Transcript Slide 1

THERAPIST ASSISTANT
DIPLOMA
Are you interested in…
 A Health Care
career?
 Working with
people, of all ages?
 Working with
people with
injuries or illness?
A Therapist Assistant is
someone who likes to….
 help people improve their quality of
life
 work with a team of professionals
 spend their days making a difference
Therapist Assistant Diploma
An Exciting Career!
Okanagan College
offers a two-year
diploma:
 Four full-time
semesters of course
work
 16 weeks of practical
experience in clinical
settings
Graduates work as
Assistants to:
 Occupational Therapists
 Physiotherapists
 Recreational Therapists
Rehabilitation
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)
Physiotherapy
Use physical
treatments such as
exercise, joint range of
motion,
electrotherapies and
education to maximize
an individual’s
function and
independence.
Occupational Therapy
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.
Recreation Therapy
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
Residential and Multi-level
Care Facilities
 Long-term Care
 Palliative Care
 Assisted Living
 Adult Day Programs
 Outreach Programs
Community Care
 Client’s homes
 Community:
Community centres
Shopping
Library
Appointments etc.
Working Environments
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
Testimonial
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
Considering the Therapist Assistant
Diploma at Okanagan College?
The following slides will give you:
 An overview of the courses in the
program
 An idea of what students learn and
experience
Semester 1
Semester 2
Summer Semester
(May –June)
Biology 131
Anatomy & Physiology
Biology 133
Anatomy & Physiology
Practicum I - 4 weeks
Psychology 111
Basic Processes
Psychology 121
Personal Functioning
Practicum II - 4 weeks
English 100, or 150, or
152,or 153, or 154
Client Care: Introductory
Disease and Disability
PTA I
Communication and
Group Process
OTA I
RTA I
RTA II
Practicum Preparation
Practica
 Two 4-week practica 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.
Testimonial
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! :)
1st year student on practicum
Semester 3
Semester 4
Summer Semester
(May- June)
Client Care Advanced
Therapeutic Modalities
Preceptorship I
4 Weeks
Psychiatry & Mental
Health
PTA III
Preceptorship II
4 Weeks
Gross Anatomy &
Kinesiology
OTA III
PTA II
Professional Practice
OTA II
Capstone Project
Preceptorships
 Advanced 4-week placements in
Occupational and Physical Therapy
settings.
 Students refine their skills prior to
graduation and employment.
Testimonial
… 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
General Goals of the Program
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, 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
Other Information…
 Job Potential
 Job Mobility
 Pay Scales
 Diploma
 Course location
Questions?
For More Information
Therapist Assistant Diploma
www.okanagan.bc.ca/therapistassistant