This Ontario Graduate Certificate program is designed for students who wish to work as a Communicative Disorders Assistant in a supportive capacity with a qualified speech-language pathologist and/or audiologist. This 12-month program runs from September to August and prepares graduates to design and implement programming based on the assessments and treatment plans outlined by qualified speech-language pathologists and audiologists.
The CDA profession is not governed by a regulatory body or college therefore there is no accreditation pathway for our program. Lambton College itself is an accredited college and our CDAS program is recognized by the Communicative Disorders Assistant Association of Canada as having met or exceeded the association’s standards.
Students in the Communicative Disorders Assistant program have opportunities to participate in clinical observations within a variety of populations from infancy to geriatrics. These partners include: Pathways, Bluewater Health and the EarlyON Child and Family Centres. This exposure happens before the students participate in placements.
Guest speakers who work in the field or represent family members speak to students regularly to provide a well-rounded view of the impacts of communicative disorders.
Students also participate in two clinical placements - learn more about placements.
This program is recognized by the Communicative Disorders Assistant Association of Canada (CDAAC).
Applicants must have completed, at minimum, a post-secondary diploma or degree with emphasis on communication disorders, linguistics, human anatomy, physiology, social sciences, or human services. Applicants are required to submit a transcript of their post-secondary diploma and/or degree.
Graduates will work under the auspices and direction of a qualified speech-language pathologist and/or audiologist. Our graduates find employment as communicative disorders assistants, therapy assistants, speech assistants, audiometric technicians and hearing screeners, to support individuals of all ages with a variety of communicative disorders. Employment opportunities could include positions within school boards, children's treatments centres, early years centres, hospitals, public health units, Local Health Integration Networks, or private speech or audiology clinics. Many graduates have relocated across Canada for employment opportunities in this field of study.
Please Note: These fees apply to the 2021-2022 academic year and are subject to change. Fees do not include books (unless specifically noted), supplies or living costs.
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