Physical Therapist Assistant - A.A.S. Degree (Career)
Application Code 282
For curriculum information, contact the Health Sciences Division—Room HS-236—443-518-1560.
Under the direction and supervision of a Physical Therapist, the Physical Therapist Assistant, a skilled technical health care provider, performs selected physical therapy procedures and related tasks. Depending on the employment setting and the individual patient, those tasks may include contributing to total patient care and assisting the Physical Therapist in carrying out complete procedures and programs.
General Education Core
English Composition
Arts & Humanities
Social & Behavioral Sciences
Biological & Physical Sciences
Mathematics
Required Courses Related to Major
A graduate should be able to
- 1. Review the plan of care, established by the physical therapist, prior to initiating patient/client intervention, and provide safe interventions as directed in the plan of care and supervision of the physical therapist.
- 2. Provide effective instruction to the patient/client and others to achieve the goals and outcomes as described in the plan of care.
- 3. Collect data to quantify the patient’s/client’s response to interventions as directed and supervised by the physical therapist.
- 4. Progress the patient/client interventions through the plan of care.
- 5. Complete documentation that follows professional guidelines, the health care system, and physical therapy facility policies.
- 6. Respond effectively to patient/client and environmental emergencies in the work setting.
- 7. Communicate expressively and receptively in a culturally competent manner with physical therapists, patients/clients, family members, caregivers, other health care providers, students, interdisciplinary team members, administrators, payers, and consumers.
- 8. Educate others effectively using teaching methods commensurate with the needs of the learners.
- 9. Educate others about the role of the physical therapist assistant.
- 10. Utilize human and material institution-based resources and services to provide high-quality, efficient, and cost-effective physical therapy services.
- 11. Comply with facility procedures and payer regulations consistent with the health care delivery system and the practice setting.
- 12. Participate in learning and development activities to ensure continued competence.
- 13. Participate in and respond to self-assessment activities.
- 14. Participate in clinical education.
- 15. Adhere to federal and state legal practice standards and institutional regulations related to patient/client care and fiscal management.
- 16. Act in a manner consistent with the Standards of Ethical Conduct for the Physical Therapist Assistant and Guide for Conduct of the Physical Therapist Assistant.
- 17. Place patient’s/client’s needs above one’s self-interests.
- 18. Exhibit compassion, caring, and empathy in providing services to patients/clients.
- 19. Promote active involvement of the patient/client in his/her care.
- 20. Identify, respect, and act with consideration for the patient’s/client’s differences, values, preferences, and expressed needs in all physical therapy activities.
- 21. Demonstrate behaviors, conduct, actions, attitudes, and values consistent with the roles, responsibilities, and tasks of the physical therapist assistant.
- 22. Support and participate in organizations and efforts that promote physical therapy.
- 23. Demonstrate integrity in all interactions with patients/clients, family members, caregivers, supervising physical therapists, co-workers, other health care providers, students, other consumers, employers, and payers.
- 24. Value and support the physical therapy profession in society.
- 25. Demonstrate citizenship.
Total Credit Hours: 70
Applicants for the PTA program must have completed the following minimum prerequisite/general education coursework: College-level English Composition or HCC’s ENGL-121, and BIOL-101. Applicants must have an overall HCC GPA of 2.25 or higher and an overall science/mathematics GPA of 2.0 or higher, must have completed BIOL-203 with a “B” or better, and are required to have a minimum of 50 hours of documented PT clinical observation experience. A grade of “C” or better is required in all Physical Therapist Assistant and science courses.
The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Howard Community College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: www.capteonline.org.