ObjectivesCapilano University offers the only program nationally to triple-train graduates as occupational therapy assistants (OTA), physiotherapy assistants (PTA) and speech language/audiology assistants (SLPA). The RA works with clients in a variety of settings providing hands-on rehabilitation, such as exercise, range of motion, splinting, activities of daily living, adjusting hearing aid or performing hearing screening.
Academic titleRehabilitation Assistant Diploma
Course descriptionFirst Term Course Credits
Required: 16.50
RADP 100 Rehabilitation and Professional Skills in Health Care 3.00
RADP 111 Rehabilitation Principles and Practices: OT/OTA 2.25
RADP 112 Rehabilitation Principles and Practices: PT/PTA 2.25
RADP 120 Growth and Development for Rehabilitation Assistants 0.50
RADP 121 Functional Anatomy, Theory and Skills: OTA/PTA 3.00
RADP 130 Disease, Injury and Intervention: Musculoskeletal Systems 1.00
RADP 131 Musculoskeletal Theory and Skills: OTA 2.25
RADP 132 Musculoskeletal Theory and Skills: PTA 2.25
Credits 16.50
Second Term Course Credits
Required: 15.00
RADP 101 Effective Therapeutic Communication in Rehabilitation 1.50
RADP 113 Rehabilitation Principles and Practices: SLP/SLPA 2.00
RADP 114 Rehabilitation Principles and Practices: RA 1.00
RADP 122 Physiology and Cardio-Respiratory Theory and Skills: PTA 1.00
RADP 140 Disease, Injury and Intervention: Psychosocial/Cognitive Systems 1.50
RADP 141 Psychosocial/Cognitive Theory and Skills: OTA/PTA 2.00
RADP 190 Practicum: Fieldwork I 6.00
Credits 15.00
Third Term Course Credits
Required: 16.50
RADP 210 Administrative Support Systems for Rehabilitation Assistants 1.50
RADP 230 Disease, Injury and Intervention: Neurological System 1.50
RADP 231 Neurology Theory and Skills: OTA 3.00
RADP 232 Neurology Theory and Skills: PTA 3.00
RADP 233 Neurology Theory and Skills: SLPA 1.50
RADP 290 Practicum: Fieldwork II 6.00
Credits 16.50
Fourth Term Course Credits
Required: 15.00
RADP 201 Advanced Communications in Rehabilitation 1.50
RADP 211 Recreation Techniques for Rehabilitation Assistants 1.50
RADP 240 Gerontology Theory and Skills: OTA/PTA 2.00
RADP 243 Audiology Theory and Skills: SLPA 1.00
RADP 250 Community Integration Theory and Skills: OTA/PTA 3.00
RADP 291 Practicum: Fieldwork III 6.00
Credits 15.00
Total Program Credits 63.00
RADP 100 Rehabilitation and Professional Skills in Health Care
3.00 credits (3,0,1) hrs 15 wks
Students will learn about the environment in which health care is delivered, the rehabilitation approach, their role responsibilities and the client's perspective. Students will also learn the meaning of safe, ethical, competent practice and develop an understanding of professionalism in relation to clients/significant others, colleagues and community.
RADP 101 Effective Therapeutic Communication in Rehabilitation
1.50 credits (3,0,0) hrs 10 wks
Prerequisite: RADP 100
Students will learn effective interpersonal communications skills from a rehabilitation framework in order to facilitate and support the Rehabilitation Assistant in teaching and working with clients, clinicians and interdisciplinary teams both individually and in groups.
Note: Prerequisite may be waived by program coordinator.
RADP 111 Rehabilitation Principles and Practices: OT/OTA
2.25 credits (3,0,0) hrs 15 wks
Prerequisite: RADP 112 is a prerequisite or co-requisite
Students will learn about occupational therapy in terms of rehabilitation theory, principles, process and practice.
Note: Prerequisite may be waived by program coordinator.
RADP 112 Rehabilitation Principles and Practices: PT/PTA
2.25 credits (2,0,1) hrs 15 wks
Prerequisite: RADP 111 is a prerequisite or co-requisite
Students will learn about physical therapy in terms of rehabilitation theory, principles, process and practice.
RADP 113 Rehabilitation Principles and Practices: SLP/SLPA
2.00 credits (4,0,0) hrs 10 wks
Prerequisite: RADP 114 is a prerequisite or co-requisite
Students will gain an understanding of speech-language pathology in terms of rehabilitation theory, principles, process and practice.
Note: Prerequisite may be waived by program coordinator.
RADP 114 Rehabilitation Principles and Practices: RA
1.00 credit (2,0,0) hrs 10 wks
Prerequisite: RADP 111 and 112
Students will learn about being a Rehabilitation Assistant in terms of rehabilitation theory, principles, process and practices specifically designed to provide Rehabilitation Assistants with a practice process and strong foundation for problem-solving.
Note: Prerequisites may be waived by program coordinator.
RADP 120 Growth and Development for Rehabilitation Assistants
0.50 credits (2,0,0) hrs 05 wks
Students will learn about developmental milestones and skill acquisition. These will be discussed in terms or impairments and treatment plans for developing or restoring skill function following disease or injury.
RADP 121 Functional Anatomy, Theory and Skills: OTA/PTA
3.00 credits (4,0,0) hrs 15 wks
Prerequisite: RADP 120 is a prerequisite or co-requisite
Students will learn about the musculoskeletal system, its functions, how it coordinates posture, core stability and body mechanics.
Note: Prerequisite may be waived by program coordinator.
RADP 122 Physiology and Cardio-Respiratory Theory and Skills: PTA
1.00 credit (2,0,0) hrs 12 wks
Prerequisite: RADP 120 and 121
Students will learn about the cardio-respiratory and lymphatic systems, and acquire the practical rehabilitation assistant skills used in the treatment of cardiac and pulmonary diseases when working with physiotherapists.
Note: Prerequisites may be waived by program coordinator.
RADP 130 Disease, Injury and Intervention: Musculoskeletal Systems
1.00 credit (2,0,0) hrs 10 wks
Prerequisite: RADP 120 and 121 are prerequisites or co-requisites
Students will learn about diseases and injuries which cause impairment to the musculoskeletal system, usual interventions and effects on a person's activity and participation levels.
Note: Prerequisites may be waived by program coordinator.
RADP 131 Musculoskeletal Theory and Skills: OTA
2.25 credits (2,0,1) hrs 15 wks
Prerequisite: RADP 130 is a prerequisite or co-requisite
Students will learn to apply theory and acquire the practical rehabilitation assistant skills used in the treatment of musculoskeletal diseases and injuries when working with occupational therapists.
Note: Prerequisite may be waived by program coordinator.
RADP 132 Musculoskeletal Theory and Skills: PTA
2.25 credits (1,2,0) hrs 15 wks
Prerequisite: RADP 130 and 131 are prerequisites or co-requisites
Students will learn to apply theory and acquire the practical rehabilitation assistant skills used in the treatment of musculoskeletal diseases and injuries when working with physiotherapists.
Note: Prerequisites may be waived by program coordinator.
RADP 140 Disease, Injury and Intervention: Psychosocial/Cognitive Systems
1.50 credits (2,0,0) hrs 15 wks
Prerequisite: RADP 130, 131 and 132
Students will learn about diseases and injuries which cause impairment to cognitive and/or psychosocial systems, usual interventions and effects on a person's activity and participation levels.
Note: Prerequisites may be waived by program coordinator.
RADP 141 Psychosocial/Cognitive Theory and Skills: OTA/PTA
2.00 credits (2,0,0) hrs 20 wks
Prerequisite: RADP 140 is a prerequisite or co-requisite
Students will learn to apply theory and acquire the practical rehabilitation assistant skills used in the treatment of cognitive and psychosocial diseases and injuries when working with occupational therapists and physiotherapists.
Note: Prerequisite may be waived by program coordinator.
RADP 190 Practicum: Fieldwork I
6.00 credits (0,0,35) hrs 04 wks
Prerequisite: RADP 100, 111, 112, 120, 121, 130, 131, 132 and registration in RADP 101, 113, 114, 122, 140, 141
Students will have practical clinical experience necessary to work effectively as a Rehabilitation Assistant supporting occupational therapists, physiotherapists and speech-language pathologists in public or private practice. All fieldwork competencies must be successfully completed at Fieldwork I Level in order to continue in the program.
Note: Prerequisites and corequisites may be waived by program coordinator.
RADP 201 Advanced Communications in Rehabilitation
1.50 credits (3,0,0) hrs 10 wks
Prerequisite: RADP 101
Students will learn advanced communication skills and learn technological methods to support clinical work with clients, clinicians, interdisciplinary teams and operational work that supports the delivery of rehabilitation services and related records.
Note: Prerequisite may be waived by program coordinator.
RADP 210 Administrative Support Systems for Rehabilitation Assistants
1.50 credits (3,0,0) hrs 10 wks
Corequisite: RADP 230
Students will learn the fundamental data, file management and system skills to support efficient and effective operations within the health care delivery system.
Note: Corequisite may be waived by program coordinator.
RADP 211 Recreation Techniques for Rehabilitation Assistants
1.50 credits (3,0,0) hrs 10 wks
Prerequisite: RADP 114
Students will gain an understanding of the function and process of recreation activities and how to use these activities to assist people in developing, maintaining or restoring skills to their optimal levels of activity and participation within their community.
Note: Prerequisite may be waived by program coordinator.
RADP 230 Disease, Injury and Intervention: Neurological System
1.50 credits (2,0,0) hrs 15 wks
Prerequisite: RADP 140 and 141
Students will learn about diseases and injuries which cause impairment to the neurological system, usual interventions and effect on a person's activity and participation levels.
Note: Prerequisites may be waived by program coordinator.
RADP 231 Neurology Theory and Skills: OTA
3.00 credits (3,1,0) hrs 15 wks
Prerequisite: RADP 230 is a prerequisite or co-requisite
Students will learn to apply theory and acquire the practical rehabilitation assistant skills used in the treatment of neurological diseases and injuries when working with occupational therapists.
Note: Prerequisite may be waived by program coordinator.
RADP 232 Neurology Theory and Skills: PTA
3.00 credits (1,1,2) hrs 15 wks
Prerequisite: RADP 230 is a prerequisite or co-requisite
Students will learn to apply theory and acquire the practical rehabilitation assistants skills used in the treatment of neurological diseases and injuries when working with physiotherapists.
Note: Prerequisite may be waived by program coordinator.
RADP 233 Neurology Theory and Skills: SLPA
1.50 credits (3,0,0) hrs 10 wks
Prerequisite: RADP 230 is a prerequisite or co-requisite
Students will learn to apply theory and acquire the practical rehabilitation assistant skills used in the treatment of neurological diseases and injuries when working with speech-language pathologists.
Note: Prerequisite may be waived by program coordinator.
RADP 240 Gerontology Theory and Skills: OTA/PTA
2.00 credits (4,0,0) hrs 10 wks
Prerequisite: RADP 230, 231, 232, 233 and 290
Students will learn about aging; the resulting effects on activity, participation, social community; and interventions for safety and maintenance of function used by Rehabilitation Assistants working with occupational therapists and physiotherapists.
Note: Prerequisites may be waived by program coordinator.
RADP 243 Audiology Theory and Skills: SLPA
1.00 credit (2,0,0) hrs 10 wks
Prerequisite: RADP 240 is a prerequisite or co-requisite
Students will learn about hearing, its functions, how it affects communication, and the strategies and devices used to restore function.
Note: Prerequisite may be waived by program coordinator.
RADP 250 Community Integration Theory and Skills: OTA/PTA
3.00 credits (4,0,0) hrs 15 wks
Prerequisite: Completion of all first, second and third term RADP courses
Corequisite: RADP 201, 210, 240 and 243
Students will learn about the delivery of rehabilitation services in the community including maintenance, development or restoration of skills and performance in terms of activity and participation including home, work, and leisure.
Note: Prerequisites and corequisites may be waived by program coordinator.
RADP 290 Practicum: Fieldwork II
6.00 credits (0,0,35) hrs 04 wks
Prerequisite: RADP 190
Corequisite: RADP 230, 231, 232 and 233
Students will have practical clinical experience necessary to work effectively as a Rehabilitation Assistant supporting occupational therapists, physiotherapists and speech-language pathologists in public or private practice. All fieldwork competencies must be successfully completed at Fieldwork II Level in order to continue in the program.
Note: Prerequisites and corequisites may be waived by program coordinator.
RADP 291 Practicum: Fieldwork III
6.00 credits (0,0,35) hrs 04 wks
Prerequisite: RADP 230, 231, 232, 233, 290
Corequisite: RADP 201, 210, 211, 240, 243 and 250
In this practical clinical experience, the student will have an opportunity to work at a level comparable to that of employable Rehabilitation Assistants. All fieldwork competencies must be successfully completed at the Graduate Level in order to complete the program and receive a diploma.
Note: Prerequisites and corequisites may be waived by program coordinator.