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Occupational Therapist Assistant & Physiotherapist Assistant

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Program Code: 07751
Credential: Diploma
Start Dates: September
Program Length: 4 semesters
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Humber is proud to have the highest graduate employment and employer satisfaction rate of the GTA colleges based on Colleges Ontario’s key performance indicators for college graduates in 2022-2023.

Program Overview

Humber’s Occupational Therapist Assistant and Physiotherapist Assistant (OTA and PTA) diploma program was the first in Ontario to provide formal educational preparation for occupational therapist assistants (OTAs) and physiotherapist assistants (PTAs) and continues to provide quality education. You will learn to assist in the implementation of rehabilitation treatment plans and programs developed to promote clients’ independence, activities and function. Areas of focus include restoring and maximizing physical function and occupational performance, ultimately enabling clients to effectively utilize their abilities in movement, daily functioning and activity while promoting overall well-being.

Work-Integrated Learning  

Practise your skills and acquire hands-on experience during over 500 hours of unpaid . These field experiences are arranged by the program fieldwork placement advisor during Semesters 2, 3 and 4.

You will have the opportunity to be exposed to leading-edge therapeutic skills, equipment and health-care facilities. This program offers the privilege of participating in clinical placements in occupational therapy and physiotherapy at some of the top teaching hospitals in Canada.

paramedic students holding a gurney with a training dummy on it

Watch the video to learn what is work-integrated learning.

Professional and Community Partnerships

Humber maintains strong partnerships within the community - and is the preferred choice by many agencies and facilities due to the outstanding reputation of the Faculty of Health Sciences & Wellness.

The Humber Advantage

State-Of-The-Art Facilities

Well-equipped labs feature leading-edge equipment, and will aid in you gaining practical experience.


We Know What it Takes

Instructors are Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Speech and Language Pathologists, and Kinesiologists. Occupational Therapist Assistants and Physiotherapist Assistants are involved in practical skills labs. Other rehabilitation experts regularly guest lecture throughout the program. Instructors maintain their professional expertise by continuing to practice in their respective field, regularly attending professional meetings and participating in ongoing professional development, ensuring program content is current, relevant and comprehensive.

The Humber Experience

The Right Fit

If you relish the challenges of creative problem solving and critical thinking, enjoy meeting people, and wish to work with those who are experiencing physical, developmental and/or emotional challenges, a career as an OTA and/or PTA may be for you.


Testimonials

Interested in Occupational Therapist Assistant and Physiotherapist Assistant at Humber College yet want to know more before enrolling?

fiona

Watch the video to find out about Fiona's most memorable experience during her time at Humber.

jovina

Watch the video to find out why Jovina chose Humber.

carling

Watch the video to find out how Carling knew this was the right program for her.

Mission

Educate competent OTAs and PTAs to assist in the delivery of quality healthcare.

Vision

Lead advances in OTA & PTA education through student-centred approaches and evidence-based practices.

Your Career

There are many reasons why a person may require occupational therapy and/or physiotherapy rehabilitation services. In addition to health and wellness promotion, individuals may require assistance returning to their activities of daily living and regular work due to falls, motor vehicle accidents, sports injuries, spinal cord injuries, stroke, mental health conditions and chronic illnesses such as cystic fibrosis and diabetes.

You will have the opportunity to work in a variety of environments such as acute care and community hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, long-term care facilities and private practice.

Professional Accreditations & Recognition

Occupational Therapist Assistant and Physiotherapist Assistant Education Accreditation Program (OTA & PTA EAP)

The Occupational Therapist Assistant and Physiotherapist Assistant program at Humber College has been accredited by the Occupational Therapist Assistant and Physiotherapist Assistant Education Accreditation Program (OTA & PTA EAP) in collaboration with Physiotherapy Education Accreditation Canada (PEAC) and the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT). The status of Accreditation was granted to the program on November 30, 2018 for the period until November 30, 2025.

Inquiries related to accreditation can be directed to : Occupational Therapist Assistant and Physiotherapist Assistant Education Accreditation Program, c/o Physiotherapy Education Accreditation Canada, Suite 26, 509 Commissioners Road West, London, Ontario, N6J 1Y5, (226) 636-0632, www.otapta.ca.

Additional requirements may apply.

Note: The requirements for the additional credential(s) are determined by the granting body, which is independent from the College. Students are encouraged to obtain the specific requirements directly from the granting body before enrolling.

Program Availability

Start dates between Sept 2024 - Aug 2025
START DELIVERY LOCATION STATUS
Sep 2024 Course-Based North Open
Start dates between Sept 2024 - Aug 2025
START DELIVERY LOCATION STATUS
Sep 2024 Course-Based North Closed

Humber is a publicly-funded institution and does not have a public-private partnership. International students graduating from Humber or Humber’s International Graduate School (IGS) are eligible to apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit.

International Students in Canada who apply for May 2024 start could be eligible for a $1,000 Scholarship*. Apply now

Start dates between Sept 2024 - Aug 2025
START DELIVERY LOCATION STATUS
Sep 2024 Course-Based North Closed

Humber is a publicly-funded institution and does not have a public-private partnership. International students graduating from Humber or Humber’s International Graduate School (IGS) are eligible to apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit.

International Students Out of Canada can Apply through Humber International

Recruitment Events

Open House   Book a Tour  

Can't make it to campus?

Experience Humber Virtually  

Health Sciences OTA and PTA with Diana Seko-Challenger

Diana

Watch the video to find out how the OTA & PTA program at Humber helped Diana achieve success in her career.


News Feed

IPE Blackboard Site

IPE Blackboard Site

Wed, December 20, 2023

The Faculty of Health Sciences & Wellness is launching a new tutorial Blackboard site entirely dedicated to IPE!

Read More
Navigating Health Care

Navigating Health Care

Thu, September 28, 2023

Humber’s North Campus was proud to host The Central West Navigation Conference on Tues Sep 26.

Read More

No news at this time.

Every attempt is made to ensure that information contained on this website is current and accurate. Humber reserves the right to correct any error or omission, modify or cancel any course, program, fee, timetable or campus location at any time without prior notice or liability to users or any other Person.

Contact Us

Admissions Questions

General Enquiries

Call 416-675-3111 or email enquiry@humber.ca. If you have already applied, be sure to check your application status on myhumber.ca.

Domestic Applicants Enquiries

Domestic applicants can book a one-on-one advising appointment with an admissions representative.

International Applicants Enquiries

Contact the International Centre for information about full-time programs (including the International Graduate School), how to apply and to follow up on your submitted application.

Program-Specific Questions

Speak to the Program Co-ordinator about the course curriculum, projects and career options.

Renny Wheable

, program co-ordinator
416.675.6622 ext. 75576
renny.wheable@humber.ca

Campus Information

Book a campus tour to take a closer look at what it's like to be a student at Humber.

Want More Info?

Find out more about the student experience and everything that Humber has to offer Future Students.

for more info on Humber, including programs, special events and more!

How To Become An Apprentice

Becoming an Apprentice

Find an employer willing to sponsor you as an apprentice.

Contact the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development to register as an apprentice.

Work with your employer approximately one year before attending Humber.

View Instructions 

Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP)

If you’re in high school – grade 11 or 12 – you can earn co-op education credits through work placements in some skilled trades.

Visit OYAP 

How to Apply

Domestic Students

Applications to Humber are made through ontariocolleges.ca. Be sure to submit your application by the equal consideration deadline of February 1. You may apply after February 1, however, post-February 1 applications will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis depending on the availability of the space in the program.

To check program availability refer to the Campus/Availability listing on Humber’s program pages, search by availability, or ontariocolleges.ca.

To see where you are in the admissions process, visit the Admissions Road Map.

International Students

If you’re an international student, you can apply directly to Humber via our International Centre.

Need Advice?

Program Advising Appointments

Get help narrowing down your program options or book a one-on-one pre-enrolment advising appointment with one of our Recruitment Officers.

Transfer & Pathway Advising

Book a virtual appointment with a Student Mobility Advisor learn more about getting Transfer Credit(s) for previous post-secondary experience, Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR), and Pathways options.

Admission Requirements

Admission selection is based on the academic criteria indicated. Meeting minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee admission.

Admission selection is based on the following three requirements:

  • Academic

    To be eligible for admission, you must possess the following:

    • Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent including these required courses: 
      • Grade 12 English (ENG4C or ENG4U or equivalent) 
      • Grade 11 or Grade 12 Biology (SBI3C, SBI3U or SBI4U or equivalent) or Grade 12 Introductory Kinesiology (PSK4U) or equivalent
      • Two Grade 11 or Grade 12 C, M or U courses in addition to those listed above

    or

    or

    Mature Applicants

    Diplomas and Certificates

    An applicant is considered a mature applicant if they have not completed secondary school or other postsecondary school, and will be 19 or older as of the first day of classes. Humber will invite you for testing to demonstrate that you meet all listed course requirements.

    Degrees

    An applicant is considered a mature applicant if they have not completed secondary school or attended postsecondary studies, and will be 21 or older as of the first day of classes. Mature applicants for degree programs will be required to meet course requirements at the U/M level or equivalent.

    College Transfer Applicants

    Diplomas and Certificates

    An applicant is considered a college transfer applicant if they have completed some or all of a college-level credential. Humber may use a combination of secondary school and/or college courses and grades to determine program eligibility.

    Degrees

    An applicant is considered a college transfer applicant if they have completed some or all of a college-level credential. Humber may use a combination of secondary school and/or college courses and grades to determine program eligibility. Applicants must have an overall minimum grade point average (GPA) of 65 per cent in the program. Applicants are required to disclose and provide academic transcripts for all course work completed at the postsecondary level.

    University Transfer Applicants

    Diplomas and Certificates

    An applicant is considered a university transfer applicant if they have completed some or all of a university-level credential. Humber may use a combination of secondary school and/or university courses and grades to determine program eligibility.

    Degrees

    An applicant is considered a university transfer applicant if they have completed some or all of a university-level credential. Humber may use a combination of secondary school and/or university courses and grades to determine program eligibility. Applicants are required to disclose and provide academic transcripts for all course work completed at the postsecondary level.

  • English Language Proficiency

    All applicants whose first language is not English must meet Humber’s English Language Proficiency Policy.

  • International Credit Evaluation

    Canadian citizens or permanent residents with international education are required to provide a credential evaluation. Note, for international High school education course by course evaluations, ICAS must be used. For international post-secondary education, a WES evaluation must be provided. In situations where you expect to apply for transfer credit, it is recommended that a course by course WES evaluation is completed.

International Academic Equivalency

Admission equivalencies for Humber depend on your country of study. Please enter your location or choose detect my location to see the requirements for your country below.

Post-Admission Requirements

Once you have been accepted, and have confirmed your offer, you may need to complete a further set of requirements related to your program (Post-Admission Requirements).

Placement Requirements

The pre-requisite requirements must be fulfilled before the commencement of your first placement. Participation in placements will not be allowed if not all the pre-requisite requirements are met. Due to the variety of venues and possible changes in legislation, the requirements are subject to change. Please use the following link to find detailed information about your program’s placement pre-requisite requirements.

View Requirements

Equipment & Device Requirements

Semester 1

Details and Specifications Minimum Specifications Recommended Specifications
Processor Intel i5-8300H (PC)
4-core or higher 64bit (Mac)
Intel i5-8300H (PC)
4-core or higher 64bit (Mac)
OS Windows 10 (PC)
OS 10.15 (Mac)
Windows 10 (PC)
OS 10.15 (Mac)
Memory 8GB of RAM 8GB of RAM
Storage 256GB 256GB
Monitor Laptop Laptop
Other Built-in microphone and webcam, Software: Adobe creative and Microsoft office Suite Built-in microphone and webcam, Software: Adobe creative and Microsoft office Suite

Program-Specific Questions

Speak to the Program Co-ordinator about the course curriculum, projects and career options.

Renny Wheable

, program co-ordinator
416.675.6622 ext. 75576
renny.wheable@humber.ca

Fees & Financial Aid

The 2024/2025 fee for two semesters is:

  • domestic: $4,209.32
  • international: $17,345.14

Fees are subject to change.

Fees by Semester

Domestic Fees International Fees

Additional Costs

Approximately $1,000 - textbooks and placement costs (travel/parking/uniform) for two semesters.

Financial Aid, Scholarships and Bursaries

Understand the costs associated with coming to Humber and explore resources available from first year to your final year on Student Fees and Financial Resources.

Scholarships

Humber Scholarships

Find out more about scholarships and bursaries that you may be eligible for, visit Student Scholarships. International students can visit International Student Scholarships.

Humber Bursaries

Bursaries are available for Certificate, Diploma and Degree programs primarily based on financial need, visit Humber Bursaries.

External Awards, Bursaries & Scholarships

Find out more information about external scholarships and bursaries, visit External Awards.

Indigenous Student Awards, Bursaries & Scholarships

Humber offers a variety of bursaries and scholarships for Indigenous students, visit Indigenous Student Awards.

Explore Opportunities through Humber Pathways

Humber Pathways include:

  • Opportunities to build on your college education and complete your diploma or degree at Humber.
  • Degree and graduate study opportunities at other institutions in Ontario, Canada and abroad.
View Transfer Out Opportunities From This Program  
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