Physical Therapist Assistant

ASSOCIATE DEGREE IN PHYSICAL THERAPY
CERTIFICATE IN PRE-PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT

Physial Therapist helping patient walkAbout the Career

Physical therapy is a health profession that involves direct patient care of individuals who experience temporary or permanent disability due to pain, injury, disease or birth defect. 

A physical therapist assistant (PTA) works under the supervision of a registered physical therapist. Responsibilities include direct patient care and assisting therapists in the performance of complex evaluation and treatment procedures.  Additional tasks may include participation in clinical education, patient conference, in-service education, record keeping and clinical duties.

Many jobs for physical therapist assistants are in hospitals or private practice offices. Others work in nursing and extended care facilities, outpatient rehabilitation centers and home health agencies.

 

Physical Therapist examining patientAbout the Program

This program is a two-phase curriculum. Phase I, the Pre-Physical Therapist Assistant certificate, includes the general education and related courses (English, math, anatomy and physiology, etc.) required in the curriculum. 

The second phase, Phase II of the associate degree, includes the hands-on, technical portion of the program. During Phase II, students intensively study physical therapy procedures in class, laboratory and clinical facilities. Full-time clinical rotations complete the program. Upon successful completion of Phase II, students receive an Associate in Health Science, Physical Therapist Assistant.

The program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). Graduates of the program are eligible to sit for the national licensure exam.