Communicative Disorders Assistant holding earphones over a young child's ears in a hearing clinic setting

Turn your passion for helping others into a career in speech therapy

Communicative Disorders Assistant Ontario College Graduate Certificate program

Study physiological and functional speech/language and hearing disorders. Learn techniques to help others communicate. On-site clinic for hands-on learning.

Program code CODA
Duration 1 Year
Credential Ontario College Graduate Certificate
Program Delivery Full-time
Full-time program delivery method(s) In-person and hybrid option What does this mean?

Program information

Program description

Students gain knowledge and hands-on experience to work in an adjunctive capacity as supportive personnel to qualified Speech-Language Pathologists and/or Audiologists in a variety of treatment settings. Students focus on conducting programming after the Speech-Language Pathologist or the Audiologist has completed the assessment and determined the therapy plan, as well as practicing the variety of other types of duties within this profession.

Based on a thorough understanding of physiological and functional speech/language and hearing disorders, students develop programming skills and learn intervention techniques to evoke and sustain communication behaviours. In addition, students identify the behaviour and environmental factors that can potentially support or erode the efficacy of therapy.

Intake information

Start dateCampus
Fall 2023 Barrie

Tuition and fees

Work-integrated learning

What are the admission requirements for the Communicative Disorders Assistant program?

Communicative Disorders Assistant admission requirements

Ontario College Diploma, Ontario College Advanced Diploma, Degree or equivalent with a specialty in communication disorders, linguistics, human anatomy and physiology, social sciences, or human services curricula.  

Selection Process

Applicants with a diploma or degree outside the specialty listed above will be considered if they have volunteer and/or work experience in a clinical setting with a speech-language pathologist, audiologist and/or communicative disorders assistant.

Additional information

In addition to these requirements, applicants must also provide proof of a current standard First Aid, C.P.R. BLS certification, and verification of immunization prior to the commencement of the preclinical course, “Introduction to Theory and Practice,” in semester 1. 

Certain clinical placements will require students to have updated flu shots, TB testing and Hepatitis B vaccination as well as a Vulnerable Sector Screening Police Record Check including a check of the Pardoned Sex Offender Database. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure he or she is eligible to participate in clinical placements. The College assumes no responsibility for these matters and students should be aware that tuition will not be refunded in the event that access to a placement is denied.

Information about placement requirements

To help you navigate the requirements to complete the clinical placement component(s) of this program (e.g. immunization, First Aid and CPR, criminal record screening and other non-academic requirements), please review the details below.

For more information about placements, visit the Placement Offices webpage.

Placement requirementsGeorgian College Chevron

In order to provide quality practicum placements (“Placements”), students are placed in a variety of agencies, largely in the region serviced by the campus. Students are required to provide their own transportation to Placements. Placements may vary in length (e.g. six to 12 hour days) and may include weekends and evenings, with varying start and end times (e.g. day, afternoon, overnight).

Many programs, including Health and Wellness, have immunization, First Aid and CPR, criminal record screening and  other non-academic requirements that need to be met prior to Placements starting. You are responsible for carefully reviewing and meeting these requirements. The failure to meet them may mean that the host agency may refuse to accept you for a Placement or, if you have started one, that you may be prevented from continuing. The result may be that you cannot complete your program. Program-specific requirements can be found on page 2 of the Clinical Preparedness Permit specific to your program.

You are responsible for meeting all immunization, criminal screening and other requirements by the deadline provided by your program and before you start your Placement.

Notes regarding the Criminal Record Check (“CRC”) and Vulnerable Sector Screening (VSS)

Individuals who have been charged or convicted criminally and not yet pardoned or who have adverse entries on their CRC or VSS will be prohibited from proceeding to a Placement. Such a student will normally be counselled to withdraw from the program because the successful completion of a Placement is a program requirement.

Obtaining the CRC and VSS usually requires a processing time of up to 12 weeks and can vary between police jurisdictions. As some jurisdictions require longer lead time for processing, ensure you allow for sufficient turn-around time. Record checks and screenings conducted earlier than six months may not be considered current and not be acceptable. Refer to your Clinical Preparedness Permit for information regarding this. A host agency may refuse a Placement if the CRC or VSS is not satisfactory to it. It is the student’s responsibility to provide the necessary completed documents prior to the start of a Placement at the designated check time, and in the format set by Georgian College and stated in the Clinical Preparedness Permit Information Package. More information can be found on the Placement Offices webpage.

The costs associated with the provision of the CRC and VSS, anything related to them (including, if applicable, obtaining a pardon), and meeting any immunization and other Placement requirements, are to be borne by the student. The non-academic requirements of clinical agencies as described in the Clinical Preparedness Permit are subject to change at any time and host agencies may accept or decline students for any reason at their discretion. Georgian College  is not responsible for any of the costs associated with the foregoing, nor for the consequences of failing to comply with, any of the requirements set out above.  

What career paths can I take as a communicative disorders assistant?

Your Communicative Disorders Assistant graduate certificate gives you many career opportunities

Graduates of this program are prepared for employment as supportive personnel (speech and learning technicians, speech aides, therapy assistants, audiometric technicians, or hearing screeners) serving children and adults with communicative disorders and delays. They may find work in a variety of settings including children’s treatment centres, school boards, public health units, Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs), hospitals, early years centres and private speech and/or audiology clinics, under the supervision and direction of qualified Speech-Language Pathologists and/or Audiologists.

Why study Communicative Disorders Assistant at Georgian?

Experiential learning

One of the key features of our program is that our students complete clinic rotations in both fall and summer semesters in the Harmonize for Speech, Hearing and Language Clinic. This clinic offers state-of-the-art equipment and training that enables students to observe and participate in speech-language and audiological treatment sessions and programming involving community clients. In total, students complete 56 hours of clinic placements and 490 hours in two separate seven-week field practicum placements.

Experienced faculty

Our highly qualified faculty members are well known for their experience, and their ability to work with students to put theory into practice.

Communicative Disorders Assistant using an otoscope while looking into the ear of another student

What courses are included in the Communicative Disorders Assistant graduate certificate program?

Course overview

13 Program Courses
2 Field Placements

Program-specific courses

Semester 1 courses are listed below. For a full list of courses in the program including course descriptions, view the Communicative Disorders Assistant program outline.

  • CODA 1000 – Articulation, Phonology and Motor Speech Disorders
  • CODA 1001 – Introduction to Audiology and Amplification Systems
  • CODA 1002 – Language Disorders In Children
  • CODA 1003 – Introduction to The Profession
  • CODA 1004 – Augmentative and Alternative Communication
  • CODA 1006 – Introduction to Communication Disorders in Adults
  • CODA 1020 – Introduction to Theory and Practice

Your course delivery method(s)

In-person and hybrid option

In this program, some courses will provide an option to choose fully in person or fully online. You’ll choose one delivery method, that fits your circumstances, for the duration of the semester.

Please note, delivery methods are based on planning for the upcoming semester and are subject to change.

Do you have questions about Communicative Disorders Assistant? Contact us!

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