Saskatchewan JobFutures

Nature of Work

This occupational group includes optometrists, chiropractors and other health professionals who diagnose and treat patients' diseases and injuries. They usually work in private practices but are also employed in clinics, hospitals and community health centres.

Nature of Work

This occupational group includes optometrists, chiropractors and other health professionals who diagnose and treat patients' diseases and injuries. They usually work in private practices but are also employed in clinics, hospitals and community health centres.

Duties

Optometrists may specialize in fitting contact lenses, correcting vision problems, fitting visual aids for people who are partially blind. They are responsible for examining patients' eyes, conducting tests and using ophthalmoscopes, biomicroscopes and other specialized instruments to determine visual efficiency. Optometrists also prescribe treatment (excluding surgery) to conserve, improve and correct vision and other ocular disorders, and refer patients to ophthalmologists or other physicians and surgeons when ocular or other diseases are found. They are generally responsible for prescribing and fitting eyeglasses and contact lenses, counselling patients on contact lens use and care, visual hygiene, lighting arrangements, working distances and safety factors.

Chiropractors diagnose disorders of the spine and other body joints. They also treat those patients whose symptoms result from abnormal musculo-skeletal conditions or joint mechanics through the corrective manipulation of the spinal column or other joints. Chiropractors may also use such additional treatments as heat, light and massage. Other duties include taking patients' case histories, conducting examinations, observing patients and performing or ordering x-rays and other tests to diagnose patients' conditions. Chiropractors also advise patients on corrective exercises, lifestyle and nutrition.

Podiatrists and chiropodists diagnose diseases, deformities and injuries of the human foot and treat patients using braces, casts, shields, splints, physical therapy, medications or surgery.

Naturopaths diagnose patients' diseases and disorders and employ natural methods of healing, such as acupuncture and acupressure, spinal manipulation, reflexology, hydrotherapy, herbal medicines, biochemical therapy, nutritional therapy, homeopathy and psychological therapy in their treatment.

Orthoptists assist ophthalmologists in the diagnosis and treatment of eye disorders. They perform specialized eye tests to measure and assess defective binocular vision or abnormal eye movement in patients, and prescribe treatment, such as eye exercises or patching regiments.

Osteopaths diagnose disorders and injuries of the musculo-skeletal, circulatory and nervous systems and treat patients with manipulative therapy, medications or surgery.

Example Titles

Optometrists:

• doctor of optometry

Chiropractors:

• chiropractic doctor
• doctor of chiropractic (D.C.)

Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating:

• orthoptist
• osteopath
• podiatrist
• naturopath
• chiropodist
• foot specialist

Training Paths

Individuals wishing to become an optometrist or chiropractor must seek training outside Saskatchewan. However, pre-optometry and pre-chiropractic programs are offered at the University of Regina and University of Saskatchewan. Training for optometrists is available at the University of Waterloo, Ontario. An interprovincial training agreement guarantees space in the program for three qualified Saskatchewan students. Enrolment is very limited, however, and competitive.

Training for chiropractors is offered at The Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College in Toronto and University of Quebec a Trois Rivieres. The Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College also offers graduate residency programs. Podiatrists go abroad to complete a four-year degree program. Certification in this field also requires a one to three year internship. Chiropodists usually require a degree or diploma in chiropody. This must be obtained at a certified college outside Saskatchewan. A required science background for Naturopaths and Orthoptists is available at University of Regina and University of Saskatchewan. University of Regina may offer courses required for admission to the professional program. Naturopaths may then take a program in naturopathic medicine from a private institute. Orthoptists are required to complete a hospital-based training program and supervised practical training.

Trends and Outlooks

The employment prospects for this occupation are: fair

After several years of employment growth in the late nineties, this group dropped in size between 2000 and 2005; by 23%, according to the 2006 Census. The most significant drop was in the number of optometrists. Employment for chiropractors and for other health diagnosing and treating professionals remained fairly constant during this time. It should be noted that these are not large occupations in Saskatchewan. So, not a lot of employment opportunities are expected over the next few years, even if this downward trend reverses. Some jobs will open due to attrition. After all, this is not a young work force. In 2006, 45% of all optometrists, chiropractors and other health diagnosing and treating professionals in Saskatchewan were 45 years of age or older. As many of these health professionals retire in the next decade, more job openings will occur.

Optometrists, chiropractors and other health diagnosing and treating professionals are very well paid in Saskatchewan. In 2005, the average full-time income in this occupational group was $68,390 per year, well above the provincial full-time average for all occupations the same year ($42,300 per year). There is a very wide range of incomes in these fields. Optometrists, on average the highest paid professionals in this occupational group, earned as much as $122,600 in 2005. Incomes for these professionals are generally higher in and around Regina and Saskatoon than elsewhere in the province.

The majority (64%) of optometrists, chiropractors and other health diagnosing and treating professionals in the province worked full time in 2005. The following year, in 2006, only 28% of all professionals in these fields were female. Almost all of the optometrists and chiropractors in Saskatchewan are self-employed.

Employment in Saskatchewan for most of these fields is concentrated in Regina and Saskatoon; over 50% of all optometrists, chiropractors and other health diagnosing and treating professionals worked in or around these two cities in 2006. Work is not seasonal, and employment is not very sensitive to overall economic conditions.

An aging Saskatchewan population will increase demand for health services in these fields. Due to rapid changes in diagnostic and treatment technology, professionals in these fields of work must continually upgrade their skills. Those who stay abreast of new technologies may have an advantage over others seeking employment in these fields.

Professional Associations

The Chiropractic Association of Saskatchewan is both a licensing and a regulatory (disciplinary) body. To be eligible to practise in Saskatchewan, applicants must have passed the National Clinical Competency Examination administered by the Canadian Chiropractic Examining Board. Members pay an annual registration fee.

Address:

3420A Hill Avenue

Regina, SK

S4S 0W9

Telephone:(306) 585-1411

Fax:(306) 585-0685

e-mail:cas@saskdc.com

Saskatchewan Association of Optometrists (SAO):

Membership in SAO is mandatory for all those who practise as optometrists in Saskatchewan. Licensure requirements include: an OD degree; acceptance by the SAO as a candidate for licensure; successful and simultaneous completion of the first three parts of the Canadian Standard Assessment in Optometry; and successful completion of the provincial jurisprudence examination. All practising optometrists in the Province are required to take, in every three-year period, 30 hours of continuing professional education and an additional ten hours in therapeutic pharmaceuticals.

Address:

125 3rd Avenue, South

Saskatoon, SK

S7K 1L6

Telephone:(306) 652-2069

Toll free:1-877-660-3937

Fax:(306) 652-2642

e-mail:saskop@sk.sympatico.ca

Related Occupations

Optometrists:

• Orthoptists (in 3123 Other Professional Occupations in Health Diagnosing and Treating)
• Opticians (3231)
• Ophthalmologists (in 3111 Specialist Physicians)

Chiropractors:

• Chiropractic aides (in 6631 Elemental Medical and Hospital Assistants)

Other professional occupations in health diagnosing an treating:

• Chiropractors (3122)
• Specialist Physicians (3111)
• General Practitioners and Family Physicians (3112)
• Midwives and Practitioners of Natural Healing (3232)