Physical Therapist Assistant A.A.S.

*This is an overview of the program. The course sequencing is meant to serve as a guideline for your semester planning. Please note that the scheduling of courses, program sequencing and curriculum are subject to change.*

Please Note: This program is Restricted. Any student interested in becoming a candidate for this program must complete the requirements found in the following document. You will need Adobe Reader to view and print the PDF document.

• Program Steps to Admission
• Application for Admissions
• Observation Verification
• Register for HOBET
• Dates and Instructions for taking the Health Occupations Basic Entrance Test (HOBET)

The Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program is fully accredited under the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education,

1111 N. Fairfax Street
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
703-706-3245
www.capteonline.org

This program will prepare the graduate to work under the supervision and direction of a licensed physical therapist in performing physical therapy treatments that include the following: therapeutic exercise, mechanical traction, massage, compression, heat, cold, sound, ultraviolet, water, and electricity; instruction in activities of daily living (ADL); and the use and care of braces, prostheses, and ambulation devices.

The program includes clinical experience under the direction of a licensed physical therapist in health facilities. Students are responsible for transportation to and from these facilities which could be located up to one hour away from their home. The final clinical experience (PTA 208/Clinical Practice II) consists of two, seven(7)-week, forty (40)-hour a week sessions.

Jobs for which graduates are expected to be qualified include physical therapist assistants practicing in hospitals, extended healthcare facilities, rehabilitation hospitals, private physical therapy practices, and children’s centers.

The curriculum of Lehigh Carbon Community College PTA program is designed to:

1. Enable the student, upon completion of the program, to demonstrate safety and competency in the application of the following physical therapy procedures, functions and tasks under the direction and supervision of a physical therapist including the following:

a. Review the plan of care established by the physical therapist prior to initiating patient intervention.

b. Apply therapeutic exercise, mechanical traction, biofeedback, therapeutic massage, compression and bandaging, heat, cold, light, water, electricity, ultrasound, short wave diathermy, isolation techniques, and wound care using sterile technique.

c. Measure and adjust crutches, canes, walkers, and wheelchairs and provide instruction in their use and care.

d. Provide instruction, motivation, and assistance to patients and others in improving pulmonary function, performing exercises, learning and improving functional activities, such as pre-ambulation, transfer, ambulation, and daily living activities, and instruction in the use and care of orthoses, prostheses, and supportive devices.

e. Perform selected measurement and assessment procedures, such as arousal, mentation, and cognition, chest wall expansion and excursion, cough and sputum production, range of joint motion, gross strength of muscle groups, muscle mass, length and tone, fine motor skills, functional status, gross motor milestones, length and girth of body parts, integument integrity and color, pain, posture, self-care, sensory tests, tissue viability, wound assessment, and vital signs to collect data to quantify the patient’s response to interventions as directed and supervised by the physical therapist.

f. Modify treatment procedures as indicated by patient response and within the limits specified in the physical therapist’s plan of care, and report orally and in writing to the physical therapist.

g. Communicate with members of physical therapy staff and other health team members, individually and in conference, to provide patient information.

h. Participate in routine administrative procedures required for a physical therapy service.

2. Increase students’sensitivity to cultural and socioeconomic issues.

3. Introduce students to the importance of continued competence and professional growth through the core professional values of accountability, altruism, compassion/caring, excellence, integrity, professional duty, and social responsibility.

4. Foster the students’ability to engage in problem solving, critical thinking, and ethical decision making.

5. Prepare the graduate to pass the national licensure examination for PTAs.

Students are required to achieve at least a “C” in all PTA major courses to continue in the program and must achieve a minimum GPA of 2.0 and minimum PTA major GPA of 2.30 to register for PTA 208 Clinical Practice. PTA courses must be taken in the proper sequence. First and third semester PTA courses are offered in the fall and second and fourth semester PTA courses are offered in the spring semester.

Students who have failed or withdrawn are re-admitted on a space-available basis only, according to the readmission procedure. Students may repeat a failed PTA course one time and only with the permission of the program coordinator. Requirements will be the requirements at the time of readmission.