For five years, Jason MacLean worked within the healthcare industry as a cleaner. He worked closely with Personal Support Workers (PSW) and Registered Practical Nurses (RPN) and felt inspired by them. When a change of owners at his company brought job cuts, Jason was let go. Little did he know that his journey to become a Physiotherapy Assistant had started on that day.

In addition to working alongside the therapist, Physiotherapy Assistants are responsible for teaching, training, and assisting patients with their mobility limitations.

Visiting the Employment Centre downtown London, Jason spoke with a councilor who suggested that he get involved with Second Career, a government-run program that assists with tuition for those going back to school to change careers.

Jason wasn’t sure what he wanted to do, but he knew that he wanted it to be within the medical field. After considering different program descriptions, Jason decided that he was going to go to school to be a Physiotherapy Assistant. He looked into three different schools that offered the program that he was looking for, and decided on triOS College. The Ministry approved his application, and after 15 years, Jason was going back to school.

“It was nerve wracking going back to school after so long,” Jason says. “But the faculty and staff were really great with me, the student body was great, it was a very pleasant experience.” The staff at the London campus were determined to support Jason, and were there to help him through his program.

Looking back on what he learned in the classroom, he feels most thankful for the internship. “It was something I was able to learn from the practical hands-on experience,” he says. “It really helped to get me going.” About a week after graduating, Jason got a job as a Physiotherapy Assistant.

He says that the most exciting part of his job is being taught by an actual therapist, seeing how much they know about human anatomy, and learning all the exercises that actually help their patients. “When I see someone able to walk who we didn’t think could, and next thing you know after a couple months and they’re starting to walk? I find that to be a thrill,” Jason explains. “To see them being able to walk again, it’s a real miracle almost.”

Since going back to school, Jason notes that there were a lot of changes, and there are still challenges in life, but that there always will be. At the end of the day, Jason says that his new jobs makes him feel like he’s done something for someone. “It’s not just a job anymore, it’s a career and you’re making a difference in someone’s life, which is something I’ve always wanted to do.”

Click to learn about our Occupational Therapy Assistant or Physiotherapy Assistant programs at triOS. Visit our Physiotherapy Assistant and Occupational Therapy Assistant program page to discover more.