Claremont Banner
                     

Physical Therapist Assistant Associate in Science Degree

 
Course Requirements
ID Title Class Lab Credits
Fall Semester (year 1)
SCIC201 Anatomy and Physiology I 3 3 4
AHLC104 Introduction to Occupational Therapy/Physical Therapy
((First 8 weeks))		 2 0 1
AHLC112 Clinical Conditions for Occupational/Physical/MassageTherapy
(SCIC201)		 3 0 3
AHLC114 Human Development for Health and Human Services 3 0 3
AHLC123 Functional Kinesiology
(SCIC201)		 2 3 3
PTAC112* Physical Therapy Procedures I 2 3 3
Spring Semester (year 1)
ENGC102 College Composition I (Accuplacer) 3 0 3
AHLC135* Activities Of Daily Living
(AHLC104 (exceptions require the approval of the Professors and the Program Director))		 2 3 3
MTHCxxx Mathematics Elective (Accuplacer) 4 0 4
SCIC202 Anatomy and Physiology II
(SCIC201**)		 3 3 4
PTAC114 Therapeutic Exercise
(AHLC123)		 2 3 3
PTAC122* Physical Therapy Procedures II
(PTAC112)		 2 3 3
Summer Semester (year 1)
PTAC190* Clinical Education Experience I
(All PTAC and AHLC courses from first year schedule. 6 wks)		 0 0 5
PTAC192* Clinical Education Experience I Seminar
(PTAC190)		 1 0 1
Fall Semester (year 2)
AHLC210* Physical Therapy/Occupational Therapy Management
(OTAC190 or PTAC190)		 2 0 2
AHLC220* Clinical Neurology
(SCIC201, SCIC202)		 3 0 3
ENGCxxx English Elective 3 0 3
PSYC101 Introduction to Psychology 3 0 3
HUMCxxx Humanities/Fine Arts/World Language Elective 3 0 3
PTAC211* Physical Therapy Procedures III
(PTAC122)		 2 3 3
Spring Semester (year 2)
PTAC220* Clinical Education Seminar
(PTAC290, PTAC291)		 8 0 2
PTAC290* Clinical Education Experience II
(All PTAC and AHLC courses except PTAC291 & PTAC220 (6 weeks))		 0 0 5
PTAC291* Clinical Education Experience III
(PTAC290, (6 weeks))		 0 0 5

Prerequisite & Co-requisites are listed in parentheses.

*Must be matriculated in professional program or receive special written permission from the Program Director or instructor.

(Day Program)

A Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) is a member of the health care team who has completed a two-year associate degree educational program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). The Physical Therapist Assistant performs interventions and related tasks that have been directed and supervised by a physical therapist (PT).

Duties of the PTA include implementing interventions such as modelities, training patients in exercises, mobility and activities of daily living. The PTA reports to the physical therapist on the patient's responses.

The applicant must meet the general academic requirements for admission to the College as well as specific PTA program requirements:

  • blue arrow High school or college credits in algebra and/or geometry, biology and chemistry. Physics is strongly encouraged.
  • blue arrow Demonstrate general knowledge of the physical therapy field via an information questionnaire. Strongly encouraged methods useful to learn more about the profession include: volunteer or employment as an aide in a PT clinic or spend several hours observing in various PT clinics. Participation in health occupation courses is also useful.
  • blue arrow Submission of two written recommendations from teachers, employers, and/or practicing PTs or PTAs.
  • blue arrow American Heart Association CPR for the Healthcare Provider (Level C) or the American Red Cross CPR for the Professional Rescuer must be maintained throughout the program.
  • blue arrow Personal health insurance and professional liability insurance are mandatory (can be purchased through the College) during clinical education experiences.
  • blue arrow Records of recent immunization, particularly Hepatitis B (required for all clinical educational experiences).
  • blue arrow Read Essential Functions attachment to PTA packet. Sign agreement that applicant can do all tasks with/without reasonable accommodations. These are physical and cognitive skills essential to success as a PTA.
The PTA Program at NH Community Technical College at Claremont combines part-time or full-time classroom and laboratory work at the College with three (3) six-week supervised clinical education experiences. The Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education works with each student to assign appropriate clinical sites. Assignments depend on availability of clinical sites. Students may be required to temporarily relocate or travel long distances. A car is required for personal transportation to all clinical education experience assignments.

The student must pass all PTAC and AHLC courses with a minimum grade of "C". All PTAC and AHLC courses are based on a 7-point scale (C=80). At selected points in the program, students must pass a comprehensive examination in order to progress.

All requirements of the PTA Program must be successfully completed within a three year time period unless special permission has been obtained from the Program Director to continue for a fourth year. The testing of competencies after a leave of absence or prolonged period of studies is required.

Students may consider a double major option of PTA and Occupational Therapy Assistant or others, such as Massage Therapy.

Graduates must satisfy licensing examination requirements in most states in order to practice legally under the supervision of a physical therapist. Job opportunities exist for PTAs across the United States in a variety of settings.

2006 Accreditation by CAPTE; American Physical Therapy Association, 1111 N. Fairfax St., Alexandria, VA 22314. Telephone number:(703)706-3245.