Physical Therapist Assistant

Overview

Our PTA program is the only one in New Hampshire and Vermont!   Our graduates consistently perform above the national average and are employed within six months of graduation.  We offer a friendly, student-centered environment.

To contact the program/institution directly, please call (603) 542-7744 extension 5434 or email Program Director Dr. Kim-Laura Boyle at [email protected].

The PTA program is full for Fall 2024. Applications for the 2024 cohort are no longer being accepted. Anyone who applies to the PTA program after August 14th, 2024 will be considered for the Fall 2025 semester. 
Students may still enter into the Pre-PTA program and register for classes that will count towards their PTA program next fall.

PTA Program Admissions Packet(PDF)

RVCC 2024-2025 PTA Program Handbook (PDF)

RVCC PTA Financial Fact Sheet 2022-2023 (PDF).

Career Options

There are a variety of job settings for the PTA including hospitals, out-patient PT clinics, rehabilitation centers, skilled nursing facilities, home health and pediatrics.

Related Degrees  

• Occupational Therapy Assistant
• Massage Therapy

Printable Program Sheet

Program Goals

Upon employment, graduates shall:

• consistently demonstrate and implement appropriate role utilization of the physical therapist assistant in the application of established treatment interventions as directed by the primary physical therapist.
• consistently demonstrate sensitivity to individual and cultural differences in accordance with the Standards of Ethical Conduct for the PTA in an effort to assure safe and proper conduct for all interactions within the profession.
• consistently demonstrate the Standards of Practice for PTAs in an effort to assure safe and proper conduct for all interactions within the profession.
• consistently demonstrate competence, critical thinking and skill in the timely implementation of a comprehensive treatment plan as developed by their supervising physical therapist(s)
• consistently demonstrate competence while regularly reporting to, and communicating with, supervising physical therapists regarding patient progress and treatment modifications in accordance with changes in patient status.
• consistently demonstrate competence in data collection procedures, integrating the findings of such procedures to the patient’s plan of care.
• consistently demonstrate professional behavior during interactions and teaching with healthcare professionals, patients, and their families while providing the desired psycho-social support among diverse populations.
• consistently perform effective and accurate written and verbal communication skills in documenting the relevant aspects of patient care, including patient response and progress.
• integrate information obtained from professional literature review into clinical practice as evidenced-based practitioners of physical therapy.
• practice as entry-level physical therapist assistants who exhibit continued growth as professionals throughout their careers.

Program Outcomes

PTA Program Outcomes January 2024 (PDF)

The Physical Therapist Assistant program at River Valley Community College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: [email protected]; website: http://www.capteonline.org. 

To contact the program/institution directly, please call (603) 542-7744 extension 5434 or email Program Director Dr. Kim-Laura Boyle at [email protected].

2024 PTA Requirements

Be sure to review the PTA Packet in detail and make sure you have completed all sections as well as provided documentation of all required items listed below

Proposed PTA application requirements. Students who do not meet these requirements are encouraged to enroll in RVCC’s Healthcare Applications program to begin working on program pre-requisites

1. Program Readiness: must submit one or both of the following

• SAT scores if high school graduate in the past three years
• High school transcript or GED

OR

• College Transcript showing successful completion of college level English or Math courses.

2. Readiness for A&P I: must submit one of the following

• High school chemistry within the past ten years
• RVCC A&P1 Preparatory course with 73% or better
• College transcript showing proof of one of the following:
• College Chemistry passed with a D- or higher
• Human Biology passed with a D- or higher
• Anatomy and Physiology 1 passed with a D- or higher (grades of C or higher may be eligible for transfer)

3. Readiness for College Composition: must submit one of the following

• SAT EBRW score of > 400 if graduated within the past 3 years
• High school transcript showing completion of English course and GPA of > 3.0 or better within past 10 years
• College transcript showing proof of one of the following:
• Preparatory College English Course passed with a C or higher
• College Composition passed with a C or better (may be eligible for transfer)

4. Readiness for Statistics I: must submit one of the following:

• SAT mathematics score > 450 if graduated within the past 3 years
• High school transcript showing completion of Algebra within the past 10 years
• College transcript showing proof of one of the following:
• Preparatory or College Mathematics course passed with a C or higher (Statistics courses passed with a C or better may be eligible for transfer)

5. Upload a current resume to Admissions Portal.

6. Read the following documents in the PTA packet and fill in the information required; upload the signed documents to the Admissions Portal:

• Essential Skills/Technical Standards information page signed
• Criminal/Background Check and Drug Testing Attestation signed
• PTA Student Statement of Background Disclosure page signed
• Clinical Education Policy / Clinical Education and Disability Services information page signed
• PTA Program Supplemental Questionnaire
• Resume uploaded to Application Portal

When all of the above items have been completed, Admission will notify the Program Director that you are ready for the final step which is an Advising Meeting with the PTA Program Director. Plan an hour for the meeting. This meeting can be done in person or via Zoom. Advising meetings will not be held with an applicant until all other steps have been completed. Advising meetings take place beginning in mid-February and continue until course seats have been filled for the following year. Please contact Kim-Laura Boyle: [email protected] if you believe you have completed the steps for an advising meeting but have not been contacted to schedule one.