Diploma in Occupational Therapist Assistant and Physiotherapist Assistant

Fleming College - Sutherland Campus (Peterborough)

Canada,Ontario

 1 Shortlist

24 Months

Duration

CAD 18,633/year

Tuition Fee

CAD 100 FREE

Application Fee

Sep 2026

Apply Date

Canada, Ontario

Type: College

Location Type: Urban

Founded: 1967

Total Students: 16,000 +

Int. Students: 400 +

Campus Detail

Main Campus Address

Fleming College Way, Peterborough, ON K9K 2N7, Canada

Diploma in Occupational Therapist Assistant and Physiotherapist Assistant

Program Overview

Occupational Therapist Assistants and Physiotherapist Assistants work with registered occupational therapists and physiotherapists to enable clients to cope with their limitations in movement, daily function, activity, and/or occupational performance, whether temporary or permanent.


Program Highlights
With ever-increasing numbers of aging people requiring assistance to continue a full life, the need has never been greater for occupational therapists (OTs), physiotherapists (PTs) and their assistants. While a great deal of work these days is with seniors, there's also much to be done with those recovering from surgery, health conditions such as cancer or stroke, and chronic conditions such as arthritis. You can help people get back into their lives - as an Occupational Therapist Assistant and Physiotherapist Assistant.


As an OTA & PTA, you'll help awaken people's physical potential—and learn more about yourself in the process. Throughout the deliberately broad-based four-semester program, you'll learn how to assist clients to achieve their health goals. Rather than focus your studies exclusively on the occupational therapy or physical therapy streams, you will develop the ability to work with both professions.



Why Choose Fleming
This is a two-year diploma program where you'll get cross-training in both occupational and physical therapy. Graduates will be critical thinkers with demonstrated problem-solving abilities and strong interpersonal and communication skills and will possess a solid foundation in relevant health sciences.



Work Experience
Field experience is an integral aspect of the OTA & PTA program and is highly valued by students as they welcome the opportunity to integrate in-class studies with hands-on experience. Students are assigned to a variety of clinical settings throughout their third and fourth semesters. As well, with the assistance of a faculty member, students arrange their final eight week culminating clinical experience. We are committed to meeting national accreditation standards by ensuring that students accumulate a minimum of 500 clinical hours, with no less than 30% (150) of these hours being in each discipline.



Learning Outcomes

  • Communicate appropriately and effectively, through verbal, nonverbal, written and electronic means, with clients, their significant others, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, and members of the interdisciplinary health care team and others.
  • Participate in the effective functioning of interdisciplinary health care teams to optimize client physical and occupational functions.
  • Establish, develop, maintain, and conclude client-centered, therapeutic relationships.
  • Promote a safe environment that prevents or minimizes potential physical or mental harm to the client, therapist assistant and others.
  • Practice in a legal, ethical, and professional manner within the role of a therapist assistant.
  • Document client records in a thorough, objective, accurate, and timely manner within the role of the therapist assistant.
  • Engage in reflective practice and ongoing professional development activities to maintain and enhance competence.
  • Perform the roles and responsibilities of the therapist assistant effectively through the application of relevant knowledge of health sciences, psychosocial sciences, health conditions, resource management, and clinical procedures.
  • Contribute to the occupational therapist's or physiotherapist's assessment of the client and the development, implementation, and modification of intervention/treatment plans.
  • Maximize the client's occupational performance by accurately and safely implementing the interventions and related tasks under the direction and supervision of the occupational therapist.
  • Maximize the client's physical function by accurately and safely implementing the interventions, and related tasks under the direction and supervision of the physiotherapist.