Occupational Therapist Assistant and Physiotherapist Assistant

Program Overview

Whether you’re interested in a career in health care, rehabilitation or social services, the Occupational Therapist Assistant and Physiotherapist Assistant program will prepare you to work with clients of all ages with a variety of physical, cognitive, emotional and developmental conditions. Working under the guidance of a registered occupational therapist and/or physiotherapist, you will maximize physical function and occupational performance to promote increased daily functioning and overall well-being for your clients. Hands-on labs begin in semester one where you learn and practice therapy skills in small groups to prepare you for success in the field. This program offers 590 clinical hours in a range of unique and diverse placement settings. Our onsite living lab provides realistic simulations that transform classroom knowledge into the practical skills required for the field.

Admission Requirements

Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or Mature Student Status
Grade 12 English (C or U)
Grade 11 or 12 biology (C, M or U)
Two additional senior level credits

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Tuition

Year one domestic: $2,722 (CAD)
Year one international: $13,322 (CAD)

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Semester 1 Courses

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Community Involvement

Hands On

Helping Others

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 2021	Open	Open

Career Options

WHAT YOU COULD BE:

Physiotherapy assistant
Rehabilitation assistant
Occupational therapy assistant
Vocational rehabilitation assistant
Special education assistant
Education assistant
Life-skills worker

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Program Details

In this two-year program you will learn to assist with the implementation of rehabilitation treatment plans and programs across the lifespan, from children to older adults, and throughout the continuum of care. Our faculty team brings a wide variety of clinical experiences and expertise to ensure you are well-prepared for your future career in rehabilitation.

Program highlights include:

Hands-on labs begin in semester one where you learn and practice therapy skills in small groups to prepare you for success in the field.
590hours of fieldwork experience, offering diverse placement settings.
Theory and labs specializing in teaching the knowledge and skills necessary to treat clients with a wide variety of musculoskeletal, neurological, cardiac, respiratory and complex conditions.
Our on-site living lab provides the opportunity to practice clinical skills and scenarios in a realistic environment.
Focus on development of professional skills throughout the program, including effective verbal and written communication strategies.
Collaborations with community partners and other disciplines allow students the opportunity to experience interprofessional rehabilitation and further develop team-work and communication skills.

Program Learning Outcomes

Communicate appropriately and effectively, through verbal, nonverbal, written and electronic means, with clients, their families, and significant others, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, other health care providers, and others within the role of the therapist assistant.
Participate in the effective functioning of interprofessional health care teams within the role of the therapist assistant.
Establish, develop, maintain, and bring closure to client-centred, therapeutic relationships within the role of the therapist assistant.
Ensure personal safety and contribute to the safety of others within the role of the therapist assistant.
Practice competently in a legal, ethical, and professional manner within the role of the therapist assistant.
Document and complete client records in a thorough, objective, accurate, and nonjudgmental manner within the role of the therapist assistant.
Develop and implement strategies to maintain, improve, and promote professional competence within the role of the therapist assistant.
Perform effectively within the roles and responsibilities of the therapist assistant through the application of relevant knowledge of health sciences, psychosociological sciences, and health conditions.
Perform functions common to both physiotherapy and occupational therapy practices that contribute to the development, implementation and modification of intervention/treatment plans, under the supervision of and in collaboration with the occupational therapist and/or physiotherapist.
Enable the client’s occupational performance by contributing to the development, implementation, and modification of intervention/treatment plans, under the supervision of and in collaboration with the occupational therapist.
Enable the client’s optimal physical function by contributing to the development, implementation, and modification of intervention/treatment plans, under the supervision of and in collaboration with the physiotherapist.

Admission Requirements

Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or Mature Student Status
Grade 12 English (C or U)
Grade 11 or 12 biology (C, M or U)
Two additional senior level credits

Please note: 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. Please refer to Admission Processes for more details regarding highly competitive programs.

Courses

Semester 1

Semester 2

Semester 3

Semester 4

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:

Physiotherapy assistant
Rehabilitation assistant
Occupational therapy assistant
Vocational rehabilitation assistant
Special education assistant
Education assistant
Life-skills worker

WHERE YOU COULD WORK:

Rehabilitation facilities
Outpatient physiotherapy clinics
Outpatient sports rehabilitation clinics
Community hospitals
Children treatment centres
Community development agencies
Long-term care facilities
Extended care facilities
Home care services
Offices of health-care practitioners
Social services agencies

Field Placement

Your learning experience will be complemented by a field placement component in the second, third and fourth semesters to practice your skills and strengthen your abilities. The placement in the fourth semester will extend into May.

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 from a recognized provider
Current standard first aid certification from a recognized provider
Entry immunization form completed by a health-care provider

Links:

Program Transfer, Degree Completion and Additional Credentials

Durham College also offers degree completion opportunities with a number of Canadian and international institutions. Sample diploma-to-degree opportunities include:

Please visit our pathways page to learn more about how you can transfer your credits towards a degree.

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.

Accreditation

The Occupational Therapist Assistant and Physiotherapist Assistant Program at Durham College has been accredited by the Occupational Therapist Assistant and Physiotherapist Assistant Education Accreditation Program (OTA & PTA EAP) in collaboration with Physiotherapy Education Accreditation Canada (PEAC) and the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT). The status of Accreditation was awarded to the program on April 30, 2020 for the period until April 30, 2026.

Occupational Therapist Assistant and Physiotherapist Assistant Education Accreditation Program, Suite 26, 509 Commissioners Road West, London, Ontario, N6J 1Y5, (226) 636-0632, www.otapta.ca.

COVID-19 Information

Occupational Therapist Assistant and Physiotherapist Assistant

Program Overview

Admission Requirements

Tuition

Semester 1 Courses

Technology recommendations

Intakes and Availability

Career Options

WHAT YOU COULD BE:

Program Details

Program Learning Outcomes

Admission Requirements

Courses

Semester 1

Semester 2

Semester 3

Semester 4

Costs

Career Options

WHAT YOU COULD BE:

WHERE YOU COULD WORK:

Field Placement

PRE-PLACEMENT REQUIREMENTS

Program Transfer, Degree Completion and Additional Credentials

Technology Recommendations

Accreditation

Occupational Therapist Assistant and Physiotherapist Assistant in the news

Helpful Resources

College guide September 2020 [PDF]

College guide September 2020 [Interactive]

Graduate Employment Report [PDF]