OTA and PTA Training

Training programs for OTA and PTAs in Canada may be accredited by the Occupational Therapist Assistant and Physiotherapist Education Accreditation Program (OTA & PTA EAP), which means that the program has been proven to meet established standards for quality.  

For more information about accreditation, visit the OTA & PTA EAP site.

The accreditation process for training programs in Canada ensures that standards are met in regard to Occupational Therapist Assistant and Physical Therapist Assistant disciplines. Some programs in Canada offer training in additional disciplines (such as speech, audiology, or recreation), but additional disciplines are not part of the accreditation process. Only OTA and PTA standards are part of accreditation.

A list of accredited OTA and PTA training programs is available on the OTA & PTA EAP site: affiliated education programs.

COPEC’s position regarding titles

The titles Occupational Therapist Assistant & Physiotherapist Assistant “OTA/PTA” or “OTA & PTA” should be used in contexts where assistants are working under the supervision of an Occupational Therapist (OT) and/or a Physiotherapist (PT). When in alignment with the curriculum, the title OTA & PTA should be considered when naming programs and conferring diplomas.

COPEC is for public institutions. The following institutions are affiliated with COPEC.

PROVINCEINSTITUTION
BCCapilano University: North Vancouver
BCOkanagan College: Kelowna
BCVancouver Community College:
Vancouver
ABBow Valley College
ABMacEwan University: Edmonton
ABMedicine Hat College: Medicine Hat
ABNorquest College: Edmonton
ABRed Deer College: Red Deer
ABSAIT: Calgary
MBManitoba Institute of Trades and Technology
ONAlgonquin College: Ottawa
ONCanadore College: North Bay
ONCentennial College: Toronto
ONCollège Boréal: Sudbury
ONConestoga College: Kitchener
ONDurham College: Oshawa
ONFanshawe College
ONFleming College: Peterborough
ONGeorgian College: Barrie
ONHumber College: Toronto
ONLa Cité: Ottawa
ONLambton College
ONLoyalist College
ONMohawk College: Hamilton
ONNiagara College: Welland
ONSault College: Sault Ste. Marie
ONSt. Clair College:Thames/ Chatham
ONSeneca Polytechnic
NFLDCollege of the North Atlantic
NSNSCC – Nova Scotia Community College
Cumberland Campus: Springhill
NSNSCC – Nova Scotia Community College
Lunenburg Campus: Bridgewater
NSUniversite Sainte-Anne
PEIHolland College: Charlottetown

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