Occupational/Physical Therapist Assistant

• You must adhere to the professional commitment as outlined in the Therapist Assistant Programs Student Handbook.  Failure to do so may result in dismissal from the program.
• You must complete the program within five years of registration in TAPC 110.
• All OPTA, OCTA, PHTA, TAPC, KNES and IDST 100 courses must be completed with grades of C or better.
• You must earn a grade of at least C- all other courses.
• In order to be able to continue in the program, a current and cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 is required at the end of each semester.
• Attendance in all courses is considered essential.  
• You will usually be permitted to repeat a particular Therapist Assistant courses (OCTA, OPTA, PHTA, TAPC) only once.
• You are normally expected to complete courses in the sequence outlined in the calendar.  Courses taken in a sequence outlined in the calendar.  Courses taken in the sequence other than what is outlined in the calendar (including deferring courses into other terms) may compromise your standing in the program as lab and field work planning is done in advance of courses starting.

You must successfully complete 20 specific courses and meet attendance, fieldwork and grade requirements as set out in the program policies.

Individual courses transfer to other post-secondary institutions as outlined in the Alberta Transfer Guide. 

Athabasca University
This diploma transfers to Athabasca University's Bachelor of Professional Arts (Human Services) degree.  For more information consult the Athabasca University's section in the MHC Calendar or contact the Athabasca University Liaison Advisor at Medicine Hat College at 403.504.2209.

University of Calgary
Graduates are eligible to apply to the two year post diploma BCR program (Bachelor of Community Rehabilitation).

Thompson Rivers University
You are eligible to receive advance credit towards the Bachelor of Health Science or the Bachelor of General Studies.

Fieldwork Requirements

• Fieldwork arrangements are made by Medicine Hat College with consideration of student preferences; once arrangements are confirmed, they are usually not modified
• You may be required to go to out of town placements during OCTA 217, OPTA 217, PHTA 217, TAPC 110.
• You may anticipate additional costs associated with these placements, e.g., travel, accommodations, etc. 
• At this time, fieldwork placements occur only in Canada.

Continuation Specific to Fieldwork

• Immunizations required by the program must be up to date prior to commencing job shadowing and fieldwork placement(s).
• You must successfully complete lab examinations in OCTA 215, OCTA 216, OPTA 212, PHTA 215, and PHTA 216 prior to entering fieldwork.
• All fieldwork experience must meet attendance requirements as specified.
• Participation in all activities related to fieldwork is mandatory.
• Should you receive an unsatisfactory evaluation on a fieldwork placement, you will be required to discuss this situation with the Medicine Hat College faculty.  This evaluation may result in your having to repeat the placement.  If you receive an unsatisfactory evaluation in more than one placement, you will be required to withdraw from the program.
• You may be required to obtain a recent police information check and/or similar checks, at your expense, prior to entry into some fieldwork sites.  You may wish to discuss this further with the Coordinator.
• Should your performance and/or health be questionable in relation to the delivery of safe client care and/or the maintenance of the professional standards of the program, you may be asked to leave your fieldwork site and may not receive credit in the fieldwork course.

• If you are enrolled in the distributed learning component you are expected to participate in experiential learning opportunities that are group or individually based. You should be prepared to travel to pre-arranged sites for workshops in OPTA 212, OCTA 215, OCTA 216, PHTA 215, and PHTA 216.
• You must normally complete all courses in each group prior to beginning courses in subsequent groups. Programs completed otherwise will require submission of Prerequisite Waiver forms.
• Tuition and other fees are charged on a course by course basis; textbooks and supplies are additional.

If you have been employed in the field prior to entering this program, you may be eligible for prior learning assessment. Please contact the Coordinator for further information.