November 7, 2013 | British Columbia

Train to become a physiotherapist assistant or occupational therapist assistant in 73 weeks

Surrey, BC – November 7, 2013 – CDI College recently launched the Physiotherapist Assistant – Occupational Therapist Assistant program at its campus in Surrey. The program prepares students to assist a wide range of patients with physiotherapy or occupational therapy in less than two years.

In BC, physiotherapist assistants (PTAs) and occupational therapy assistants (OTAs) work under the direction of physiotherapists or occupational therapists. They assist patients as directed by their supervisors and prepare and maintain equipment and supplies.

The new Physiotherapist Assistant – Occupational Therapist Assistant program at CDI College provides students with the hands-on training needed to excel in the fields of physiotherapy and occupational therapy. They study anatomy, physiology, human development, gerontology and more. They also learn about functional movement, human disorders, communications, rehabilitation processes and clinical physiotherapy for orthopedic, physical and neurological conditions. Students explore occupational therapeutic techniques for physical disabilities, psychiatry and pediatrics, as well.

Students gain practical experience in a 500-hour clinical placement, working under a physiotherapist or occupational therapist in the field at the end of the program.

Graduates of this program will be prepared for positions in physiotherapy clinics, hospitals, long-term care facilities, sports medicine clinics, wellness centres, public health clinics and more.

The Physiotherapist Assistant – Occupational Therapist Assistant program at CDI College, Surrey is seeking accreditation by the Occupational Therapist Assistant and Physiotherapist Assistant Education Accreditation Program (OTA & PTA EAP) of the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapy Education Accreditation Canada. The Physiotherapist Assistant – Occupational Therapist Assistant program at CDI College has been granted Candidacy Status, which denotes an affiliation with the OTA & PTA EAP and is a pre-requisite for accreditation of the education program. Candidacy Status is not an accreditation status and does not assure that the program will be granted accreditation once the program undergoes a full accreditation review.