 A Health Care career?
 Working with people, of all ages?
 Working with people with injuries or illness?

 help people improve their quality of life
 work with a team of professionals
 spend their days making a difference

An Exciting Career!
Okanagan College offers a two-year diploma:
 Four full-time semesters of course work
 18 weeks of practical experience in clinical settings

 Occupational Therapists
 Physiotherapists
 Recreational Therapists

Assisting a person to attain their fullest physical, mental, social, vocational capabilities while living with a health related challenge.

Therapist Assistants work with people of all ages and different medical conditions such as…
 Orthopedic conditions ( fractures, arthritic conditions)
 Neurological impairments (stroke, head injury, spinal cord injury)
 Diseases associated with aging ( sensory impairments, balance and mobility issues, diabetes)
 Developmental delays ( cerebral palsy, autism)
 Mental health problems ( depression, schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s disease)

Use physical treatments such as exercise, joint range of motion, electrotherapies and education to maximize an individual’s function and independence.

Assist individuals to develop and maintain independence in life roles and activities at home and in the community following an injury, illness or a disabling event.

Use therapeutic recreation and leisure activities to bring about positive social, cognitive, emotional, and physical changes.

Therapist Assistants work in a variety of settings
In Hospitals on the following units:
 Medical/Surgical
 Orthopaedic
 Rehabilitation
 Psychiatry
 Inpatient & Outpatient

 Long-term Care
 Palliative Care
 Assisted Living
 Adult Day Programs
 Outreach Programs

Care
 Client’s homes
 Community:
Community centres
Shopping
Library
Appointments etc .

Child Development
Centres
At the centre or in the home or school environment
Private Practice
In the private sector with
OTs and PTs in clinical practices

I just wanted to say how extremely impressed I am with the Okanagan College program – J. is the first OC student I've had, and I have to say I'm continually impressed with the training she has received. You guys are doing an excellent job, and it shows in your students.
Physiotherapist supervisor

 An overview of the courses in the program
 An idea of what students learn and experience

Semester 1
Biology 131
Anatomy & Physiology
Psychology 111
Basic Processes
English 100, or 150, or
152,or 153
Disease and Disability
Communication and
Group Process
RTA I
Semester 2
Biology 133
Anatomy & Physiology
Psychology 121
Personal Functioning
Client Care: Introductory
Summer Semester
(May –June)
Practicum I - 3 weeks RTA placement
Practicum II - 5 weeks
OTA and/or PTA placement
PTA I
OTA I
RTA II
Practicum Preparation

 One three week Recreational Therapy practica in a health care setting
 One five week PTA and/or PTA practicum in a health care setting
 Implement direct and indirect treatment programs under the supervision of a therapist.
 Apply the knowledge, skills and attitudes developed during classroom and lab instruction.

Just wanted to let you know that I'm having a blast here at Aberdeen Hospital. The staff is great and the residents are terrific, too … the staff are surprised at the stuff that we have done as well as the stuff that we have to do in the up coming year... I wanted to share this with you because after hearing this, I am very proud to be apart of the OC
Therapist Assistant Diploma program! :)
1 st year student on practicum

Semester 3
Client Care Advanced
Psychiatry & Mental
Health
Semester 4
Therapeutic Modalities Preceptorship I
5 Weeks OTA and/or PTA placement
PTA III Preceptorship II
5 Weeks OTA and/or PTA placement
OTA III
Summer Semester
(May- June)
Gross Anatomy &
Kinesiology
PTA II
OTA II
Professional Practice
Capstone Project

 Advanced 5- week placements in
Occupational and Physical Therapy settings.
 Students refine their skills prior to graduation and employment.

… so far I am still with the child development centre and I have had many job offers this summer. Either way, I am super happy that I went into the program and for the first time ever I can say that I LOVE what I do....
new graduate from the TAD diploma

Students will observe…
 Instructors demonstrating safe practices in the lab and classroom
 Therapists and
Therapist Assistants in clinical settings

Students will demonstrate…
 professional behaviours and attitudes
 effective communication skills with individuals and groups
 organizational skills, safe practices and problem solving skills

Students will practice…
 skills taught to them in the classroom and in the lab
 transferring these skills to a clinical setting

Academic Admission Requirements
Option One
 B.C. secondary school graduation, or equivalent, or 19 years of age and out of secondary school for at least one year as of the first day of classes.
 A minimum grade of 60% in one of English 12, English 12
First Peoples, Technical and Professional Communications
(TPC) 12, or an equivalent Provincial Level ABE English course. A student without the minimum grade in any of those three courses may meet this requirement by attaining a minimum score of 24/40 (Level 4) on the LPI (Language
Proficiency Index Test). Note: Communications 12 is not acceptable.

Academic Admission Requirements
Option One Continued..
 Chemistry 11 or an equivalent Advanced Level ABE
Chemistry course
 At least one of the following: Biology 12 or BIOL 122 or
BIOL 124 or an equivalent Provincial Level ABE Biology course. (Biology 12 or BIOL 122 is strongly recommended.)

Academic Admission Requirements
Option Two
 One of ENGL 100, 150, 151, or 153 or equivalent
 BIOL 131 and 133 or equivalent.
 PSYC 111 and 121 or equivalent.
 Note To All Applicants: The Therapist Assistant diploma has a demanding course load. Applicants are advised to consider taking one or more of the following courses before beginning the program: BIOL 131 and 133 (strongly recommended), PSYC 111 and 121, one of ENGL 100, 150, 151, or 153

Academic Admission Requirements
Please refer to the Online Okanagan College
Calendar for complete details www.okanagan.bc.ca

 Job Potential
 Job Mobility
 Pay Scales
 Diploma
 Course location

For More Information
Therapist Assistant Diploma www.okanagan.bc.ca/therapistassistant