Communicative Disorders Assistant (CDA)
Work directly under Speech-Language Pathologists - a faster, highly rewarding route to speech therapy.
About the Career
School boards and private speech clinics heavily rely on CDAs to handle caseload volume.
Salary in Canada
- Entry level: $45,000
- Senior level: $70,000
Great entry point for those wanting to work in speech therapy without a Master's degree.
Job Outlook
Stable demand. School boards and private speech clinics heavily rely on CDAs to handle caseload volume.
How to Get There
- 3-yr BA (Linguistics/Psychology) + 1-yr College Post-Grad Cert
- Time to career: 4-5 years post-Grade 12
Key Skills
- Speech Therapy Activities
- Client Documentation
- Communication Support
- Therapy Program Delivery
- Collaboration with SLPs
Typical Employers
- School boards
- Private speech clinics
- Community health centres
- Long-term care facilities
- Rehab centres
High School Roadmap
- Focus on English and communication skills.
- Volunteer reading to younger children or seniors.
- Research CDA college programs (Georgian, St. Lawrence, Durham).
- Apply to either a college CDA program (some admit direct from high school) or a BA in Linguistics.
Top Universities for This Path
- University of Toronto – Toronto, ON
- Brock University – St. Catharines, ON
Insider Tips
- This is an excellent 'backup' or alternative path if the highly competitive Master's in Speech-Language Pathology is out of reach.
- CDAs do the exact same hands-on therapy with clients, just under the supervision of an SLP.
- The CDA credential is growing in recognition - school boards now hire them directly in many regions.