A Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) provides a unique form of medical treatment, where science and art become one and patients are given individualized care. The program is deeply rooted in scientific knowledge and theory, but it is the personal interactions with patients, family members and other health care providers that require creativity and flexibility on the therapist’s part.
PTAs work in diverse settings which include hospitals, private PT practices, community health agencies, schools, pediatric facilities, nursing homes, industrial or corporate health facilities, and rehabilitation centers. It is the diversity that makes the field of physical therapy interesting and enticing for many students. Program graduates are eligible to take the national examination to become licensed PTAs.
Essential Functions
(Adapted with permission from “Essential Functions and Technical Standards for Physical Therapist Assistant Students” at Greenville Technical College)
The following standards reflect reasonable expectations of a student in the PTA Program for the performance of common physical therapy functions. They are necessary skills for the PTA to function in a broad variety of clinical situations while providing a spectrum of physical therapy interventions. All students are expected to perform these essential functions with or without accommodations throughout the PTA program.
- Critical Thinking/ Problem Solving Skills
- Ability to collect, interpret and integrate information and make decisions.
- Ability to collaboratively work with all PTA students and with program faculty in the classroom, lab and clinical setting.
- Behavioral/Emotional/Social Coping Skills
- Ability to respond appropriately to stressful environments or during impending deadlines.
- Ability to communicate effectively in English using verbal, nonverbal and written formats with faculty, other students, patients, families, and health care workers.
- Physical Mobility/Motor Skills
- Sufficient motor ability to execute the movement and skills required for safe and effective physical therapy treatment.
- Sufficient auditory, visual and tactile ability to monitor and assess health needs. Monitor and assess patient’s health needs with sufficient auditory, visual and tactile acuity.
- Ability to demonstrate professional behaviors and a strong work ethic.
Expected Outcomes
Graduates of this program should be able to demonstrate:
- Competent entry-level PT interventions working under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist;
- Effective communication skills in a culturally sensitive manner with all members of the healthcare team; and
- Legal, professional and ethical behavior guided by the “Guide for Conduct of the PTA” and jurisdictional law.
Admission Requirements
Students must submit a college application and a Physical Therapist Assistant Matriculation Form. Students who meet all admission requirements are accepted into the PTA program on a space-available basis. Those who do not initially qualify for the program may become eligible through BCC’s Health Science program in Pre-PTA.
The sequence of PTA courses begins each fall semester on a cyclical basis. Interested students are urged to consult the program advisor and to work on prerequisites and required courses while waiting to start their PTA courses.
Admission Requirements include:
- Demonstrated competency in ENG-020 & ENG-090;
- Demonstrated competency of MAT-136, MAT-029 or MAT-029C with a “C” or better;
- Completion within 5 years of current application college-level Biology or Anatomy and Physiology with a C or better; or completion within 2 years of current application, high school Biology with a second year of Advanced Biology or AP Biology with a grade of B (80) or better.
- Either: 1. Graduate from high school within the last two years with an average of B (80%) or rank in the upper third of the graduating class; or 2. Complete a minimum of 10 credits of college level PTA support courses with a C or better.
- Complete 20 hours of documented clinical observation in a Physical Therapy setting. (NOTE: Instead of traditional observation during the COVID-19 remote instruction period, students will be allowed to complete the following activity on page 5 of the PTA Matriculation form in lieu of 20 observational hours).
BCC will not admit students concurrently into any two of the following degree or certificate programs: Physical Therapist Assistant, Respiratory Care, LPN or Nursing.
Two Year PTA Program Student Outcomes
2018-2020 represents one graduating class
- Graduation rate - 73.7%
- First time licensure examination pass rate - 85.7%
- Ultimate licensure examination pass rate - 92.9%
- Employment rate - 100%
Graduation Requirements
To earn a degree in this program, a student must complete all program and general education credits, plus the following Additional Requirements.
Program Courses
General Education Courses
COM-
| Communication | 3 |
ENG-
| English Composition/Writing | 6 |
MAT-
| Mathematics (0) | 0 |
PHY-
| Physics | 3 |
-
| Behavioral & Social Science | 3 |
-
| General Education Elective | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 18 |
COM Communication: See footnote 2
ENG English Composition/Writing: See footnote 3
MAT Mathematics: See footnote 4
PHY Physics: See footnote 5
General Education Elective: See footnote 6
Additional Requirements
| Core Competencies Portfolio |
4 items |
| FORUM |
4 units |
| Health/Fitness |
30 hours |
| Minimum grade required in each program course |
2.000 |
Health/Fitness: See footnote 7
Minimum Cumulative Average
| Overall |
2.000 |
| Program requirements |
2.000 |
Suggested Pathway to Graduation
The following is a suggestion for completing this program in two years. The actual time needed to complete the program will vary according to each student’s individual needs.
First Semester
| AHS-129 | Medical Terminology | 3 |
| BIO-201 | Anatomy & Physiology I | 4 |
| PTA-100 | Introduction to Physical Therapy | 2 |
| PTA-102 | Structural Anatomy | 3 |
ENG-
| English Composition/Writing | 3 |
PHY-
| Physics | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 18 |
PHY Physics: See footnote 5
Second Semester
| AHS-230 | Pathophysiology | 3 |
| BIO-202 | Anatomy & Physiology II | 4 |
| PTA-110 | Physical Therapist Assistant I | 4 |
| PTA-115 | Functional Anatomy | 3 |
COM-
| Communication | 3 |
ENG -
| English Composition | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 20 |
COM Communication: See footnote 2
ENG English Composition/Writing: See footnote 3
Summer Session
| PTA-150 | Clinical Education I | 2 |
-
| Behavioral & Social Science | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 5 |
Third Semester
PTA-250: See footnote 1
ENG English Composition/Writing: See footnote 3
Fourth Semester
| PTA-201 | Physical Therapist Assistant II | 2 |
| PTA-203 | Physical Therapist Assistant Seminar | 3 |
| PTA-260 | Clinical Education III | 4 |
-
| General Education Elective | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 12 |
PTA-260: See footnote 1
General Education Elective: See footnote 6
Footnotes
- Students must be immunized prior to the start of the PTA program and must maintain currency throughout the curriculum.
- Communication chosen from COM-105 or COM-107.
- English Composition/Writing chosen from ENG-101 and ENG-102, or ENG-103 and ENG-104.
- Mathematics: Students must demonstrate competency at a level of MAT-029 or MAT-029C or MAT-136 or at a higher level prior to matriculation in the PTA program.
- Physics chosen from PHY-111 or higher level.
- General Education Elective chosen from History, Humanities and Fine Arts, Environmental Studies.
- Fulfilled by successful completion of PTA-100.
Notes
Berkshire Community College seeks to provide equal access to its programs, services and activities for people with disabilities. Therefore, to the extent practicable, the College will endeavor to make a reasonable academic adjustment for an applicant with a disability who is other- wise qualified.
There are specific sensory, motor and psychosocial skills needed to successfully complete the PTA program. Any student who feels he/ she will require accommodations with these skills should contact the coordinator of the Services for Students with Disabilities program.
CORI: Any prior criminal offense could hinder placement in clinical agencies and the ability to take the national licensure examination.