Physical Therapist Assistant
(Associate in Applied Science – AAS)
Curriculum Requirements 

Program Description

The Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program prepares students to enter a variety of health care settings including hospitals, private practices, community health centers, nursing homes, sports facilities, rehabilitation centers, and pediatric centers. Students learn professional competencies in courses to prepare them to work as PTAs in clinical settings as well as taking liberal arts courses. Students participate in two part-time and two full-time internships to gain hands-on experience in the field of physical therapy.

Physical therapist assistants are skilled health care providers who work under the supervision of licensed physical therapists. They teach patients exercise routines and rehabilitation activities, assist in treatment programs as well as with clinic and equipment preparation, and report to the physical therapist on the progress of patients. 

Accreditation

The Physical Therapist Assistant Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). Accreditation was initially granted in May 2000 and re-accreditation for a ten-year period was affirmed in 2006.  

Program Facilities  

The PTA Program has two dedicated laboratory rooms to provide students the opportunity to practice clinical skills. These labs allow students to practice patient assessment and treatment techniques, including gait devices, exercise equipment, and state-of-the-art physical agents (electrical stimulation, ultrasound, laser, traction, biofeedback, diathermy, and compression). The PTA Program engages students in practice at the adjacent Felician Sisters Health and Wellness Center, practicing skills on the residents of this assisted living and long term care facility.

Program Requirements

 • Students are required to attain a grade of C+ or better in all PTA courses If students 

 fail to achieve a grade of C+, they may re-take that course. A student may only retake  one PTA course before dismissal from the program.

 • Students must have an annual physical exam, PPD or Mantoux test for TB, and have 

 Hepatitis B immunization or a signed waiver of immunization prior to placement in 

 clinical internship.

 • Students must be CPR certified prior to placement in clinical internships. The PTA 

 program provides a CPR course for students on a yearly basis. Students are responsible  for fees for this course. 

 • Students must be members of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). 

 Fees for membership are included in course fees for PTA 101 and PTA 201.

Career Potential & Employment Outlook

The Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that employment opportunities for physical therapist assistants are very good. Employment is expected to grow much faster than average due to the increased demand.

Physical Therapist Assistants (PTA) work with physical therapists in hospitals, offices, rehabilitation centers and other clinical settings. Due to the aging population and medical and 

technological improvements that enable people to live longer and recover from traumatic 

injury, the number of people who require these services will increase. Physical therapists 

are increasingly using assistants to reduce costs of physical therapists and once a patient is evaluated, much of a treatment plan is provided by the physical therapist assistant. According the Bureau of Labor Statistics, PTA positions will continue to increase by 29% through 2016.

The Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program prepares students to enter a variety of health care settings including hospitals, private practices, community health centers, nursing homes, sports facilities, rehabilitation centers, and pediatric centers. Students learn professional competencies in courses to prepare them to work as PTAs in clinical settings as well as taking liberal arts courses. Students participate in two part-time and two full-time internships to gain hands-on experience in the field of physical therapy.

Physical therapist assistants are skilled health care providers who work under the supervision of licensed physical therapists. They teach patients exercise routines and rehabilitation activities, assist in treatment programs as well as with clinic and equipment preparation, and report to the physical therapist on the progress of patients. 

The Physical Therapist Assistant Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). Accreditation was initially granted in May 2000 and re-accreditation for a ten-year period was affirmed in 2006.  

Program Facilities  

The PTA Program has two dedicated laboratory rooms to provide students the opportunity to practice clinical skills. These labs allow students to practice patient assessment and treatment techniques, including gait devices, exercise equipment, and state-of-the-art physical agents (electrical stimulation, ultrasound, laser, traction, biofeedback, diathermy, and compression). The PTA Program engages students in practice at the adjacent Felician Sisters Health and Wellness Center, practicing skills on the residents of this assisted living and long term care facility.

• Students are required to attain a grade of C+ or better in all PTA courses If students fail to achieve a grade of C+, they may re-take that course. A student may only retake one PTA course before dismissal from the program.
• Students must have an annual physical exam, PPD or Mantoux test for TB, and have Hepatitis B immunization or a signed waiver of immunization prior to placement in clinical internship.
• Students must be CPR certified prior to placement in clinical internships. The PTA program provides a CPR course for students on a yearly basis. Students are responsible for fees for this course. 
• Students must be members of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). Fees for membership are included in course fees for PTA 101 and PTA 201.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that employment opportunities for physical therapist assistants are very good. Employment is expected to grow much faster than average due to the increased demand. Physical Therapist Assistants (PTA) work with physical therapists in hospitals, offices, rehabilitation centers and other clinical settings. Due to the aging population and medical and technological improvements that enable people to live longer and recover from traumatic injury, the number of people who require these services will increase. Physical therapists are increasingly using assistants to reduce costs of physical therapists and once a patient is evaluated, much of a treatment plan is provided by the physical therapist assistant. According the Bureau of Labor Statistics, PTA positions will continue to increase by 29% through 2016.