3237- Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment

Canada NOC: 
3237
Job Title: 

Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment

Job Description: 

This unit group includes workers, not elsewhere classified, who 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, educational institutions and in the private practices of the professionals they assist.

Main Duties: 

Hearing instrument practitioners perform some or all of the following duties:


Examine adult clients to assess hearing loss using diagnostic evaluation and electro acoustic testing
Recommend and dispense appropriate type of hearing instrument
Take earmold impressions for use in the manufacture of hearing devices
Fit, adjust and make minor modifications to hearing instruments
Educate clients in appropriate use, care and maintenance of hearing instruments
Perform follow-up examinations and readjustments.
Audiometric technicians perform some or all of the following duties:


Under the supervision of audiologists, administer tests such as pure tone hearing screening, impedance tests and noise level measurements using equipment such as audiometers and sound level meters to determine hearing thresholds of patients
Instruct patients on test procedures and record results
Monitor, check and calibrate auditory equipment
May take earmold impressions and fit and adjust hearing instruments.
Communicative disorders assistants and speech-language pathology assistants perform some or all of the following duties:


Assist speech-language pathologists and audiologists during assessment of patients
Carry out treatment programs, document results and develop materials for use with patients, under the supervision of speech-language pathologists or audiologists
Document patient rehabilitation progress
Check and maintain therapeutic equipment and materials.
Ophthalmic medical assistants perform some or all of the following duties:


Operate ophthalmic testing and measuring instruments to aid ophthalmologists in assessing patients' vision
Record test results
Assist ophthalmologists in office surgery
Administer eye drops, ointments and medications as directed by ophthalmologists
Clean and maintain instruments and equipment used during examinations
Take patients' general medical and ophthalmic history
Perform various administrative duties.
Physiotherapy assistants and occupational therapy assistants perform some or all of the following duties:


Under the direction of physiotherapists and/or occupational therapists, carry out treatment programs such as thermotherapy, traction, hydrotherapy and electrotherapeutic techniques to rehabilitate patients with various injuries or disabilities to maximize their ability to independently manage daily activities.

Employment Requirements: 

Hearing instrument practitioners require completion of a three-year college diploma in a hearing instrument specialist program, including a period of supervised training.
Licensure with a regulatory body is required for hearing instrument practitioners in all provinces except in Ontario where membership with the Association of Hearing Instrument Practitioners (AHIP) is required. 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.
Audiometric technicians usually require a specialization in industrial audiometry testing.
Ophthalmic medical assistants require completion of a one- to two-year college program or a two-year hospital-based training program in ophthalmic medical technology
or
A minimum of one year of supervised practical training under an ophthalmologist and completion of an approved ophthalmic assistant home study program.
Physiotherapy assistants require completion of a two- to three-year college program in physical rehabilitation therapy
or
A two-year physical therapy assistant (PTA) program and supervised practical training.
Occupational therapy assistants require completion of a two-year occupational therapy assistant (OTA) college program.

Additional Inormation: 

In most provinces occupational therapy assistants (OTA) and physiotherapy assistants (PTA) receive training through a single OTA/PTA program in community colleges.

Classified Elsewhere: 

Medical technologists and technicians (except dental health) (321)
Other technical occupations in health care (323)
Physiotherapy helpers and chiropractic aides (in 3414 Other assisting occupations in support of health services)

Similar O*NET Careers (USA) : 
International Careers(ISCO): 
Source Of Info: 

National Occupation Classification, (2011)

Statistics Canada and Human Resources and Skills Development Canada,

February 2012,

Catalogue no. 12-583-X