College Programs

This page contains links and descriptions of colleges offering Communicative Disorders Assistant or Speech-Language Pathology Assistant programs. Please note that to date our organization only recognizes members who are students or graduates of approved Communicative Disorders Assistant programs. Membership applications from graduates of other programs will be evaluated on an individual basis.

Communicative Disorders Assistant Programs

Graduates of the following programs are eligible for membership with CDAAC. Students of these programs are eligible to become Student Affiliates with CDAAC and may include in their signature ‘Student Affiliate CDAAC’. For example:

The title “CDA” should only be used by persons who have completed the recognized programs. CDAs have received specialized training in areas such as aural rehabilitation, augmentative and alternative communication, fluency and articulation. CDA graduates have completed field placements at various institution types under the supervision of Speech-Language Pathologists and/or Audiologists that may include private agencies, hospitals, treatment centers
and school boards.

Jane Smith, CDA Student
Student Affiliate CDAAC

OR:

Jane Smith, BSc., CDA
Reg CDAAC

If you are interested in working in an active environment where you will have an opportunity to impact the quality of life for children and adults with communication disorders, Conestoga College’s one-year Communicative Disorders Assistant (CDA) graduate certificate program is well suited for you. Our program features 495 hours of meaningful field placement experiences along with engaging theory lectures, immersive simulation experiences and hands-on lab learning with specialized equipment in our state-of-the art hearing instrument specialist lab.

At the completion of the CDA program, you will be well prepared to carry out treatment plans developed by registered speech-language pathologists or audiologists in a variety of health care settings including hospitals, adult rehabilitation and children’s treatment centres, long term care facilities or, in private speech or audiology clinics, school boards, day cares and retail hearing specialist services.

Durham’s program prepares students to work in an adjunctive capacity to a qualified Speech-Language Pathologist or Audiologist in a variety of service settings. Emphasis is placed on preparing the graduate to conduct remediation programming after diagnosis and treatment approaches have been designed by a therapist. The program is based on a firm understanding of physiological and functional speech/language/hearing disorders. The development of programming skills and intervention techniques appropriate for the remediation of such disorders is fundamental to the program. The comprehensive competency-based field practice will provide the student with the opportunity to develop and practise these programming and intervention skills.

The Communicative Disorders Assistant Program at Georgian will prepare the graduate to work in an adjunctive capacity with a qualified Speech-Language Pathologist or Audiologist in a variety of service settings. Emphasis is placed on preparing the graduate to conduct remediation programming after the therapist has completed the assessment and determined the treatment approaches. The program is based on a firm understanding of physiological and functional speech/language/hearing disorders. The development of programming skills and intervention techniques appropriate for remediation of such disorders is fundamental to the program.

The comprehensive competency-based field practice will provide the student with the opportunity to develop and practise these programming and intervention skills.

Career Opportunities: Graduates from the program should find employment as assistants or technicians, in facilities/agencies serving clients with communicative disorders, such as schools, daycare centres, residential institutions, hospitals, nursing homes and clinics. The graduate will work under the auspices and direction of a qualified Speech-Language Pathologist and/or Audiologist.

The Communicative Disorders Assistant Graduate Certificate program is a one-year, three-semester program designed for students who have completed a diploma or degree or equivalent programs who wish to work in a supporting capacity with a qualified Speech-Language Pathologist or Audiologist in a variety of community service agencies, school settings, clinics, treatment centres, hospitals, etc. The main emphasis of the program is to prepare graduates to conduct programming with clients/patients after a professional Speech-Language Pathologist and/or Audiologist has completed an assessment to determine the best treatment goals for a client/patient.

This program prepares students to work in an adjunctive capacity to a qualified Speech-Language Pathologist or Audiologist in a variety of service settings. Emphasis is placed on preparing the graduate to conduct remediation programming after the therapist has assessed, diagnosed, and determined the treatment approach. The program is based on a firm understanding of physiological and functional speech/language/hearing disorders.

The development of programming skills and intervention techniques appropriate for the remediation of such disorders is fundamental to this program. The comprehensive competency-based field practice will provide the student with the opportunity to develop and practice these programming and intervention skills.

Speech-Language Pathology Assistant Programs

Graduates of the following SLPA programs are not eligible for membership with CDAAC. Eligibility is determined following a thorough review by CDAAC’s Membership Committee based on standard criteria.

Therapy Assistant Program

Medicine Hat College’s Therapist Assistant Program prepares paraprofessional health service personnel to work in a variety of environments under the supervision of Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, or Speech-Language Pathologists.

Speech Language Pathologist Assistant

The SLPA stream of the Therapist Assistant diploma covers the theoretical knowledge, skill development and practical experience required to work in the field. Students learn to apply their skills in real clinical situations, gaining the confidence to move right into practice.

Continuing Education

To see recent & upcoming CDAAC-affiliated events, please visit our Events page.

To view opportunities for continuing education – including upcoming workshops, on-demand training, certificate courses, readings and more, check out our Member Resources page.