classroom full of physical therapy assistants

The Physical Therapist Assistant program prepares students to provide skilled direct patient care under the direction and supervision of a licensed physical therapist. Students will acquire the skills necessary to help alleviate pain, improve strength and mobility, and facilitate patients' attainment of maximum function. Physical therapist assistants are employed in a variety of settings including hospitals, rehabilitation centers, long-term care facilities, sports medicine clinics and home health care agencies. Upon successful completion of the program, students are eligible to take the Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) licensureexam. Upon passing the PTA licensure exam, the graduate can practice as a Physical Therapist Assistant. The Physical Therapist Assistant program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). This degree requires a minimum of 67.5 credits in program requirements and general education in the courses listed below.

For more information about Physical Therapist Assistant, please visit the program page.

This degree requires program application and admission; please visit the above link for details.

Degree Requirements

Field of Study Code: PHYTA.AAS

Program Requirements
PHYTA 1100Introduction to Physical Therapy2
PHYTA 1109Basic Health Care Skills and Principles of Soft Tissues Techniques3
PHYTA 1114PTA Total Patient Care1
PHYTA 1205PTA Kinesiology5
PHYTA 1207PTA Pathophysiology2
PHYTA 1211PTA Therapeutic Assessment & Basic Intervention4
PHYTA 1301PTA Therapeutic Modalities4
PHYTA 2103PTA Neuromuscular and Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation4
PHYTA 2104PTA Special Patient Populations3
PHYTA 2110PTA Documentation1.5
PHYTA 2112PTA Advanced Orthopedic Rehabilitation4
PHYTA 2122PTA Clinical Practicum I1.5
PHYTA 2214PTA Professional Issues1
PHYTA 2223PTA Clinical Practicum II2.5
PHYTA 2224PTA Clinical Practicum III3
ANAT 1551
ANAT 1552
Human Anatomy and Physiology I
and Human Anatomy and Physiology II
8
or ANAT 1571
ANAT 1572
Anatomy and Physiology With Cadaver I
and Anatomy and Physiology With Cadaver II
ENGLI 1101English Composition I3
HLTHS 1110Biomedical Terminology3
Select one of the following:3
Fundamentals of Speech Communication
Small-Group Communication
Introduction to Business Communication
General Education
Select 9 to 11 credits 1
Mathematics (1100 or above)3-5
Social & Behavioral Sciences3
Humanities & Fine Arts3
Total Credits67.5-69.5
1

In addition to the courses listed above.

General Education Requirements

For general education requirements for the A.A.S. degree, please visit the A.A.S. degree catalog page.

Suggested Semester Sequence

Program Prerequisites

Plan of Study Grid
First YearCredits
Gen EdHumanities and Fine Arts 3
Gen EdSocial and Behavioral Sciences 3
ENGLI 1101 English Composition I 3
SPEEC 1100
Fundamentals of Speech Communication
or Small-Group Communication
3
HLTHS 1110 Biomedical Terminology 3
Select one sequence: 8
Human Anatomy and Physiology I
and Human Anatomy and Physiology II
Anatomy and Physiology With Cadaver I
and Anatomy and Physiology With Cadaver II
 Credits23
 Total Credits23

Program Coursework

Plan of Study Grid
First SemesterCredits
PHYTA 1100 Introduction to Physical Therapy 2
PHYTA 1109 Basic Health Care Skills and Principles of Soft Tissues Techniques 3
PHYTA 1114 PTA Total Patient Care 1
PHYTA 1205 PTA Kinesiology 5
 Credits11
Second Semester
PHYTA 1207 PTA Pathophysiology 2
PHYTA 1211 PTA Therapeutic Assessment & Basic Intervention 4
PHYTA 1301 PTA Therapeutic Modalities 4
 Credits10
Summer Semester
PHYTA 2104 PTA Special Patient Populations 3
 Credits3
Third Semester
PHYTA 2103 PTA Neuromuscular and Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation 4
PHYTA 2112 PTA Advanced Orthopedic Rehabilitation 4
PHYTA 2110 PTA Documentation 1.5
PHYTA 2122 PTA Clinical Practicum I 1.5
 Credits11
Fourth Semester
PHYTA 2214 PTA Professional Issues 1
PHYTA 2223 PTA Clinical Practicum II 2.5
PHYTA 2224 PTA Clinical Practicum III 3
 Credits6.5
 Total Credits41.5