Physical Therapist Assistant

What is a Physical Therapist Assistant?

A Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) is a licensed professional who provides services under the direction and supervision of a licensed physical therapist.

They will create, implement, and modify treatment interventions that are specific to meeting the functional mobility goals and plan of care set by the supervising physical therapist. A PTA may work in a variety of settings, such as a hospital, nursing home, home health, rehabilitation center, or outpatient center.

The PTA Program at Jefferson is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, which qualifies its graduates to take the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) and apply for licensure in the state of their choice. Graduates of the program who pass the NPTE and meet all state requirements are then eligible to practice as a physical therapist assistant.

Students are required to attend a pre-admission conference for this program.

What are my career choices?

Physical Therapist Assistants work in hospitals, nursing homes, outpatient clinics, home health agencies, rehabilitation hospitals, schools, pediatric facilities, and specialized clinics. Physical Therapy Assistants may serve in leadership roles such as management of facilities or director of clinical education for facilities. Qualified PTA’s may also teach in CAPTE accredited colleges and universities.

There are three tiers for employment within physical therapy: a technician, physical therapist assistant or a physical therapist. A physical therapy technician requires no degree; employers provide on-site training and the technician may help prepare patients for their treatments with the licensed therapist.  A physical therapist assistant has earned an associate degree from an accredited college and passed a national exam to qualify to treat patients under the guidance of a supervising physical therapist. A physical therapist has earned a doctorate degree from an accredited college and passed a national exam to qualify to treat patients independently by setting patient-specific goals and writing the overall plan of care.

What are my degree, diploma, or certificate options?

Graduates of the Physical Therapist Assistant Program will earn an Associate in Applied Science Degree. There are no additional certificate options associated with this degree.

Degree

• Physical Therapist Assistant – AAS

Length of Program

All students, regardless of prior degree or career experience, will require two years to complete the degree after admission to the Program.

PTA coursework spans over four semesters and allows for the integration of general education coursework during the first year of the program. The curriculum consists of approximately 26 – 29 credit hours of general education courses coupled with 40 credit hours of PTA core courses.

This information should not be considered a substitute for the KCTCS Catalog.
You should always choose classes in cooperation with your faculty advisor to ensure that you meet all degree requirements.

How Do I Apply?

The PTA program utilizes a selective admission process for enrollment where specific qualifications and requirements must be met before a student can enroll in physical therapy courses. Students interested in applying must first attend a pre-admission conference. To sign up for a pre-admission conference and learn more information about our program, visit the pre-admission conference page.

 

Launch Experience

Accreditation

The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Jefferson Community and Technical College is accredited by:

Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE)
3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100
Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085
 
(703) 706-3245
accreditation@apta.org
www.capteonline.org