Nov 21, 2024

2024-2025 Catalog

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2024-2025 Catalog

Physical Therapist Assistant (A.A.S.)

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Special Admission Requirements - Program Application Deadline: April 30*

Official Title of Major: Physical Therapist Assistant, A.A.S.

Award: Associate of Applied Science degree, A.A.S.

Code: AAS.PTA.PTA

Total Credit Hours: A minimum of 70

Learn more about the Physical Therapist Assistant Degree program

Purpose: Prepares students to provide physical therapy services according to the plan of care developed by the physical therapist. The physical therapist assistant (PTA) administers direct patient care; teaches patients, families and other health care providers how to perform selected interventions; and provides desired psychosocial support to patients and their families. Physical therapist assistants are employed primarily in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, private practice, extended-care facilities and home health care settings. Graduates are eligible to take the National Licensing Examination for Physical Therapist Assistants. The CACHE Physical Therapist Assistant program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Avenue, Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website www.capteonline.org.

The Physical Therapist Assistant program is administered by the Chesapeake Area Consortium for Higher Education (CACHE). Members of the consortium include Anne Arundel, Chesapeake College and the College of Southern Maryland. Students will complete their professional training at Anne Arundel Community College and their clinical practice rotations at local service areas when possible. Distance learning will be used as appropriate.

The CACHE Physical Therapist Assistant program meets the state educational requirements for licensure or certification in all states, the District of Colombia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands based on the program’s accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education. For more information regarding state qualifications and licensure requirements, refer to the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy website at www.fsbpt.org.

Additional Program Requirements

A grade of C or better in each physical therapist assistant and general education course is required to progress in the program. Students are expected to practice selected procedures on each other in the college laboratory.

Range of Occupations

Physical therapist assistant (PTA)

Special Conditions

Health Manpower Shortage: This program of study may be designated a Health Manpower Shortage Tuition Reduction Program. This means that some residents of Maryland (see the Tuition, Fees and Payments section of this catalog) enrolled in this program of study by the first day of the term may be eligible for in-county tuition rates for courses required for program completion. It is the student’s responsibility to confirm that this program still maintains a Health Manpower Shortage Program status before enrolling. Please refer to the college’s Accounts Receivable Office to confirm this designation.

*If application deadline falls on a weekend, then applications will be accepted until the close of business on the next business day.

Anne Arundel Community College and/or the School of Health Sciences reserves the right to revise requirements for admission into the Health Sciences programs, the selection criteria and procedures, and the required courses for programs of study as deemed necessary without prior notification.

Approximate Cost

Honors Program Courses

If you qualify for the Honors Program, you may take honors versions of some courses (such as ENG 101H , ENG 102H , etc.).

Entrance/Admission Requirements

Admission Requirements

To view all entrance/admission details, please go to the Physical Therapist Assistant Admission Requirements page.

Criminal Background Check and Drug Screening

This program requires the satisfactory completion of a criminal background check and possible drug screening. For complete details, see Health Sciences Criminal Background & Drug Screening.

Graduation Requirements

Refer to Academic Regulations on Graduation Requirements for college-wide graduation requirements.

Planning Tool: Two-Year Sequence of Courses

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Physical Therapist Assistant Course Sequence

All general education and physical therapist assistant courses must be completed with a grade of C or better and completed no later than what is listed in the required course sequence.

Program Requirements

First Year - Fall Term

BIO 231 - Human Biology 1 4 credit hours OR
BIO 233 - Anatomy and Physiology 1 4 credit hours
BIO 101 is a prerequisite for BIO 233 .
ENG 101 - Academic Writing and Research 1 3 credit hours OR
ENG 101A - Academic Writing and Research 1 3 credit hours
MAT 137 - College Algebra 3 credit hours
MAT 145 , MAT 151 , MAT 191, or MAT 230 satisfies the MAT 137 requirement
(Former MAT courses: MAT 121, MAT 131, MAT 141, or MAT 142 will also satisfy the MAT 137 requirement.)
PSY 111 - Introduction to Psychology 3 credit hours
PTA 101 - Introduction to Physical Therapist Assistant 3 credit hours

Total credit hours: 16

First Year - Spring Term

BIO 232 - Human Biology 2 4 credit hours OR
BIO 234 - Anatomy and Physiology 2 4 credit hours
PTA 102 - Physical Therapist Assistant 1 6 credit hours
PTA 106 - Kinesiology 6 credit hours

Total credit hours: 16

First Year - Summer Term

PSY 211 - Developmental Psychology 3 credit hours
PTA 104 - Physical Therapist Assistant 2 6 credit hours
PTA 105 - Clinical Practice 1 2 credit hours

Total credit hours: 11

Second Year - Fall Term

PTA 201 - Physical Therapist Assistant 3 4 credit hours
PTA 202 - Physical Therapist Assistant 4 4 credit hours
PTA 203 - Clinical Practice 2 4 credit hours

Arts and humanities: 3 credits

See General Education Arts and Humanities Requirements for a list of approved courses.

Total credit hours: 15

Second Year - Spring Term

PTA 204 - Physical Therapist Assistant 5 3 credit hours
PTA 205 - Current Issues and Trends Affecting the Physical Therapist Assistant 1 credit hour
PTA 206 - Clinical Practice 3 4 credit hours
PTA 207 - Clinical Practice 4 4 credit hours

Total credit hours: 12

Diversity Requirement

Completion of the Physical Therapist Assistant Program satisfies the college’s diversity requirements.

Technology Requirement

Completion of the Physical Therapist Assistant Program satisfies the college’s technology requirements.

Wellness Requirement

Completion of the Physical Therapist Assistant Program satisfies the college’s wellness requirements.

Program Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

Assist a physical therapist in the delivery of selected interventions in an ethical, legal, safe and effective manner under the direction and supervision of a physical therapist, consistent with the standards of practice of the profession.
Use critical thinking and problem solving skills to perform data collection, conduct tests and measures, and implement outcome-oriented interventions, within the plan of care developed by the physical therapist.
Teach patients, families and other health care providers selected treatment interventions and participate in discharge planning under the direction and supervision of a physical therapist.
Provide psychosocial support to patients and families.
Utilize effective communication skills when interacting with patients, families and other interprofessional team members.
Be prepared to take the National Physical Therapy Examination for Physical Therapist Assistants.

This program aligns with all the college’s core competencies.

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