1. Occupational Therapist Assistant and Physiotherapist
Assistant Program Opens Multiple Doors
Acute care/hospitals, long-term care facilities, various communities, rehabilitation centres
and outpatient clinics are all places that employ college-educated Occupational Therapist
Assistants and Physiotherapist Assistants. These professionals are tasked with:
• Communicating with clients, their families, significant others, occupational
therapists, physiotherapists and other healthcare providers;
• Participating in the effective functioning of interprofessional healthcare teams;
• Establishing, developing, maintaining and bringing closure to client-centered,
therapeutic relationships;
• Documenting and completing client records in a thorough, objective, accurate and
nonjudgmental manner;
• Developing and implementing strategies to maintain, improve and promote
professional competence;
• Performing effectively through the application of relevant knowledge of
health sciences, psychosociological sciences and health conditions;
• Performing functions common to both physiotherapy and occupational
therapist 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;
• Supporting people whose ability to function and adapt has been impaired
by injury, illness, the process of aging, developmental disability or
emotional disability.
Centennial College’s physiotherapy and occupational therapy program — Occupational
Therapist Assistant & Physiotherapist Assistant — prepares students for all of these tasks
through two years of training. This is achieved through a wide range of courses, among
which are:
Normal Function and Movement: To understand limited function and movement, students
must understand regular movement in the human body. This course, based on theoretical
application of anatomy and practical study of functional movement, allows students to
describe the human body in motion. Meanwhile, as a hands-on aspect, students examine
the movement process and how interruption of that movement manifests.
Conditions Impacting Function: Once they understand the motions of the human body,
students take this two-part course. In the first part, they learn a selection of common
disabling conditions based on broad diagnostic categories, encompassing physical and
psychosocial conditions specific to pediatric, adult and geriatric populations. In the second
part, they look at advanced disabling conditions with multiple system involvement.
Integrating the impairment, disability and handicap model with the various disabling
conditions is included.

2. Establishing Therapeutic Communication: Students learn various methods to connect with
their clients and their families in a way that promotes healing and helps motivate people to
reach optimum health. Through role playing and modeling, students practice behaviors that
lead to therapeutic interaction with clients, either individually or in groups, in various
therapy settings.
Rehabilitation Practice: Students head into the field to experience the role of an OTA/PTA
within a specific setting. Working along with a preceptor and under the supervision of an
Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist, students have the opportunity to demonstrate
and practice their skills. In the second of their two field placements, they further practice
and develop their skills in providing safe, therapeutic care to clients under the direction of
the Occupational Therapist and/or Physiotherapist.
The occupational therapist/physiotherapist program in Ontario results in an Ontario College
Diploma and the know-how to work with clients in need of assistance to perform self-care,
promote movement, improve function and participate in leisure activities.
For More Information Visit http://www1.centennialcollege.ca/