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  • Communicative Disorders Assistant (graduate certificate)

Communicative Disorders Assistant (graduate certificate)

Ministry-approved title: Communicative Disorders Assistant


Credential
Ontario College Graduate Certificate
Location
Oshawa
OCAS Code
CDA
Next Intake
September 2025
View all intakes
Faculty
Faculty of Health Sciences (HS)
Length
Three consecutive semesters
Delivery
In person Learn more.
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Program Overview

Communicative disorders assistants, under the guidance of speech-language pathologists and/or audiologists, help implement effective treatment plans that will assist people of all ages to communicate more effectively. The program has a dedicated Communicative Disorders Assistant Audiology lab featuring the latest technologies being used in the field. The first two semesters are focused on classroom courses and practical, hands-on lab skills. Students have opportunities to gain practical clinic skills through DC Kids Speech and Language Clinic and in their third semester they will attend field placements at various locations and agencies where they will take advantage of invaluable experiential learning opportunities which help them prepare for their careers.  

Intakes and Availability

Date Domestic Availability International Availability PGWP eligible program. Learn more
September 2025WaitlistedOpenApply now
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Admission Requirements

  • Two or three-year college diploma or three or four-year university degree with emphasis on communicative disorders; linguistics; cognitive sciences; psychology; health sciences; social sciences and/or human/social services curriculum.
  • Applicants with a diploma or degree outside the scope named 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.
  • Proof of English language proficiency required.

Applicants who are internationally educated in a non‐English speaking country must meet Durham College’s English Language Proficiency Policy.

This program may be highly competitive and have a specific selection process and application deadline. Please refer to Admission Processes for details.

Please note: For applications to the CDA program, there is no requirement to submit a letter of intent, resume or references. However, as noted above, volunteer and/or work experience may be requested if applicants do not meet the academic requirements for admission listed above.


Tuition

  • Year one domestic: $5,026 (CAD)
  • Year one international: $17,613 (CAD)

View full costs


Semester 1 Courses

  • Anatomy and Physiology Of Communication and Swallowing (ANAT 1100)
  • Introduction to Audiology (AUDI 1100)
  • Augmentative and Alternative Communication and Assistive Technology (AUDI 1101)
  • Clinical and Professional Practice 1 (AUDI 1102)
  • Child Language Acquisition and Related Disorders 1 (LING 1100)
  • Articulation and Phonology (LING 1101)
  • Adult Neurogenic Disorders and Rehabilitation 1 (REHA 1100)

View all courses


Career Options

WHAT YOU COULD BE:

  • Audiometric/hearing technician
  • Behavioural therapist
  • Communicative disorders assistant
  • Communication health assistant
  • Infant hearing screener/technician
  • Rehabilitation assistant
  • Speech language therapy assistant

View all career options

Connect with us

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Please contact the international office.

Program Details

This graduate certificate program is designed for students with previous education and/or relevant experience (please see the entrance requirements section of this page for more details). 

Communicative disorders assistants (CDAs), under the guidance of qualified speech-language pathologists and/or audiologists, play a variety of roles including providing speech and language therapy to children and adults in addition to carrying out speech/language screenings and hearing screenings and assessments. 

Durham College’s CDA program, which is recognized by the Communicative Disorders Assistant Association of Canada (CDAAC) and Speech-Language and Audiology Canada (SAC) will enable you to obtain the knowledge, skills, confidence and credentials needed to deliver a wide range of communication services to clients of all ages with speech, language and/or hearing disorders. 

We provide you with a thorough understanding of physiological and functional speech/language and hearing disorders and the development of essential programming skills and communication intervention techniques as we prepare you for a rewarding career in the field of communicative disorders and teach you the most current and effective therapy techniques. 

Our faculty members are dedicated speech-language pathologists, audiologists and communicative disorders assistants with many years of clinical experience in communicative disorders. They foster student learning through: 

  • Technology-assisted learning including real-life simulations. 
  • Practical and engaging hands-on lab activities. 
  • Dynamic guest speakers who are practicing in the field. 
  • Specialized workshops and field trips. 

You will practice your skills in our dedicated CDA classroom, and speech-language/AAC and audiology lab, which is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and clinical resources that allow students to hone their clinical and professional skills. 

Students gain practical clinical experience throughout the academic year with the opportunity to participate in our on-campus DC Kids Speech and Language Clinic Our on-site community speech and language clinic, provides assessments and intervention to clients from preschool-age to high school. Under the supervision of a registered Speech-language Pathologist, students participate in speech and language assessments, assist in the development of treatment plans and provide direct therapy to a wide range of clients. 

Our CDA program also includes two clinical field placements in the third and final semester of our program, totaling 500 hours, often leading to full-time positions for our students after graduation. 

Program Learning Outcomes

  1. Interact with others in ways that contribute to effective working relationships.
  2. Establish and sustain therapeutic relationships with patients/clients and their significant others/caregivers.
  3. Contribute, under the supervision of an audiologist or speech-language pathologist, to the process of undertaking patient/client screenings and assist with assessments.
  4. Contribute, under the supervision of an audiologist or speech-language pathologist, to the development, implementation, modification and evaluation of speech/language/hearing programs to achieve the goals of the treatment plan.
  5. Promote personal safety and the safety of others in providing effective care.
  6. Communicate effectively, through oral, written and non-verbal means with patients/clients, their significant others/caregivers, audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and/or other team members.
  7. Educate, under the supervision of an audiologist or speech-language pathologist, patients/clients and their significant others/caregivers concerning their role in implementing the treatment plan.
  8. Use assistive technology and augmentative communication resources and perform routinely required maintenance.
  9. Comply with requirements for accountability, responsibility and legal, professional and ethical standards of practice.
  10. Develop and implement strategies to maintain professional competence.

Admission Requirements

  • Two or three-year college diploma or three or four-year university degree with emphasis on communicative disorders; linguistics; cognitive sciences; psychology; health sciences; social sciences and/or human/social services curriculum.
  • Applicants with a diploma or degree outside the scope named 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.
  • Proof of English language proficiency required.

Applicants who are internationally educated in a non‐English speaking country must meet Durham College’s English Language Proficiency Policy.

This program may be highly competitive and have a specific selection process and application deadline. Please refer to Admission Processes for details.

Please note: For applications to the CDA program, there is no requirement to submit a letter of intent, resume or references. However, as noted above, volunteer and/or work experience may be requested if applicants do not meet the academic requirements for admission listed above.

Courses

The courses listed below are for incoming students. If you are a current student, please refer to your program of study for the year you began your program. Your program of study can be found on MyDC.

Semester 1

  • Anatomy and Physiology Of Communication and Swallowing (ANAT 1100)
  • Introduction to Audiology (AUDI 1100)
  • Augmentative and Alternative Communication and Assistive Technology (AUDI 1101)
  • Clinical and Professional Practice 1 (AUDI 1102)
  • Child Language Acquisition and Related Disorders 1 (LING 1100)
  • Articulation and Phonology (LING 1101)
  • Adult Neurogenic Disorders and Rehabilitation 1 (REHA 1100)

Semester 2

  • Stuttering and Voice (AUDI 1200)
  • Clinical and Professional Practice 2 (AUDI 1201)
  • Child Language Acquisition and Related Disorders 2 (LING 1200)
  • Amplification Systems and Aural Rehabilitation (REHA 1200)
  • Adult Neurogenic Disorders and Rehabilitation 2 (REHA 1201)
  • Principles Of Therapy and Programming for Diverse Populations (SOCI 1205)

Semester 3

  • Practicum Seminar (AUDI 1300)
  • Integrated Practicum 1 (AUDI 1301)
  • Integrated Practicum 2 (AUDI 1302)

Courses, course descriptions and delivery formats are subject to change.

Course delivery

In person

Students will come to campus to complete in-person learning requirements. Detailed schedules, with course-specific delivery information, will be available after registration. Courses, course descriptions and delivery formats are subject to change.

In person:
Course is delivered in person, on campus within a classroom, lab, shop or studio.
Hybrid:
Part of the course is delivered online, remotely, and part is in-person on campus within a classroom, lab, shop or studio.
Online:
Fully remote course delivery.

Costs

Career Options

WHAT YOU COULD BE:

  • Audiometric/hearing technician
  • Behavioural therapist
  • Communicative disorders assistant
  • Communication health assistant
  • Infant hearing screener/technician
  • Rehabilitation assistant
  • Speech language therapy assistant

WHERE YOU COULD WORK:

  • Audiology and hearing aid clinics
  • Children’s treatment centres
  • Hospitals and rehabilitation centres
  • Infant and school-aged hearing screening programs
  • Long-term care facilities
  • Preschool speech and language programs
  • Private speech and language clinics
  • School boards and private schools
  • Specialized daycare/early years centres

Field Placement

Your learning experience will be complemented by two clinical field placements in the third semester, totaling over 500 hours, under the supervision of qualified clinicians. This opportunity will provide you with hands-on experience and the ability to practice your skills. Depending on student preference, field placements may be obtained locally as well as throughout Ontario and Canada.   Students are encouraged to secure their own field placements at their choice location. Our Field Placement Officer also works with school boards, hospitals, and larger agencies to place students directly. Field placements are unpaid experiences and students attend full-time from May to August. Placements may also require travel and commuting; students are responsible for any associated expenses for travel.   

PRE-PLACEMENT REQUIREMENTS

Please note: There are costs associated with Electronic Requirements Verification (ERV), immunizations, lab tests and certifications. Be sure to keep all of your receipts for income tax purposes. These costs include:

  • Service fees for Verified, our documentation collection and ERV verification partner.
  • Costs to complete mandatory immunizations, lab tests, and certifications.

It is required that students have completed the ERV with Verified to be eligible for the field placement component of this program. You must (at your expense) provide:

  • A clear and current Criminal Reference Check (CRC) with Vulnerable Sector Screening (VSS). If you cannot provide a clear CRC with VSS, you may not be accepted for placement by a field placement agency. CRCs with VSS must be obtained from your local police station. You may be required to obtain additional CRCs with VSS to meet field placement agency requirements.
  • Current Level C CPR certification from a recognized provider.
  • Current standard first aid certification from a recognized provider.
  • Entry immunization form completed by a health-care provider.

Links:

  • Communicative Disorders Assistant ERV Information Package
  • Verified ERV User Guide

Program Transfer, Degree Completion and Additional Credentials

Graduates may also be eligible to apply their academic credits toward further study through Durham College’s partnerships with many Canadian and international colleges and universities.

Looking for more pathway opportunities or to transfer to Durham College? Click here for more information.

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Durham College is situated on the traditional lands of the First Peoples of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation. These lands are covered under the Williams Treaties and rest within the traditional territory of the Anishinaabeg. We offer our gratitude to the Indigenous Peoples who care for and, through the treaty process, share the lands on which we live, learn, teach and prosper today.

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