Occupational Therapist Assistant / Physiotherapist Assistant at Algonquin College

Choose a career in promoting health, restoring function and improving quality of life.

The two-year Occupational Therapist Assistant and Physiotherapist Assistant Ontario College Diploma program gives you the knowledge and skills to work under an Occupational Therapist and/or Physiotherapist. Occupational Therapist Assistants and Physiotherapist Assistants play a vital supporting role in the assessment, planning and implementation of therapeutic care for patients with the goal of achieving functional independence and occupational performance. They help teach clients to cope with limits in movement, daily functioning and activities.

Through classroom theory, lab techniques, group work and practical experience, you prepare to work with patients coping with health limitations. During various clinical placements, you apply theory and knowledge while further developing your skills. With more than 600 hours of clinical placements during the program, you increase your understanding of the field and gain confidence assisting professional therapists in various healthcare facilities.

Upon graduating, you may find work in:

• hospitals
• health centres
• community organizations
• rehabilitation facilities
• private clinics, and
• long-term care

SUCCESS FACTORS:

This program is well-suited for students who:

• Enjoy the challenges of working with and accepting people of all ages and stages of development and of varying backgrounds.
• Possess good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Function well in a team environment.
• Possess strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Are able to effectively handle physically demanding situations.
• Enjoy physical and hands-on work.

Careers

Graduates may find employment as an assistant to an occupational therapist or physiotherapist.

Learning Outcomes

The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

1. Communicate appropriately and effectively, through verbal, nonverbal, written and electronic means, with clients, their families, and significant others, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, other healthcare providers, and others within the role of therapist assistant.
2. Participate in the effective functioning of interprofessional healthcare teams within the role of the therapist assistant.
3. Establish, develop, maintain, and bring closure to client-centred, therapeutic relationships within the role of the therapist assistant.
4. Ensure personal safety and contribute to the safety of others within the role.
5. Practice competently in a legal, ethical, and professional manner within the role of the therapist assistant.
6. Document and complete client records in a thorough, objective, accurate, and nonjudgmental manner within the role of the therapist assistant.
7. Maintain professional competence using strategies, such as critique, reflection, and quality improvement in the assistant`s everyday practice in support of lifelong learning.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. Manage time and prioritize competing demands in collaboration with occupational therapists and physiotherapists.
13. Use knowledge and influence responsibly within the assistant`s role to promote the health and well-being of individual clients, communities, and populations.
14. Identify and apply discipline-specific practices that contribute to the local and global community through social responsibility, economic commitment and environmental stewardship.

Program Eligibility

• English Grade 12 (ENG4C or equivalent).
• Mathematics Grade 12 (MAP4C or equivalent).
• Biology Grade 11 or 12.
• All applicants must complete an assessment of their knowledge and skills through the Test Centre, and pay an exam fee. Results from the Algonquin College Health Program Admissions Test (AC-HPAT) will be utilized to establish minimum eligibility and applicant ranking. The AC-HPAT can only be written once per academic cycle. For further information on the HPAT and how to book your assessment, please visit Algonquin`s Test Centre.
• Applicants with international transcripts must provide proof of the subject specific requirements noted above and may be required to provide proof of language proficiency. Domestic applicants with international transcripts must be evaluated through the International Credential Assessment Service of Canada (ICAS) or World Education Services (WES).
• IELTS-International English Language Testing Service (Academic) Overall band of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each band; OR TOEFL-Internet-based (iBT)-overall 80, with a minimum of 20 in each component: Reading 20; Listening 20; Speaking 20; Writing 20.
• International Applicants:
  International applicants who meet the program eligibility requirements are required to complete preparatory courses (4-months in duration): Introduction to Canadian Health Studies (ICHS). Students who successfully complete the introduction will then proceed to their original health program of choice. The ICHS requires applicants to submit an academic IELTS score.
• Please click this link for more information: https://www.algonquincollege.com/healthandcommunity/ICHS/.