National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 Version 1.0

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National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 Version 1.0
Introduction
Hierarchical structure

33109 - Other assisting occupations in support of health services

Other assisting workers in support of health services provide services and assistance to health care professionals and other health care staff. They are employed in hospitals, medical clinics, offices of health care professionals, nursing homes, optical retail stores and laboratories, and medical pathology laboratories.

  • Illustrative example(s)

    • audiometric assistant
    • audiometric technician
    • autopsy assistant
    • blood donor clinic assistant
    • cast room technician
    • chiropractic assistant
    • clinical laboratory helper
    • medical device reprocessing technician
    • morgue attendant
    • ophthalmic assistant
    • ophthalmic laboratory technician - retail
    • ophthalmic lens grinder
    • ophthalmologist assistant
    • optical laboratory assistant
    • optometrist assistant
    • orthopedic technologist
    • rehabilitation aide
    • therapy aide

    All examples

  • Exclusion(s)

    • 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)
    • Operating room technician (See 32101 Licensed practical nurses)
    • Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment (See 32109 Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment)
    • Pathologists' assistant (See 31303 Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals)

  • Main duties

    This group performs some or all of the following duties:

    Audiometric technicians

    • Under the supervision of audiologists, administer tests such as pure tone hearing screening, impedance tests and noise level measurements using equipment such as audiometers and sound level meters to determine hearing thresholds of patients
    • Instruct patients on test procedures and record results
    • Monitor, check and calibrate auditory equipment
    • May take earmold impressions and fit and adjust hearing instruments.

    Orthopedic technologists

    • Assist orthopedic surgeons in the treatment of orthopedic diseases and injuries by applying and adjusting casts, splints, bandages and other orthopedic devices
    • Assist in the application, maintenance and adjustment of traction equipment
    • Clean and dress wounds
    • Remove casts, sutures, staples and pins
    • Instruct patients and their families and other health care professionals with respect to orthopedic matters.

    Rehabilitation aids

    • Prepare and maintain equipment and supplies
    • Assist in activities for the rehabilitation of patients as directed by health care professionals
    • May perform routine office functions.

    Ophthalmic assistants

    • Take patients' general medical and ophthalmic history
    • Operate ophthalmic testing and measuring instruments to aid ophthalmologists in assessing patients' vision
    • Instruct patient on diagnostic test and record results
    • Assist ophthalmologists in minor office surgery
    • Administer eye drops, ointments and medications as directed by ophthalmologists
    • Clean and maintain ophthalmic instruments and equipment
    • Perform various administrative duties.

    Optical/ophthalmic laboratory technicians and assistants

    • Operate laboratory equipment to grind, cut, polish and edge lenses for eyeglasses according to prescriptions received and fit lenses into frames
    • Make minor repairs for customers such as replacing frame screws or straightening frames
    • Maintain and repair optical laboratory equipment or machinery.

    Sterile processing technicians

    • Operate and maintain sterilization equipment such as instrument washers, sonic sinks, cart washers and steam autoclaves to clean and disinfect trays, carts, linens, supplies, instrumentation and equipment for re-use according to standardized safety practices
    • Reassemble equipment and assemble packs of sterile supplies and instruments for delivery to hospital departments.

    Blood donor clinic assistants

    • Set up and dismantle equipment
    • Prepare and maintain cleanliness of collection areas
    • Maintain supplies
    • Monitor donors throughout procedure and assist with post-donation care and donor reaction care as assigned under the supervision of a registered nurse
    • Record information on donors
    • Label and process donated blood.

    Morgue attendants

    • Assist pathologists at autopsies by laying out surgical instruments
    • Prepare solutions for preservation of specimens
    • Transfer bodies from morgue to examining table
    • Remove organs and tissue specimens, as instructed by attending pathologist, and placing them in preservative solutions
    • Clean and sew up bodies for release to funeral home.

  • Employment requirements

    • Audiometric technicians usually require a specialization in industrial audiometry testing.
    • Orthopedic technologists usually require completion of secondary school
      and
      several months of on-the-job training
      or
      a college orthopedic technologist program.
    • Registration with the Canadian Society of Orthopaedic Technologists is available and may be required by employers.
    • Ophthalmic assistants require completion of a six to twelve month ophthalmic assistants college program or a minimum of one year of on-the-job training under the supervision of an ophthalmologist, and completion of an approved ophthalmic assistant home study program.
    • Certification by the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology may be required by employers.
    • Health care courses or short-term college programs related to the work of medical therapy aides,  such as recreational therapy programs, are available and may be required by employers.
    • Sterile processing technicians require completion of secondary school and a six- to nine-month sterile processing college program.
    • Completion of secondary school and several months of on-the-job training are usually required for other assisting occupations in this unit group.

  • Additional information

    • Ophthalmic assistants may progress to ophthalmic technician positions with training and experience.
    • Certified Ophthalmic Assistants may also have additional specialty certification such as Registered Ophthalmic Ultrasound Biometrist (ROUB) or Certified Diagnostic Ophthalmic Sonographer (CDOS).
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