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Physical Therapist Assistant (AAS)

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Physical Therapist Assistant Undergraduate (Semester Credit) Associate of Applied Science

College

College of Health Science

Program CIP Code

51.0806

The  Associate of Applied Science in Physical Therapist Assistant degree is designed to facilitate the development of each student into a competent, entry-level physical therapist assistant. The program regards each student as an active participant bringing a variety of individual needs and attributes to the educational process. The program is committed to preparing the physical therapist assistant students to become lifelong learners and critical thinkers who will be prepared to contribute to the body of knowledge in physical therapy. Graduates of the program will be prepared to work under the direction and supervision of a physical therapist in the delivery of rehabilitative care. This program consists of 1,725 contact hours.

Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education

The Physical Therapist Assistant program at ECPI University (Newport News and Richmond/Glen Allen, Virginia campuses and Orlando/Lake Mary, Florida campus) is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: http://www.capteonline.org.  If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 757.490.9090 or email PTADirector@ecpi.edu.

About Physical Therapist Assistant

Physical Therapist Assistants (PTA's) provide physical therapy services under the direction and supervision of a licensed physical therapist. PTA’s help manage patients with back and neck injuries, sprains and strains, arthritis, burns, amputations, wounds, neurological conditions, surgical intervention, and injuries related to work or sports. PTA.'s help individuals of all ages who are ill, injured, or have a health condition that limits their ability to perform daily activities needed for life. Care provided by PTA's may include teaching patients exercises and activities to increase mobility, strength, and coordination. PTA's will also use physical modalities such as heat, ice, ultrasound, traction, massage, or electrical stimulation to help decrease pain, increase motion, and improve function.

Physical Therapist Assistants must be licensed in the state that they wish to practice. This requires graduation from an accredited institution and passing of the National Physical Therapy Examination for PTA's. Some positions may require criminal background checks, drug screening, and/or security clearances. A completed physical exam, evidence of immunization and current CPR certification may also be required.

Students making the decision to enter into this program should be aware of the physical nature of both the profession and their course of study. Students must be able to perform essential functions in order to successfully complete the program and work in the profession at large. Essential functions are the activities/skills that are necessary to ensure that the students are able to provide safe, competent, and timely care to patients receiving physical therapy services. The following standards reflect reasonable expectations of PTA students for the performance of common physical therapy activities. Students must be able to obtain information in the classroom laboratory and clinical setting through observation, auscultation, and palpation. Students must have sufficient motor capabilities, balance, strength, coordination, and stamina to execute the movements and skills to provide safe and effective physical therapy interventions. Students must possess the ability to comprehend, recall, and process large amounts of didactic information. Students must be able to think critically, reason, prioritize, organize, and attend to tasks and responsibilities in a timely manner when performing data collection skills and physical therapy interventions during patient care. Students must be able to utilize effective and efficient communications in the English language to interact with peers, healthcare providers, patients, and family members. Students must demonstrate the ability to practice in a professional and ethical manner. Students must exercise good judgment, develop empathetic and therapeutic relationships patients and others and tolerate close and direct physical contact and broad and diverse populations. Personal attributes must include compassion, integrity, concern for others, interpersonal skills, cultural competence, and motivation.

The most common related job title is Physical Therapist Assistant. Physical Therapist Assistants work in a variety of settings including hospitals, outpatient clinics, rehabilitation, skilled nursing, and extended care facilities, homes, schools, occupational environments, fitness centers and sports training facilities.

Recommended Certifications

Physical Therapist Assistants must be licensed in the state they wish to practice. This requires graduation from an accredited program and passing of the National Physical Therapy Examination for Physical Therapist Assistants. ECPI University provides vouchers allowing students to take certification exams at a greatly reduced cost.

Student Evaluation

The faculty shall use the objectives of the Physical Therapist Assistant Program as criteria for student evaluation. The student‘s grades are determined by a combination of written examinations, laboratory practicals, and clinical competency checklists.

Physical Therapist Assistant technical skills and ability, attitude, and relationship with others are areas of clinical and laboratory evaluation. The achievement of the student in both theory and clinical performance is evaluated by the faculty at regular intervals and shared with the student. The student progresses to the next term when all prerequisite courses have been satisfactorily completed. Students must achieve a passing grade of B or better in Anatomy and Physiology I and II courses and a grade of C or better in all PTA courses and satisfactorily meet all clinical objectives. A final course grade of less than C or failure to meet clinical objectives, will result in failure of a course.

Written assignments must be submitted on time. Tests and assignments must be made up on the student‘s first classroom day back to school after an absence, unless the student makes alternate arrangements with the instructor.

Student success involves:

  1. Faculty interested in teaching and learning

  2. Students interested in learning and are accountable for their education

  3. Effective feedback to allow the student to correctly monitor his/her progress within the curriculum

  4. Professional behaviors are essential to an effective entry-level practitioner. Professional behaviors are learned through sharing and modeling effective practice. Professional behaviors include:

    1. Commitment to learning

    2. Interpersonal skills

    3. Communication

    4. Effective use of time and resources

    5. Stress management

    6. Use of constructive feedback

    7. Problem solving

    8. Responsibility

    9. Critical thinking

    10. Ethical choices and decisions

Students will interact with all levels of healthcare practitioners. Communication is essential for effective and safe practice within the healthcare system. Communication is emphasized throughout the curriculum in various activities and role modeling in the laboratory.