Variant of the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) Canada 2021 Version 1.0 for Alternative primary groupings

10 - Health and related fields

51. - Health professions and related programs

This series comprises instructional programs that prepare individuals to practice as licensed professionals and assistants in the health care professions and related clinical sciences and administrative and support services.

51.08 - Allied health and medical assisting services

This subseries comprises instructional program classes 51.0801 to 51.0899.

51.0801 - Medical/clinical assistant

This instructional program class comprises any program that prepares individuals, under the supervision of physicians, to provide medical office administrative services and perform clinical duties including patient intake and care, routine diagnostic and recording procedures, pre-examination and examination assistance, and the administration of medications and first aid. These programs include courses in basic anatomy and physiology; medical terminology; medical laws and ethics; patient psychology and communications; medical office procedures; and clinical diagnostic, examination, testing, and treatment procedures.

  • Illustrative example(s)

    • clinical assistant
    • medical assistant
    • medical clinical assistant

    All examples

  • Exclusion(s)

    • medical office assistant(51.0710)
    • medical/health management and clinical assistant/specialist(51.0711)
    • nurse aide(51.3902)
    • physician assistant(51.0912)
51.0802 - Clinical/medical laboratory assistant

This instructional program class comprises any program that prepares individuals, under the supervision of physicians or laboratory scientists or technologists, to perform testing procedures, phlebotomy, and other duties in support of laboratory teams. These programs include courses in clinical procedures, various laboratory tests, laboratory mathematics, computer technology, equipment operation and maintenance, sterilization and safety, communications skills, and interpersonal skills.

  • Illustrative example(s)

    • clinical lab assistant
    • clinical laboratory assistant
    • medical laboratory assistant

    All examples

  • Exclusion(s)

    • biology lab technology(41.0101)
    • clinical laboratory science(51.1005)
    • clinical laboratory technician(51.1004)
    • medical assistant(51.0801)
51.0803 - Occupational therapist assistant

This instructional program class comprises any program that prepares individuals, under the supervision of occupational therapists, to direct patient participation in skill-enhancing, learning, and motivational tasks; correct or diminish pathologies; and to provide direct health education and promotion services. These programs include courses in human lifespan development, occupational therapy principles and practice skills, treatment planning and implementation, record keeping and documentation, patient education and intervention, activity and program direction, and assistive services management.

  • Illustrative example(s)

    • occupational therapist assistant
    • occupational therapy assistant

    All examples

  • Exclusion(s)

    • occupational health nursing(51.3815)
    • occupational medicine - residency(61.2303)
    • occupational therapy(51.2306)
    • physical therapy assistant(51.0806)
    • rehabilitation assistant (RA)(51.0817)
    • vocational rehabilitation counselling(51.2310)
51.0805 - Pharmacy technician/assistant

This instructional program class comprises any program that prepares individuals, under the supervision of pharmacists, to prepare medications, provide medications and related assistance to patients, and manage pharmacy clinical and business operations. These programs include courses in medical and pharmaceutical terminology; principles of pharmacology and pharmaceutics; drug identification; pharmacy laboratory procedures; prescription interpretation; patient communication and education; safety procedures; record keeping; measurement and testing techniques; pharmacy business operations; prescription preparation; logistics and dispensing operations; and applicable standards and regulations.

  • Illustrative example(s)

    • pharmacist assistant
    • pharmacy assistant
    • pharmacy technician
    • pharmacy technology

    All examples

  • Exclusion(s)

    • pharmacology(26.1001)
    • pharmacy(51.2001)
    • pre-pharmacy(51.1103)
51.0806 - Physical therapy assistant

This instructional program class comprises any program that prepares individuals, under the supervision of a physical therapist, to implement physical therapy treatment care plans, train patients, conduct treatment interventions, use equipment, and observe and record patient progress. These programs include courses in applied anatomy and physiology, behavioural sciences, biomechanics, clinical documentation, clinical pathology, communication, exercise physiology, kinesiology, neuroscience, and professional standards and ethics.

  • Illustrative example(s)

    • physical therapy assistant
    • physiotherapist assistant
    • physiotherapy assistant

    All examples

  • Exclusion(s)

    • kinesiology and health science(31.0505)
    • occupational therapist assistant(51.0803)
    • physical therapist(51.2308)
    • physical therapy aide(51.2605)
    • physical therapy technician(51.2605)
    • rehabilitation assistant (RA)(51.0817)
51.0809 - Anesthesiologist assistant

This instructional program class comprises any program that prepares individuals to assist anesthesiologists and nurse anesthetists in developing and implementing patient anesthesia care plans, including pre-operative, surgical theatre, recovery room, and postoperative/intensive care procedures. These programs include courses in patient data collection, catheter insertion, airway management and drug administration, assisting the administration and monitoring of regional and peripheral nerve blockades, support therapy, adjusting anesthetic levels during surgery, interoperative monitoring, postoperative procedures, pain clinics and patient education, and administrative tasks.

  • Illustrative example(s)

    • anaesthetist assistant
    • anesthesiologist assistant

    All examples

  • Exclusion(s)

    • anesthesiology - residency(61.0401)
    • critical care anesthesiology - fellowship(61.0202)
    • nurse anesthetist(51.3804)
    • respiratory therapy assistant(51.0812)
    • veterinary anesthesiology - residency(60.0301)
51.0810 - Emergency care attendant (EMT ambulance)

This instructional program class comprises any program that prepares individuals to assist licensed EMTs, under the supervision of a physician, to prepare and transport ill or injured patients, and to operate emergency vehicles and equipment such as life support units. These programs include courses in first aid and emergency medicine field techniques; patient stabilization and care; medical field communications; equipment operation and maintenance; emergency vehicle operation; and applicable standards and regulations.

  • Illustrative example(s)

    • ambulance attendant
    • ambulance technician
    • emergency care attendant
    • emergency medical care attendant
    • emergency medical responder (EMR)
    • emergency medical technician - ambulance (EMT-A)
    • emergency medical technician (ambulance)

    All examples

  • Exclusion(s)

    • critical incident response/special police operations(43.0119)
    • emergency management(43.0302)
    • emergency medical technician (paramedic)(51.0904)
    • pediatric emergency medicine - fellowship(61.1908)
51.0811 - Pathology/pathologist assistant

This instructional program class comprises any program that prepares individuals, under the supervision of pathologists, to assist in the performance of autopsies, obtaining and preparing surgical specimens, preparing autopsy reports, and interacting with other clinicians, officials, and individuals. These programs include courses in anatomy; physiology; medical terminology; general, systemic, forensic, and pediatric pathology; autopsy procedures; surgical technique; medical photography; tissue preparation; record keeping and laboratory administration; interpersonal skills; and applicable standards and regulations.

  • Illustrative example(s)

    • pathologist assistant
    • pathology assistant
    • pathology technician

    All examples

  • Exclusion(s)

    • pathology(26.0910)
    • pathology - residency(61.1801)
    • speech-language pathology assistant(51.0816)
51.0812 - Respiratory therapy technician/assistant

This instructional program class comprises any program that prepares individuals to administer general respiratory care procedures under the supervision of respiratory therapists in a variety of clinical settings. These programs include courses in patient data collection and monitoring, airway management, installation of nebulizers and other respiratory assistance devices, application and monitoring of breathing gases, equipment operation and maintenance, safety and sanitation procedures, and applicable regulations.

  • Illustrative example(s)

    • respiratory therapist assistant
    • respiratory therapy assistant
    • respiratory therapy technician

    All examples

  • Exclusion(s)

    • anesthesiologist assistant(51.0809)
    • nurse anesthetist(51.3804)
    • respiratory technology(51.0908)
    • respiratory therapist(51.0908)
51.0813 - Chiropractic assistant/technician

This instructional program class comprises any program that prepares individuals, under the supervision of a chiropractor, to provide patient management, examination, and treatment services. These programs include courses in the principles and procedures of chiropractic; radiographic X-ray procedures and techniques; X-ray film analysis and media studies; orthopedic and neurological testing; clinical laboratory procedures; patient management and education; office administrative skills; and applicable laws and regulations.

  • Illustrative example(s)

    • chiropractic assistant
    • chiropractic technician

    All examples

  • Exclusion(s)

    • doctor of chiropractic medicine (DC)(51.0101)
    • medical assistant(51.0801)
    • medical office assistant(51.0710)
51.0814 - Radiologist assistant

This instructional program class comprises any program that prepares individuals, under the supervision of a physician, to perform patient assessment, patient management, selected imaging procedures and to make initial observations of diagnostic images. These programs include courses in radiologic procedures and techniques, cross sectional anatomy, pharmacology, pathophysiology, patient assessment, patient care and management, and radiation biology.

  • Illustrative example(s)

    • radiologist assistant

    All examples

  • Exclusion(s)

    • medical radiation technologist(51.0911)
    • radiation protection/health physics technician(51.0916)
    • radiation therapist(51.0907)
51.0815 - Lactation consultant

This instructional program class comprises any program that prepares individuals to provide lactation management services and breastfeeding support to women, and to work as a lactation consultant in a variety of clinical settings. These programs include courses in anatomy and physiology of lactation, nutrition, breastfeeding techniques and technologies, common concerns and solutions, management of special situations, breastfeeding instruction, professional and legal concerns, and advocacy.

  • Illustrative example(s)

    • lactation consultant
    • lactation counsellor
    • lactation education
    • lactation management

    All examples

51.0816 - Speech-language pathology assistant

This instructional program class comprises any program that prepares individuals, under the supervision of speech-language pathologists, to assist in the provision of speech-language pathology services to individuals of all ages, including screenings and assessments, following treatment plans or protocols, documenting and reporting patient performance, performing checks and maintenance of equipment, and providing support in research projects. These programs include courses in speech and language development, phonetics, childhood and adult communication disorders, speech and hearing screening, and clinical procedures in speech-language pathology.

  • Illustrative example(s)

    • communicative disorders assistant
    • speech-language pathology assistant
    • speech-language therapy assistant

    All examples

  • Exclusion(s)

    • child speech-language disorders(51.0299)
    • occupational therapy and speech-language therapy assistant(51.0817)
    • pathology assistant(51.0811)
    • speech-language pathology(51.0203)
51.0817 - Rehabilitation assistantCAN

This instructional program class comprises any program that prepares individuals to cross train in at least two of occupational therapist assistant, physical therapist assistant, and speech-language pathology assistant, in order to implement therapies, direct and train patients, and provide services under the supervision of an occupational therapist, physical therapist, or speech-language pathologist. These programs include courses in the principles, procedures and practice skills of occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology; applied anatomy and physiology; normal functional movement; disabling conditions; psychology; infection control; wound and injury care; documentation and record keeping; and ethics and professional practices.

  • Illustrative example(s)

    • occupational therapy and physical therapy assistant
    • occupational therapy and speech-language therapy assistant
    • OTA/PTA
    • physical therapy and speech-language therapy assistant
    • physiotherapy and occupational therapy assistant
    • rehab assistant
    • rehabilitation assistant (RA)
    • rehabilitation therapist assistant
    • rehabilitation therapy assistant
    • therapy assistant - occupational therapy and physiotherapy

    All examples

  • Exclusion(s)

    • occupational therapist assistant(51.0803)
    • pediatric rehabilitation medicine - fellowship(61.2003)
    • physical therapy assistant(51.0806)
    • rehabilitation aide(51.2604)
    • rehabilitation science(51.2314)
    • rehabilitation therapist(51.2300)
    • speech-language pathology assistant(51.0816)
51.0899 - Allied health and medical assisting services, other

This instructional program class comprises any program not listed above that relates to Allied health and medical assisting services.

  • Illustrative example(s)

    • audiometric technician
    • industrial audiometric technician
    • other allied health and medical assisting services

    All examples

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