Student-Run and Teaching Clinics in Ontario: Lower-Cost Dental, Physio, Therapy and Eye Care

Many Ontario colleges and universities run clinics where students in health programs treat patients while licensed professionals supervise. Fees are often lower than at private clinics. Here is how they work and what to expect.

How teaching clinics work

Students provide care as part of their training. A supervising clinician reviews the plan and is responsible for your care. You get a clinician-approved treatment plan, usually at a reduced fee, and you help train the next generation of professionals.

Where they exist

Teaching clinics run in several areas, including:

• Dental: university dentistry programs and dental hygiene programs at colleges often have public clinics with lower fees.
• Optometry: the University of Waterloo School of Optometry and Vision Science runs a patient clinic.
• Chiropractic: the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College in Toronto runs a public clinic.
• Psychology and counselling: some university psychology departments run training clinics offering therapy at lower cost.
• Physiotherapy and other rehab: some programs run student clinics, though availability changes.

Programs change. Always confirm on the school’s own site whether the clinic is open, which services it offers and what it charges.

What to expect

Longer appointments. Students work carefully, and a supervisor checks each step. A visit can take longer than at a private clinic.

Waitlists. Many teaching clinics have limited capacity and a waiting period.

Eligibility. Some clinics ask questions about your needs, since cases must fit what students are learning. Some have income-based fees.

Continuity. Students graduate, and your clinician may change over time. Ask how the clinic handles this.

Is the quality okay?

Care is supervised by licensed professionals, and the clinic is accountable to its school and regulator. Many patients are happy with their care. Still, a complex or urgent problem may be better handled by an experienced private clinician. Ask the clinic whether your needs are a good match.

Questions to ask

1. Are you accepting new patients?
2. What is the fee for my service?
3. How long is the wait?
4. Who supervises the students?
5. How are appointments and any follow-up handled?

Other lower-cost routes

If a teaching clinic does not fit, try a reduced-fee private practitioner, a community health centre, or public dental programs for eligible groups. Many teaching clinics can also point you in the right direction.

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This article is general information, not medical advice. It does not replace an assessment by a regulated health professional. In an emergency, call 911.

Prices and coverage rules are general and change over time. Confirm current fees with the provider and current coverage rules with the official source before you decide.