant hearing screener/technician
  • Rehabilitation assistant
  • Speech language therapy assistant

WHERE YOU COULD WORK:

  • Audiology and hearing aid clinics
  • Children’s treatment centres
  • Hospitals and rehabilitation centres
  • Infant and school-aged hearing screening programs
  • Long-term care facilities
  • Preschool speech and language programs
  • Private speech and language clinics
  • School boards and private schools
  • Specialized daycare/early years centres

Field Placement

Your learning experience will be complemented by two clinical field placements in the second semester, totaling over 500 hours, under the supervision of qualified clinicians. This opportunity will provide you with hands-on experience and the ability to practice your skills. Depending on student preference, field placements may be obtained locally as well as throughout Ontario and Canada. Our CDA program has a Field Placement Officer who can assist in the process of finding field placements or placements can be chosen and secured by students.

PRE-PLACEMENT REQUIREMENTS

Please note: There are costs associated with Electronic Student Permit Checking (ESPC), immunizations, lab tests and certifications.  Be sure to keep all of your receipts for income tax purposes.  These costs include:

  • Service fees for Verified, our documentation collection and ESPC verification partner.
  • Costs to complete mandatory immunizations, lab tests, and certifications.

It is required that students have completed the ESPC with Verified to be eligible for the field placement component of this program. You must (at your expense) provide:

  • A clear and current Criminal Reference Check (CRC) with Vulnerable Sector Screening (VSS). If you cannot provide a clear CRC with VSS, you may not be accepted for placement by a field placement agency. CRCs with VSS must be obtained from your local police station. You may be required to obtain additional CRCs with VSS to meet field placement agency requirements
  • Current Level C CPR certification from a recognized provider
  • Current standard first aid certification from a recognized provider
  • Entry immunization form completed by a health-care provider

Links:

  • Communicative Disorders Assistant ESPC Information Package
  • Verified ESPC User Guide

Program Transfer, Degree Completion and Additional Credentials

Graduates may also be eligible to apply their academic credits toward further study through Durham College’s partnerships with many Canadian and international colleges and universities.

Technology Recommendations

To help students have the best remote learning experience possible, Durham College’s IT Services department has identified technology recommendations for each program based on course needs and software requirements. While not required, students may want to consider these suggestions if they are purchasing a computer or laptop for the upcoming academic year.

Processor: i3
RAM: 4GB
Storage: 256GB SSD
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Professional or Education x64 SP1
Internet Browser: Internet Explorer 11 or Google Chrome (newest version) or Firefox (newest version)
Network Adapter: 802.11ac 2.4/5 GHz wireless adapter
Camera: Webcam/built-in camera
Internet connection

Questions regarding technology recommendations can be directed to the IT Service Desk  or the school office.

Communicative Disorders Assistant (graduate certificate) in the news

DC thanks placement host employers for another great year
The Oshawa Horseless Carriagemen chime in to support DC students
Durham College receives generous donation; celebrates 10-year partnership
 View more News
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