UNBC to benefit from expansion of occupational and physical therapy programs

Those wishing to pursue a career as a physiotherapist will soon be able to do so closer to home.

“Expanding UBC’s occupational and physical therapy programs through a partnership with UNBC to create seats in the North will open doors for more students to pursue careers in health care,” said Melanie Mark, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Training, at the announcement held at the campus of UNBC.

“Adding more seats has been a call to action for years.”

Mark added that the government knows that when students are able to live and train in the north, they’re more likely to stay and work in the north.

The additional seats will be a result of an expansion to the current programs at UBC, which is expected to transition to joint UBC/UNBC degrees in the coming of years. It was announced that physical therapy programs will also be expanded to Fraser Valley.

“More occupation and physical therapists will help improve access to care for thousands of patients and support the team-based care work underway throughout the province,” said Minister of Health, Adrian Dix. ”

The Province is providing UBC with $2.2 million to work toward expanding its master of occupational therapy program in the North in partnership with UNBC, with the first intake at UNBC to have an anticipated 20 first-year students in September of 2020.

UBC is also being provided with $1.1 million from The Province to work towards expanding its master of occupational therapy program in the North, which will bring in 16 first-year students to UNBC in September of 2022.

“Expanding these programs in Prince George will improve patient-health outcomes for Northerners for years to come,” said Dermot Kelleher, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine. “Together with UNBC, we are grateful to the government for making this expansion a reality.”

At the moment, there are 80 first-year physiotherapy seats and 48 first-year occupational therapy seats in B.C. By 2022, physiotherapy seats will be increased to 120 spaces and 72 seats for occupational therapy.

Over the next decade, 1,920 job openings for physiotherapy and 1,160 openings for occupational therapy are expected.