Physical Therapy Assistant

Step Into a Challenging and Rewarding Career

Be a Professional ... Become a Physical Therapist Assistant

Physical therapy is a challenging but immensely rewarding career.
Physical therapist assistants (PTAs) are skilled clinical practitioners who perform physical therapy interventions and related duties under the direction of licensed physical therapists. PTAs help people of all ages recover physical function and strength lost through diseases, injury or other causes. They also help relieve pain and promote healing. As a PTA, you can:

• Work in a variety of settings including hospitals, clinics, extended care centers, nursing homes, schools, sports medicine or rehabilitation facilities.
• Interact with members of the professional health-care team.
• Use heat, light, sound, water, massage and exercise interventions to relieve pain or help patients gain strength and recover physical function.
• Help patients learn to use crutches, a cane, an artificial limb, a wheelchair or other equipment.
• Assist patients in adjusting socially and emotionally to a change in their ability to function.
• Work with a variety of patients, for example, a small child born with physical disabilities; a baseball player with a shoulder injury; a person with arthritis or a teenager immobilized by an accident.
  
  The PTA Program: First Program in the Nation
  The Physical Therapist Assistant program at the College of St. Catherine was the first of its kind in the nation. Our two-year, associate of applied science degree program prepares PTAs who are qualified to apply for licensure in states requiring it. Our program helps students master physical therapy concepts and techniques through an integrated learning experience in theory and practice.
  
  • Course sequence: Instruction is delivered through a planned sequence of classroom lectures, lab demonstrations and practice simulations in fully equipped physical therapy laboratories.
  • Clinical practice: Each student completes over 600 hours of directed clinical practice in a variety of health-care settings including hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, and sports, pediatric and outpatient physical therapy clinics.
  • Recommended preparation: Although there are no academic prerequisites for this entry-level program, we do require that students complete at least eight hours of volunteer or observational experience in a physical therapy setting before enrolling in PTA courses. Also, prospective students should be aware of the physical demands of the profession on.
  • CPR certification: Prior to the start of the school year, students must have a current CPR certificate that is valid through June 1 of that school year. The certification must be acquired through the American Heart Association: Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers
  • Accreditation: The PTA program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education.
    
    Flexible Study Options
    Earn your PTA degree in a way that best fits your needs on a full-
    or part-time basis:
    
    • Full-time option: Students who pursue this option take two years to complete their studies on a full-time basis. Clinical experience begins the first term, and students take general education and PTA courses concurrently throughout the two years.
    • Part-time option: Students who want to attend classes part-time can use the Extended Program option. Students start by taking general education courses before entering the PTA program. PTA students in this option take about three years to complete their studies. The first year of the Extended Program option may be completed in the evening. Years II and III of the option are completed in daytime courses.
      
      
      The Curriculum
      The PTA program course work includes both theoretical and practical skills, combining general education with technical course work. Courses in patient handling techniques, the role of the physical therapist and PTA, neuromusculoskeletal function and rehabilitation give students a broad knowledge of health-care challenges they will encounter. Courses in humanities, social and natural sciences help students develop critical thinking and communication skills while completing work toward the associate of applied science degree. A unique service of Community Interdisciplinary Learning (CIL) groups PTA students with students in other health related disciplines such as nursing, occupational therapy assistants and radiology to integrate concepts of individual, group and health-care teams with community work. Course work for the Physical Therapist Assistant program includes:
      
      • Patient Handling Techniques
      • Orientation to Physical Therapy and the Role of the PTA
      • Gross Anatomy and Kinesiology of the Musculoskeletal System
      • Physical Therapy Treatment Techniques
      • Musculoskeletal Function and Dysfunction
      • Massage Seminar
      • Clinical Education Experiences
      • Clinical Orthopedics
      • The Health Care Delivery System
      • Topics in Physical Therapy and the Second Year Project
      • Introductory Concepts in Pediatric Therapy (optional)
      • Geriatric Course (optional)
        
        Students also must complete course work in natural sciences, humanities and social sciences.