Physical Therapist Assistant
Physical Therapist Assistants, or PTA’s, are skilled health care providers who work under the supervision of a physical therapist. PTAs assist the physical therapist in implementing treatment programs to help restore or improve function, relieve pain, encourage independence, and educate patients and their families.
PTAs work with patients or clients in a variety of areas such as hospitals, nursing homes, and outpatient clinics, as well as in the home, in schools, and on the job.
The main goal in physical therapy is to help people help themselves. Because of the humanitarian nature of this profession, PTAs must have a genuine interest in caring for others.
The Physical Therapist Assistant program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education. Additional information regarding accreditation may be on obtained from the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, 1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA 22314; accreditation@apta.org.; (703) 684-2782 or (702) 706-3245.
For printable degree plan for this program, please click HERE.
| PREREQUISITES | |
| BIOL 2401 Anatomy and Physiology I** | 4 |
| HITT 1305 Medical Terminology I | 3 |
| SPCH 1318 Interpersonal Communications** | 3 |
| ENGL 1301 Composition** | 3 |
| PTHA 1409 Introduction to Physical Therapy | 4 |
| FIRST SEMESTER | |
| BIOL 2402 Anatomy and Physiology II | 4 |
| PTHA 1405 Basic Patient Care Skills | 4 |
| PTHA 1513 Functional Anatomy | 5 |
| PTHA 2201 Essentials of Data Collection | 2 |
| SECOND SEMESTER | |
| PSYC 2314 Lifespan Growth and Development** | 3 |
| PTHA 1321 Pathophysiology | 3 |
| PTHA 1531 Physical Agents | 5 |
| PTHA 2509 Therapeutic Exercise | 5 |
| THIRD SEMESTER | |
| PTHA 1266 Practicum I | 2 |
| PTHA 2431 Management of Neurological Disorders | 4 |
| PTHA 2435 Rehabilitation Techniques | 4 |
| Humanities Elective** | 3 |
| FOURTH SEMESTER | |
| PHRA 1541 Pharmacy Drug Therapy and Treatment | 2 |
| SOCI 1301 Introductory Sociology | 2 |
| Math/Natural Sciences Elective | 3 |
**Identifies courses to fulfill minimum 15 credit hour General Education Requirement
| Total credits 68 |