HOLLAND COLLEGE
Occupational Therapist Assistant / Physiotherapist Assistant program receives national accreditation

The Occupational Therapist Assistant / Physiotherapist Assistant program at Holland College has received national accreditation through the Occupational Therapist Assistant and Physiotherapist Assistant Education Accreditation Program in collaboration with Physiotherapy Education Accreditation Canada and the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists.

"The accreditation process is very demanding," said Program Manager Rachel Batchilder. "There are rigorous requirements to be met, and it involves a curriculum review, an onsite visit by the accreditation committee, and months of preparation. The learning managers have been working tirelessly to ensure that our program meets the national standards and receives this important designation."

OTA/PTA students Payton Spinks (left) and Jennifer Olorenshaw demonstrate how to use the goniometer to measure joint range of motion while Learning Managers Reta MacDonald (right) and Karla Crawford look on.

National accreditation serves as an assurance to students that they are receiving appropriate training, including at least 500 practicum hours, to prepare them to enter the health care field. The accreditation lasts for six years, at which time the program will undergo a review from the accreditation board to ensure that it is still meeting all the required standards.

In Holland College's two-year Occupational Therapist Assistant / Physical Therapist Assistant program, students develop an understanding of the human body, the concept of rehabilitation, and the therapeutic interventions and modalities used to treat various conditions and apply what they have learned during 16 weeks (610 hours) of supervised practicum. By the time they graduate, the students will have the skills and competence to work in various health care settings as an assistant to an occupational therapist or a physiotherapist. 

Recently, Holland College and the Province of Prince Edward Island established a partnership with two private long-term care homes enabling students from the Occupational Therapy Assistant / Physiotherapy Assistant program to support allied healthcare professionals in providing rehabilitation care to residents, ensuring that students are acquiring real-life hands-on experience in the field.

Graduates who would like to pursue further educational opportunities can do so through a degree pathway with UNB. The program is exploring various other ways to support lifelong learning for its students.

For more information about the program, visit hollandcollege.com. For information about the accreditation process, visit www.otapta.ca.