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Administrative Support Personnel, Health Care Assistant, Medical Assistant
In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.
The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used. Here is how this occupation has been classified over time:
| Starting | $20.51 |
|---|---|
| Overall | $23.34 |
| Top | $25.89 |
Interest in copying information to assist patients as directed by health care professionals
Interest in assisting patients by helping elderly and incapacitated patients to dress and undress, by accompanying patients to treatment rooms and by supporting them in other activities
Interest in handling to prepare and maintain work materials and supplies; and in assisting patients in the use of therapeutic equipment
The interest code helps you figure out if you’d like to work in a particular occupation.
It’s based on the Canadian Work Preference Inventory (CWPI), which measures 5 occupational interests: Directive, Innovative, Methodical, Objective and Social.
Each set of 3 interest codes is listed in order of importance.
A code in capital letters means it’s a strong fit for the occupation.
A code in all lowercase letters means the fit is weaker.
Chiropractic assistants work under a chiropractor’s supervision. Their work may be mostly clerical or a mix of clerical and helping with patients. It depends on the size of the office. The larger the practice, the more likely chiropractic assistants will specialize in a specific type of work. Larger clinics may cross-train chiropractic assistants in a variety of roles. Some assistants also do marketing and public relations for the clinic.
In general, chiropractic assistants:
Chiropractic assistants might work weekdays, some evenings, or Saturdays. It depends on the office schedule. Some work part-time. They may spend much of their time on their feet.
Chiropractic assistants need to possess:
They should enjoy working within guidelines and helping patients.
In general, chiropractic assistants train on the job. Most often, a high school diploma is required. Additional requirements vary depending on the position. Computer and bookkeeping skills are assets. There are no recognized chiropractic assistant programs in Canada. A therapy assistant diploma or a kinesiology background would be an asset.
The following schools offer programs or courses that are related to this occupation but are not required to enter the field.
For a broad list of programs and courses that may be related to this occupation try searching using keywords.
There is currently no provincial legislation regulating this occupation in Alberta.
Chiropractic assistants work for chiropractors in private clinics and multidisciplinary health clinics.
Prospects for advancement depend on clinic size. Most chiropractors employ only one or two assistants, so future openings are limited. Learning new skills is the most common form of growth.
Chiropractic assistants are part of the 2011 National Occupational Classification 3237: Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment. In Alberta, 87% of people employed in this classification work in the following industries:
The employment outlook [pdf] in this occupation will be influenced by a wide variety of factors including:
In Alberta, the 3414: Other assisting occupations in support of health services occupational group is expected to have an above-average annual growth of 3.1% from 2019 to 2023. In addition to job openings created by employment turnover, 169 new positions are forecasted to be created within this occupational group each year.
Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.
Earnings for chiropractic assistants are often lower than these figures suggest.
| Wages* | Low (5th percentile) | High (95th percentile) | Average | Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting | $15.00 | $24.08 | $20.51 | $21.62 |
| Overall | $16.93 | $28.39 | $23.34 | $23.84 |
| Top | $18.00 | $30.18 | $25.89 | $25.69 |
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* All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production) and other forms of compensation.
High Reliability, represents a CV of less than or equal to 6.00% and 30 survey observations and/or represents 50% or more of all estimated employment for the occupation.
| Public Administration | $57,145 |
|---|---|
| Health Care & Social Assistance | $38,338 |
| ALL INDUSTRIES | $37,912 |
| Finance, Insurance, Real Estate, Leasing | $36,539 |
| Retail Trade | $35,490 |
Updated Mar 31, 2018. The information contained in this profile is current as of the dates shown. Salary, employment outlook, and educational program information may change without notice. It is advised that you confirm this information before making any career decisions.