Oct 05, 2024  
2024-2025 Catalog 
    
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.

 

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


Total credit hours: 16


First Year - Spring Term


Total credit hours: 16


Total credit hours: 11


Arts and humanities: 3 credits


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

Total credit hours: 15


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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Provide psychosocial support to patients and families.
  5. Utilize effective communication skills when interacting with patients, families and other interprofessional team members.
  6. Be prepared to take the National Physical Therapy Examination for Physical Therapist Assistants.

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

Career and Educational Advancement Resources


   

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