PeernovoSign inCareer quiz
Technical occupations in therapy and assessment

How to become a technical occupations in therapy and assessment

Official title: Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment

Also called: Therapy assistant, Speech therapy aide, Physical therapy aide, Speech therapy assistant, Physical therapy technician, Recreation therapy assistant, Hearing assessment technician, Occupational therapy assistant, Occupational therapy technician, Speech aide, Audiometrist, Audiometrician

Other technical workers in therapy and assessment perform various technical therapy and assessment functions. Some may assist professionals such as audiologists, speech-language pathologists, ophthalmologists, physiotherapists and occupational therapists. They are employed in hospitals, clinics, extended care facilities, rehabilitation centres, community health centres, educational institutions, hearing aid retail stores, in the private practices of the professionals they assist, or they may be self-employed.

Main tasks

How to become one

Hearing instrument practitioners require completion of a two or three-year college diploma in a hearing instrument specialist program, and a period of supervised training. Licensure with a regulatory body is required for hearing instrument practitioners in all provinces except in Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, and Ontario. Ontario requires membership with the Association of Hearing Instrument Practitioners of Ontario (AHIP). Hearing instrument practitioners can prescribe and dispense hearing instruments except in Ontario where dispensing is dependent on a prescription from a physician or audiologist. Communicative disorders assistants and speech-language pathology assistants require completion of a three- to four-year college program. Ophthalmic medical technicians require completion of a one-year hospital based ophthalmic technician training program or a minimum of one year on-the-job training working as a Certified Ophthalmic Assistant under the supervision of an ophthalmologist. Ophthalmic medical technologists require completion of a two-year hospital-based training program in ophthalmic medical technology, or a 4 year bachelor's degree program in Ophthalmic Medical Technology or a minimum of two years of on-the-job training working as a Certified Ophthalmic technician under the supervision of an ophthalmologist. Certification by the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology may be required by employers. Physical rehabilitation therapists, who are only found in Quebec, require completion of a three-year physiotherapy or rehabilitation techniques college program and a period of internship. A permit to practice issued by the Ordre professionnel de la physiothérapie du Québec (OPPQ) is required for physical rehabilitation therapists. Physiotherapy assistants require completion of a two-year physical therapy assistant (PTA) college program, or a two-year rehabilitation therapy assistant program and supervised practical training. Occupational therapy assistants require completion of a two-year occupational therapy assistant (OTA) college program.

See the full NOC 2021 profile

Ways in

Pay · Outlook

Related jobs

Not sure this is for you? Take the 2-minute career quiz

Questions people ask

How do I become a technical occupations in therapy and assessment?

Hearing instrument practitioners require completion of a two or three-year college diploma in a hearing instrument specialist program, and a period of supervised training. Licensure with a regulatory body is required for hearing instrument practitioners in all provinces except in Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, and Ontario. Ontario requires membership with the Association of Hearing Instrument Practitioners of Ontario (AHIP). Hearing instrument practitioners can prescribe and dispense hearing instruments except in Ontario where dispensing is dependent on a prescription from a physician or audiologist. Communicative disorders assistants and speech-language pathology assistants require completion of a three- to four-year college program. Ophthalmic medical technicians require completion of a one-year hospital based ophthalmic technician training program or a minimum of one year on-the-job training working as a Certified Ophthalmic Assistant under the supervision of an ophthalmologist. Ophthalmic medical technologists require completion of a two-year hospital-based training program in ophthalmic medical technology, or a 4 year bachelor's degree program in Ophthalmic Medical Technology or a minimum of two years of on-the-job training working as a Certified Ophthalmic technician under the supervision of an ophthalmologist. Certification by the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology may be required by employers. Physical rehabilitation therapists, who are only found in Quebec, require completion of a three-year physiotherapy or rehabilitation techniques college program and a period of internship. A permit to practice issued by the Ordre professionnel de la physiothérapie du Québec (OPPQ) is required for physical rehabilitation therapists. Physiotherapy assistants require completion of a two-year physical therapy assistant (PTA) college program, or a two-year rehabilitation therapy assistant program and supervised practical training. Occupational therapy assistants require completion of a two-year occupational therapy assistant (OTA) college program.

How much does a technical occupations in therapy and assessment earn in Canada?

Median full-time pay is $52,358 a year (Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank)). The middle half earn $42,900 to $60,002.

Is a technical occupations in therapy and assessment a growing career in Canada?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 34% by 2033, from about 20,600 to about 27,500 people (Employment and Social Development Canada).

Do you need a degree to become a technical occupations in therapy and assessment?

Not always. 34% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: College or CEGEP program.

Sources

Updated 2026-10-03