Occupational Therapist Assistant and Physiotherapist Assistant OPA1

Holland Code: S (Social)

What academic skills do I need to be successful in the program?

This list does not replace the admission requirements you must have for admission to the program. Please see website for details.

Arts & Literacy Strong communication skills have been identified as the most important skill for  healthcare providers. Strong reading, writing and verbal communication skills are essential in this program, and in your career as an OTA/PTA.

Math and Science Science is the foundation of healthcare and students should have a strong academic record in science, and a high interest in science curriculum including Anatomy, Basic Biology, and Exercise Science.

Technology Moderate computer skills are required for Microsoft Office Suite, Virtual Meeting software, checking the student portal daily, and accessing research databases via the library.

What personal qualities should someone interested in this career have?

Learning Mindset: Self-motivated, independent learner, with a strong desire to learn and engage in the content during the program and throughout your healthcare career.

Useful background experience for this program would be

Previous opportunities to build skills in:
Communication & Teamwork (ie jobs or volunteering in customer service, sports teams, clubs, community organizations, etc).
Managing competing priorities/stressful work environments (ie jobs or volunteering in restaurants, healthcare environments, etc).

What kind of work could I do when I graduate?

Rehabilitation is a career with a wide variety of jobs and opportunities. After graduation most OTA/PTA graduates gravitate to roles as either a PTA or an OTA and start to refine their skills and build new knowledge in that specific role (hence the requirement for students to have strong life-long self-directed learning skills).

Within that specific role you will likely work with a focus in either Musculoskeletal, or Neurological, or Cardiorespiratory patient populations (although often there can be some overlap). Lastly, you will likely be working with either pediatrics, or adults, or an older populations. Here again, there are some work environments which may see a variety of patients.

Graduates of this program may go on to become a

Previous opportunities to build skills in:
Communication & Teamwork (ie jobs or volunteering in customer service, sports teams, clubs, community organizations, etc).
Managing competing priorities/stressful work environments (ie jobs or volunteering in restaurants, healthcare environments, etc)

Places you may find yourself employed include

There is a growing demand for OTA/PTA's in Hospitals, Long Term Care Homes, Private Practice in Community Clinics, School Board's, Mental Health facilities, and in many other locations where Physiotherapists or Occupational Therapists are employed.

Typical working conditions for this kind of work:

Careers in healthcare usually require long hours of work and are physically and mentally demanding including: assisting patients to transfer, moving heavy supplies/equipment, and working closely with patients with various levels of pain and medical conditions. The day-to-day tasks in healthcare require above average levels of physical and mental endurance, strength, and mobility.

By law OTA's and PTA's must be supervised, and their work directed by, a Registered Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist. 

Tasks a graduate may do in the workplace

While there are some activities that OTA & PTA are not legally allowed to perform at any time (assessment, acupuncture, communicating a diagnosis, pelvic floor physiotherapy, psychotherapy, etc), their scope of practice is determined by their supervisor's experience/skills/abilities and the experience/skills/abilities (ie competencies) of the OTA & PTA.

As such, many of the tasks a PT or OT does in the workplace, can be delegated to OTA and PTA.
Within those boundaries, and depending on where they work, OTAs & PTAs could administer treatment on behalf of the Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapists which may include:
-education & monitoring of exercise programs
-education & delivery of various modalities such as ice, ultrasound, TENS, etc
-education & ambulation/transfer assistance for patients with mobility challenges
-tracheal suctioning, administration of oxygen, chest physiotherapy to improve breathing
-building and modifying splints / assistive devices
-working with children to develop fine motor skills
-complete medical documentation
-communicate with patients, family and other healthcare providers

Helpful links for further research into this Fanshawe College program and career opportunity

• Ontario Society of Occupational Therapists: http://osot.on.ca
• Canadian Physiotherapy Association: http://physiotherapy.ca

Opportunities for further development or education

• Graduates may be qualified to apply for Fanshawe College graduate certificates.
• Graduates have opportunities to transfer credits to a university degree program at Athabasca University, Western University, and Wilfrid University, Griffith University in Australia, and many other schools.
• Degrees in Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy in Canada are only offered at the Masters level, and therefore the OTA/PTA Program at Fanshawe is not a direct pathway to one of those professional degrees. However, Fanshawe does have agreements with University Bachelor of Kinesiology programs which reduce the credits required to obtain that Degree, and which could be a potential pathway to the Masters level Occupational Therapy or Physiotherapy Degree.

The National Occupation Classification (NOC) system is used by the Canadian government to provide detailed information on careers. Click on the links below to learn more about careers associated with this Fanshawe College program. Please note: These codes are listed here for information purposes only. Fanshawe College does not guarantee graduates careers in these fields.

NOC Code 3237 Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment.

The Working in Canada website is an excellent resource for labour market information (wages, jobs available). Go to the website, type in the NOC code from this program and your postal code to get detailed information.

Last Modified: October 21, 2024