Rehabilitation Therapy Assistant

• 2-year diploma
• Dual Occupational Therapist Assistant and Physiotherapist Assistant credentials
• Fall start
• Includes clinical practica experience
• On-campus classes with some self-study and online components
• Graduates in high demand

Program Description

Medical advances permit a growing number of children and adults to live successfully with disabilities. Clients, who have experienced an injury or a health condition that has impacted their ability to function in day-to-day life, can maximize their physical, mental and social abilities through rehabilitation. Under the supervision of an occupational therapist or physiotherapist, the therapist assistant works with clients across the lifespan with the goal of helping the clients to be active participants in society. Therapist assistants also support facility administration by managing therapeutic supplies and maintaining equipment.

SAIT’s Rehabilitation Therapist Assistant diploma program trains students to become knowledgeable and skilled assistants in occupational and physical therapy. Course content meets or exceeds the essential competencies required for support personnel in both professions.

The Rehabilitation Therapy Assistant program is two years in length and is comprised of four semesters. The first semester of the program addresses key concepts of rehabilitation and healthcare delivery. Observational visits to the clinical settings assist the student in integrating knowledge of normal physical and psychological function with basic therapeutic skills. More advanced rehabilitation concepts, common health conditions and therapeutic skills used in occupational therapy and physical therapy are taught in the second semester. Professionalism and communication skills are also emphasized and practiced when the student completes a two-week practicum.

The third semester of the program, advanced therapeutic skills and complex health conditions are integrated in a second two-week practicum. In the fourth and final semester, professional practices are integrated in the 12 week practicum. The student returns to SAIT for the final two weeks of the semester for comprehensive practical  examinations and to consolidate his/her experiences.

Students must be disciplined for learning through self-study, face-to-face (at SAIT and in a clinical setting) and online. Practica experiences are unpaid and may occur outside the Calgary area.

Most classes are taught at SAIT’s Mayland Heights campus but some will be taught at SAIT’s main campus. Some courses will require an online component and will require students to have computer and Internet access and e-mail capabilities. All courses require additional self-study.

Your Career

Graduates of this program find work as rehabilitation therapist assistants specializing as physical therapist assistants (PTA) or occupational therapist assistants (OTA). Graduates work in a variety of settings, including rehabilitation centres, mental health facilities, hospitals, schools and private physiotherapy clinics in both urban and rural settings.

Admission Requirements

Alberta High School Diploma or equivalent with an overall average of at least 60% in the following admission requirements or equivalents:

• English Language Arts 30-1, AND,
• Biology 30, AND,
• Chemistry 20 or Science 20.
• View High School Course Equivalencies Admission Equivalencies by Province.

Selection

There are no additional selection requirements. Admission to this program will be offered on a first-qualified, first-accepted basis.

Student Success

• Students with higher secondary or post-secondary marks usually experience greater success in SAIT programs.
• Students who experience success in this program have a strong command of the English language. Students are expected to have basic computer skills prior to admission.
• Previous work or volunteer experience in a health or wellness related field is an asset.
• Therapy assistants need to be self-directed, highly motivated, detail oriented and well-organized.
• Students who experience success in this program are professional and flexible, enjoy working in a team environment and in diverse settings and, above all, enjoy relating to others and assisting others in their wellness.
• Due to the nature of this work, therapy assistants spend the majority of their working hours on their feet and are required to help lift a maximum weight of 50 pounds or 22.68 kg.

Progression

Students must attain a PGPA and/or a CGPA of 2.0 or better in each semester and pass the necessary prerequisite courses to progress through the program. To qualify for graduation, students must pass all courses, attain a CGPA of 2.0 or better and complete course requirements within the prescribed timelines.

Credentials

After successfully completing this program, graduates will receive a SAIT diploma in Rehabilitation Therapy Assistant with both the occupational therapist assistant (OTA) and the physical therapist assistant (PTA) discipline designations.

Accreditation

This program is applying for accreditation with the Accreditation Council for Canadian Physiotherapy Academic Programs and the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists. Please contact the School of Health and Public Safety for more information.

Tuition And Fees (Subject To Change)

• Please refer to the Tuition and Fee Table.
• International Students, please refer to International Student Fees.
• For student funding, please refer to Financial Assistance.
• CPRS 212 Health Care Provider course in CPR. Annual update required – CPRS 222 Health Care Provider Renewal. All CPR courses must be from the Heart & Stroke Foundation. Call SAIT Life Support Training at 403.210.4009 for further information.
• Students are responsible for any additional expenses related to their practicum including relocation costs to practicum sites outside of Calgary.
• The cost for a criminal record check, which is a requirement for practicum, is up to $40 or more.

Books And Supplies (Subject To Change)

• Textbooks and other learning materials cost about $1,500.
• Students are required to have access to a personal computer with the specifications listed in Fees and Expenses.

Program Outline

• To find the course description for a course shown below, please go to our Course Finder and enter the course acronym and numbers (i.e., DMST-202) into the Quick Search by Course Code field.
• This program is being reviewed and could undergo changes.
• SAIT students are offered an opportunity to develop lifelong learning skills in an online environment. One or more courses in the Rehabilitation Therapy Assistant program are offered fully or partially online.
• Academic Upgrading
• International Students
• Mature Students
• Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition

For More Information

Information: 403.284.8481
Email: hps.info@sait.ca
Web: School of Health and Public Safety
Academic Chair: Patricia Reader-Downey

Transfer with Diploma to…

Through SAIT Polytechnic transfer agreements and institution partnerships, graduates of this SAIT program may be eligible for credit at the following universities and colleges:

• Athabasca University
• NAIT
• University of Calgary
• University of New Brunswick, Saint John

Transfer options may also be available at other post-secondary institutions where credits from SAIT programs are evaluated on an individual basis. Interested students should contact the post-secondary institute of their choice for more information.

To learn more, visit Transfer Options.

Related Links (Internal):

• School of Health and Public Safety
• Student-For-A-Day
• Academic Calendar
• Academic Upgrading
• International Students
• Mature Students
• Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition