33109 – Other assisting occupations in support of health services

Lead statement

Audiometric technicians administer tests such as pure tone hearing screening, impedance tests and noise level measurements using equipment such as audiometers and sound level meters to determine hearing thresholds of patients.

Main duties

• Under the supervision of audiologists, administer tests such as pure tone hearing screening, impedance tests and noise level measurements using equipment such as audiometers and sound level meters to determine hearing thresholds of patients
• Instruct patients on test procedures and record results
• Monitor, check and calibrate auditory equipment
• May take earmold impressions and fit and adjust hearing instruments.
• Assist orthopedic surgeons in the treatment of orthopedic diseases and injuries by applying and adjusting casts, splints, bandages and other orthopedic devices
• Assist in the application, maintenance and adjustment of traction equipment
• Clean and dress wounds
• Remove casts, sutures, staples and pins
• Instruct patients and their families and other health care professionals with respect to orthopedic matters.
• Prepare and maintain equipment and supplies
• Assist in activities for the rehabilitation of patients as directed by health care professionals
• May perform routine office functions.
• Take patients' general medical and ophthalmic history
• Operate ophthalmic testing and measuring instruments to aid ophthalmologists in assessing patients' vision
• Instruct patient on diagnostic test and record results
• Assist ophthalmologists in minor office surgery
• Administer eye drops, ointments and medications as directed by ophthalmologists
• Clean and maintain ophthalmic instruments and equipment
• Perform various administrative duties
• Operate laboratory equipment to grind, cut, polish and edge lenses for eyeglasses according to prescriptions received and fit lenses into frames
• Make minor repairs for customers such as replacing frame screws or straightening frames
• Maintain and repair optical laboratory equipment or machinery.
• Operate and maintain sterilization equipment such as instrument washers, sonic sinks, cart washers and steam autoclaves to clean and disinfect trays, carts, linens, supplies, instrumentation and equipment for re-use according to standardized safety practices
• Reassemble equipment and assemble packs of sterile supplies and instruments for delivery to hospital departments.
• Set up and dismantle equipment
• Prepare and maintain cleanliness of collection areas
• Maintain supplies
• Monitor donors throughout procedure and assist with post-donation care and donor reaction care as assigned under the supervision of a registered nurse
• Record information on donors
• Label and process donated blood.
• Assist pathologists at autopsies by laying out surgical instruments
• Prepare solutions for preservation of specimens
• Transfer bodies from morgue to examining table
• Remove organs and tissue specimens, as instructed by attending pathologist, and placing them in preservative solutions
• Clean and sew up bodies for release to funeral home.

Employment requirements

• Audiometric technicians usually require a specialization in industrial audiometry testing.
• Orthopedic technologists usually require completion of secondary school andseveral months of on-the-job training ora college orthopedic technologist program.
• Registration with the Canadian Society of Orthopaedic Technologists is available and may be required by employers.
• Health care courses or short-term college programs related to the work of medical therapy aides, such as recreational therapy programs, are available and may be required by employers.
• Ophthalmic assistants require completion of a six to twelve month ophthalmic assistants college program or a minimum of one year of on-the-job training under the supervision of an ophthalmologist, and completion of an approved ophthalmic assistant home study program.
• Certification by the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology may be required by employers.
• Completion of secondary school and several months of on-the-job training are usually required for other assisting occupations in this unit group.
• Sterile processing technicians require completion of secondary school and a six- to nine-month sterile processing college program.

Example job titles

audiometric assistant · audiometric technician · orthopedic assistant · orthopedic technician · orthopedic technologist · orthopedic physician assistant · orthopedist aide · herbal medicine assistant · phytotherapy assistant · chiropractic aide · occupational therapy aide · occupational therapy helper · chiropractic assistant · chiropractic health assistant · physical therapy attendant · physiotherapy attendant · rehabilitation aide · recreational therapy aide · recreation aide - health services · recreation therapist aide · ophthalmic assistant · certified ophthalmic assistant (COA) · ophthalmic lab technician - retail · ophthalmic laboratory technician - retail · optical technician · optical laboratory technician · optical laboratory assistant · ophthalmic lens grinder · optical mechanic · optical lens inspector · optometric technician · optometric assistant · sterile supply room attendant · medical material handler · instrument sterilizer - medical · medical instrument sterilizer · sterile processing technician · sterile processing worker · sterilization attendant · sterilization processing attendant

Wages (per hour)

Source: Job Bank wages, 2025 release (ESDC). Low and high are the 10th and 90th percentiles.