32109 Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment

What this occupation covers

Other technical workers in therapy and assessment 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, community health centres, educational institutions, hearing aid retail stores, in the private practices of the professionals they assist, or they may be self-employed.

Official main duties

The NOC profile lists 25 main duties for this code.

• Examine adult clients to assess hearing loss using diagnostic evaluation and electro acoustic testing
• Recommend and dispense or sell 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
• Communicate with audiologist or other health care professionals regarding patients' condition
• Perform follow-up examinations and readjustments.
• 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.
• Take patients' general medical and ophthalmic history
• Conduct specialized testing such as refractometry, ultrasonography, fluorescein angiography or ocular motility testing to aid ophthalmologists in assessing patients' vision
• Instruct patient on diagnostic test and record, interpret and troubleshoot results
• Assist ophthalmologists in performing ophthalmic procedures and surgeries
• Administer topical ophthalmic or oral medications as directed by ophthalmologists
• Prepare specimens for culture and staining
• Maintain ophthalmic instruments or equipment
• May instruct and supervise other ophthalmic staff and perform various administrative duties
• May participate in research activities.
• Collect and analyse information from clients' file upon referral from the physiotherapist or physician.
• Develop, implement and monitor treatment plans of clients in collaboration with the physiotherapist or physician.
• Use a variety of therapeutic modalities such as manual techniques (e.g. massage), exercises, electrotherapy, hydrotherapy and thermotherapy (ice or heat) to achieve treatment objectives.
• Advise clients on postures, lifestyle and exercises to help them improve their physical condition.
• 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.

Do not copy these lines into your reference letter. The letter has to describe what you actually did, in your employer’s words. DUTYPROOF flags wording lifted from the NOC as something to review, and an officer reading a letter that mirrors the NOC reads it the same way.

What DUTYPROOF screens for

This is DUTYPROOF’s screening threshold, not IRCC’s decision. For this NOC, screening requires at least 4 of its 25 official duties to be evidenced in your own words, plus the required letter elements. IRCC asks that you performed the actions in the occupation’s lead statement and a substantial number of its main duties — so treat the duty coverage as the number that matters, not the badge.

Codes this one is confused with

The NOC profile names these itself. Choosing the wrong code of a look-alike pair is the most common way genuine work experience fails to establish eligibility.

• 32101 Licensed practical nurses
• 33101 Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations
• 32100 Opticians
• 33109 Other assisting occupations in support of health services
• 32102 Paramedical occupations
• 31202 Physiotherapists
• 32103 Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists

Excluded from this code

• Licensed practical nurses (See 32101 Licensed practical nurses)
• Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations (See 33101 Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations)
• Medical technologists and technicians (See 3212 Medical technologists and technicians)
• Opticians (See 32100 Opticians)
• Other assisting occupations in support of health services (See 33109 Other assisting occupations in support of health services)
• Paramedical occupations (See 32102 Paramedical occupations)
• Physiotherapists (See 31202 Physiotherapists)
• Practitioners of natural healing (See 3220 Practitioners of natural healing)
• Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists (See 32103 Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists)

Job titles filed under this code

A title on this list does not by itself put your experience in this code — the duties in your letter decide that.

assistive listening device technician · audiological technician · audiology technician · audiometrician · audiometrist · certified ophthalmic medical technologist · certified ophthalmic technician · communication aide - medical · communication assistant - medical · communication disorders assistant · communication disorders instructor · communicative disorders assistant · communicative disorders instructor · hearing aid assistant · hearing aid consultant · hearing aid dealer · hearing aid practitioner · hearing aid specialist · hearing aid technician · hearing assessment technician · hearing disorder technician · hearing instrument dispenser · hearing instrument practitioner · hearing instrument practitioner assistant

Employment requirements

• Hearing instrument practitioners require completion of a two or three-year college diploma in a hearing instrument specialist program, and a period of supervised training.
• Licensure with a regulatory body is required for hearing instrument practitioners in all provinces except in Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, and Ontario. Ontario requires membership with the Association of Hearing Instrument Practitioners of Ontario (AHIP). 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.
• Ophthalmic medical technicians require completion of a one-year hospital based ophthalmic technician training program or a minimum of one year on-the-job training working as a Certified Ophthalmic Assistant under the supervision of an ophthalmologist.
• Ophthalmic medical technologists require completion of a two-year hospital-based training program in ophthalmic medical technology, or a 4 year bachelor's degree program in Ophthalmic Medical Technology or a minimum of two years of on-the-job training working as a Certified Ophthalmic technician under the supervision of an ophthalmologist.
• Certification by the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology may be required by employers.
• Physical rehabilitation therapists, who are only found in Quebec, require completion of a three-year physiotherapy or rehabilitation techniques college program and a period of internship.
• A permit to practice issued by the Ordre professionnel de la physiothérapie du Québec (OPPQ) is required for physical rehabilitation therapists.
• Physiotherapy assistants require completion of a two-year physical therapy assistant (PTA) college program, or a two-year rehabilitation therapy assistant program and supervised practical training.
• Occupational therapy assistants require completion of a two-year occupational therapy assistant (OTA) college program.