Physical Therapist Assistant

The curriculum presented here applies to students who started the major in Fall 2020 or Spring 2021. If you enrolled as a matriculant prior to that, please see the College Catalog for the year you started the major as a matriculant for the curriculum requirements that apply to you.

Consultation with the Program Advisor is required.

Upon successful completion of the Physical Therapist Assistant degree program requirements, graduates will:

1. demonstrate PTA entry-level skills that are applicable to a variety of patient care settings

2. demonstrate an awareness and commitment to patient dignity as well as social responsibility, citizenship, and advocacy

3. recognize individual and cultural differences and respond appropriately in all aspects of physical therapy services

4. demonstrate competence in implementing and adjusting selected components of interventions identified in the plan of care

5. adjust interventions within the plan of care and report this and any changes in patient’s status

6. recognize when intervention should not be provided due to changes in the patient’s status and respond appropriately

7. demonstrate competency in performing components of data collection skills essential for carrying out the plan of care

8. recognize when the direction to perform an intervention is beyond that which is appropriate

9. communicate with the patient, the physical therapist, health care delivery personnel, and others

10. communicate an understanding of the plan of care developed by a physical therapist to achieve short and long term goals

11. demonstrate sensitivity to patients’ non-verbal behavior as it relates to their reaction to treatment services provided

12. complete thorough, accurate, logical, concise, timely, and legible documentation

13. demonstrate competency in the use of information technology

14. participate in administrative functions within a physical therapy service

15. participate in discharge planning and follow-up as directed by the supervising physical therapist