Get the Details!
Oxford College’s Physio/Occupational Therapist Assistant program gives you the dual PTA + OTA credential, hospital-tier placements, and clinical training to move into a more specialized, better-paid healthcare role. In just 61 weeks.
This Program Is For You If:
- You are currently working as a Personal Support Worker and are ready to move into a more specialized, better-paid clinical role.
- You want to work in hospitals, rehabilitation centres, and clinics across the Greater Toronto Area.
- You are ready to help people recover, rebuild, and return to the life they had before.
Program delivered at Toronto and Scarborough campuses only.
2-in-1
Dual PTA + OTA credential, larger employer pool
400
Practical placement hours across OTA and PTA settings
61 Weeks
To a healthcare career, against a 2-year other college path
$25 to $36
PTA/OTA earns an hour
Get Two Credentials In 61 Weeks
Our Physio/Occupational Therapist Assistant program is the direct path that takes you from being a Passionate about support work to a dual-credentialed rehabilitation specialist.
At Oxford College, you graduate with diplomas in both Physiotherapy Assistant (PTA) and Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA). That means you can apply for positions across both physiotherapy and occupational therapy settings, giving you access to a broader range of employers.
The work is also different. As a Physio/Occupational Therapist Assistant, you are working with patients in a clinical capacity, guiding them through treatment plans, supporting their recovery, and helping them regain the skills they need for daily life. It is less physically demanding than personal support work and more clinically rewarding.
In Ontario, the median wage for a Personal Support Worker is approximately $22 per hour. As a qualified Physio/Occupational Therapist Assistant working in a hospital-tier setting, you could be earning $25 to $36 per hour.
Why Oxford College?
Dual PTA + OTA Credential
At Oxford College, you’ll graduate with both Physiotherapy Assistant and Occupational Therapy Assistant credentials, giving you access to a broader range of employers and career opportunities.- Hospital-Experienced Faculty
Your instructors are experienced clinicians who have worked in the same hospitals and rehabilitation centres you are training to enter. You learn from experts.
She is a licensed chiropractor in Ontario and an instructor in the Physiotherapist Assistant (PTA) and Occupational Therapist Assisstant (OTA) program at Oxford College. She brings her clinical experience and passion for teaching into the classroom to support students in developing the knowledge, skills, and professionalism required for success in the healthcare field.
Sahar Sheybani-Deloui
Bachelor of Science, a Master of Science, and a Doctor of Chiropractic.
5 years’ experience as Rehabilitation Assistant with Humber River Hospital prior to join Oxford College and Windsor Career College Toronto. I have a total of 7 years of teaching experience as an OTA/PTA Instructor. Several of my students got employment after graduation.
Jojee Thomas
Bachelor’s degree in science, OTA/PTA diploma from Humber College and certified clinical research associate from McMaster University.
- Hospital-Tier Placements
We have built relationships with more than 25 healthcare institutions across the Greater Toronto Area, including Baycrest, St. Joseph’s Health Centre, Humber River Hospital, Lifemark, Paramed, and Monarch House.
How Oxford College Compares
| DIMENSION | OXFORD COLLEGE |
OTHER CAREER COLLEGES |
PUBLIC POLYTECHNICS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time to Career | 61 weeks | 55 to 74 weeks | 104 weeks |
| Practicum | 400 hours (16 weeks) | 350 hours to 15-week range |
500+ hours |
| Tuition | $16,745 (published) | $12,255 to undisclosed | Undisclosed |
| Hospital-Tier Placements |
Baycrest, St. Joseph’s Health Centre, Humber River Hospital |
Undisclosed | Undisclosed |
A note on accreditation: The Occupational Therapist Assistant and Physiotherapy Assistant professions are not regulated in Ontario, and most private colleges, including Oxford College, are not listed on the OTA/PTA Education Accreditation Program registry. What Oxford College offers is a dual credential, hospital-experienced faculty, and hospital-tier practicum placements.
Real Training. Real Placements. Real Careers.
Placement Partners
Our graduates complete their practicum hours at some of the Greater Toronto Area’s most respected healthcare institutions and community organizations.
Occupational Therapy Placement Partners
Baycrest
Humber River Hospital
St. Joseph’s Health Centre
FunctionAbility
Monarch House
Parkview Services for Seniors
SmileTherapy for Kids
Lifemark Health
Venvi Leaside Retirement Residence
1to1 Rehab
Physiotherapy Placement Partners
Lifemark Physiotherapy
St. George Physiotherapy Clinic
Sheppard Health
HealthMax Etobicoke
1to1 Rehab
Triangle Physiotherapy
Paramed
SE Health
Ukrainian Canadian Care Centre
Shepherd Village
Real Training. Real Placements. Real Careers.
Placement Partners
Our graduates complete their practicum hours at some of the Greater Toronto Area’s most respected healthcare institutions and community organizations.
Occupational Therapy Placement Partners
Baycrest
Humber River Hospital
St. Joseph’s Health Centre
FunctionAbility
Monarch House
Parkview Services for Seniors
SmileTherapy for Kids
Lifemark Health
Venvi Leaside Retirement Residence
1to1 Rehab
Physiotherapy Placement Partners
Lifemark Physiotherapy
St. George Physiotherapy Clinic
Sheppard Health
HealthMax Etobicoke
1to1 Rehab
Triangle Physiotherapy
Paramed
SE Health
Ukrainian Canadian Care Centre
Shepherd Village
What to Expect From the Program
PROGRAM FORMAT
Our Physio/Occupational Therapist Assistant program is delivered in a hybrid format, combining online theory with hands-on in-person lab sessions.
You will also have access to our on-site clinic, which is equipped with a built-in bath, exercise equipment, and therapy modalities.
The program is delivered in small cohorts, meaning you complete it with a group of fellow students and receive personal attention from your instructors.
PROGRAM TIMELINE
Early months: Online theory
- Middle months: Hybrid online and in-person lab sessions
- Final months:
Full-time practicum placement
PRACTICUM PLACEMENT BREAKDOWN
- OTA Placement:
6 weeks / 150 hours in occupational therapy settings
- PTA Placement:
10 weeks / 250 hours in Physiotherapy settings
- TOTAL:
16 weeks / 400 placement hours
INTAKE AND SCHEDULE
The program runs on a cohort-based intake schedule with 3 intakes per year (January, May and September)
Morning, afternoon, and evening sessions are available.
Morning, afternoon, and evening sessions are available.
DELIVERY LOCATION
The program is delivered at our Toronto and Scarborough campuses. Scarborough students attend the Toronto campus for in-person components.
PROGRAM LENGTH
61 weeks in total.
Your Questions, Our Answers
“How much does the program cost?”
The tuition for the program is $16,745. The total cost, including books ($1,870) and fees ($560), is $19,175. We are upfront about this because we believe cost should not be a surprise when you are making a serious career decision.
“Is financial aid available?”
Yes. You may be eligible for financial assistance through the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP), Second Career, or private student loans.
We have dedicated Financial Aid Advisors who can assess your situation and help you build a funding plan that works for you.
“What about the science component?”
The program includes science-based coursework, including anatomy, physiology, and kinesiology.
If it has been a while since you studied biology or science at a senior level, speak with one of our advisors before enrolling. We also offer a Pre-Science Course that can help you build the foundation you need.
Our advisors will have an honest conversation with you about your readiness before you commit.
“What does the schedule look like?”
The program is cohort-based, meaning you move through it with a fixed group of students. It combines online theory, in-person lab sessions, and a full-time practicum placement.
Morning, afternoon, and evening sessions are available. This is a structured commitment, not a self-paced course.
“Is this program right for me?”
This program is a good fit if you have a background in healthcare or personal care and are ready to take on a more specialized clinical role.
You should be comfortable with science-based coursework, hands-on patient work, and communicating clearly and confidently in English. If you are unsure, speak with one of our advisors. They will give you an honest answer.
Ready to become a higher paid healthcare specialist?
You have the care experience. We’ll give you the clinical credentials to match it.
Take the next step toward a dual PTA + OTA diploma and a hospital-tier healthcare career in just 61 weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
A Physiotherapy Assistant (PTA) works with physiotherapists to help patients recover from injury, surgery, or chronic conditions. They guide patients through treatment plans, support therapeutic exercises, and monitor progress.
An Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) works with occupational therapists to help people regain the skills they need for daily life, which might include helping someone relearn how to dress themselves after a stroke, supporting a child with developmental challenges, or helping an older adult maintain their independence at home.
In both roles, you are the hands-on support that makes recovery possible.
Yes. Many of Oxford College’s Physio/Occupational Therapist Assistant students come from a Personal Support Worker background.
You already have the care experience and the understanding of what patients need. This program gives you the clinical credentials to take on a more specialized role, with greater responsibility, less physical strain, and better earning potential.
It takes you from earning roughly $22 per hour as a Personal Support Worker to earning $25 to $36 per hour as a hospital-tier Physio/Occupational Therapist Assistant.
The program is 61 weeks in total. It is delivered as a cohort program, meaning you complete it with a small group of other students.
The structure combines online theory in the early months, hybrid online and in-person lab sessions in the middle months, and a full-time practicum placement in the final months. The program is delivered at Oxford College’s Toronto and Scarborough campuses. Scarborough students attend the Toronto campus for in-person components.
The tuition for the program is $16,745. The total cost, including books ($1,870) and fees ($560), is $19,175.
Financial aid may be available through the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP), Second Career, and private student loans.
Oxford College has Financial Aid Advisors who can help you assess your options and build a funding plan that works for your situation.
Oxford College has built relationships with more than 25 healthcare institutions and community organizations across the Greater Toronto Area.
Occupational therapy placement partners include Baycrest, Humber River Hospital, St. Joseph’s Health Centre, FunctionAbility, Monarch House, and more. Physiotherapy placement partners include Lifemark Physiotherapy, Paramed, SE Health, Triangle Physiotherapy, and more.
These are hospital-tier and community employers that reflect the level of training Oxford College provides.
The Occupational Therapist Assistant and Physiotherapy Assistant professions are not regulated in Ontario.
Most private colleges offering this program, including Oxford College, are not listed on the OTA/PTA Education Accreditation Program (EAP) registry.
What Oxford College offers is a dual PTA + OTA credential, hospital-experienced faculty, and hospital-tier practicum placements, which are the strongest indicators of program quality available in an unregulated field.
The program includes science-based coursework, such as anatomy, physiology, and kinesiology. If it has been a while since you studied biology or science at a senior level, we encourage you to speak with one of our advisors before enrolling.
We also offer a Pre-Science Course that can help you build the foundation you need to succeed in the program.
Our advisors are here to have an honest conversation with you about your readiness and to help you find the best path forward.
Reach out today, and we will help you determine whether this is the right step for you.
Take the Next Step
Get full program details from an Oxford College advisor
If you are ready to find out whether Oxford College’s Physio/Occupational Therapist Assistant program is the right fit for you, request your program details today.
There is no obligation. Our advisors are here to give you honest answers about the program, the schedule, the costs, and whether this is the right move for your career.
You do not have to figure this out alone. One conversation with our team will give you everything you need to make the right decision.
Admission Requirements
To be considered for the Physio/Occupational Therapist Assistant program, you will need one of the following:
- Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent, OR
- Mature Student Status and a Wonderlic assessment, AND
- Senior Biology, OR
- Completion of Oxford College’s Pre-Science Course
Clinic requirements include a clear Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) check, Vulnerable Sector Screening (VSS), and current immunization records.
This is an official Oxford College program page. For more information visit oxfordedu.ca/programs/physio-occupational-therapist-assistant/