Physical Therapist Assistant

INTRODUCTION

The physical therapist assistant is a skilled technical health care worker who, under the supervision of a registered physical therapist, carries out a planned patient care program. Duties of the physical therapist assistant include: training patients in exercise and activities of daily living; conducting treatments utilizing special equipment; assisting in performing tests, evaluations and treatment procedures; and observing the patient’s responses and reporting to the supervising physical therapist.

Mission

The Physical Therapist Assistant program at Pensacola State College is committed to academic excellence for students seeking associate degrees in the discipline. Program graduates will be culturally competent and knowledgeable of theoretical concepts and principles that support skills and procedures critical to the physical therapist assistant. As they enter the workforce, graduates will have achieved competency with general techniques common to practice settings available to them in the physical therapy community served by Pensacola State College. They will be prepared to meet standards for state certification and to function as technically competent, caring, responsible, and safe physical therapist assistants in the community under the supervision of a physical therapist.

Special Admissions Requirements

This program is a limited access program, which means program admission and course registration are restricted to a limited number of students each semester due to accreditation requirements addressing student-faculty ratios and clinical resources. The Associate in Science degree in Physical Therapist Assistant accepts up to 20 students each Fall term. Program acceptance is based on selection from all qualified applicants meeting the minimum criteria on a first-qualified/first served basis. Minimum requirements for eligibility include high school diploma or GED. Applications for both the College and program must be complete and the appropriate transcripts must be on file. Applicants must have a GPA of 2.75 or higher and have completed prerequisite course work with “C’s” or better.

IS THIS FOR YOU

People who enjoy this career prefer working with people rather than data and things. They normally have leadership and good interpersonal communication skills. People in this career are sometimes described as energetic, patient, and understanding.

BEYOND GRADUATION

With the increasing number of individuals with disabilities or limited function, the demand for services of physical therapist assistants will tend to rise. The large baby-boom generation is entering the prime age for age-related infirmities, heart attacks and strokes, further increasing the demand for physical therapy and rehabilitation. In addition, future medical developments will require that PTAs stay current with these advancements in care. Most employers recognize this need for continuing education and offer opportunities for continued professional development.

RELATED CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

Primary Employers

Graduates from the Physical Therapist Assistant program work in physical therapists’ offices, offices and clinics of medical doctors, hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, home health care services, and chiropractors’ offices.

Occupations

Physical Therapist Assistants Carry out planned physical therapy programs under the direction and supervision of a licensed physical therapist. Using techniques such as therapeutic exercise, soft tissue mobilization, and treatments involving heat, cold, water, light, electricity, traction, sound, or ultrasound, physical therapist assistants help restore physical functions to patients with impaired use of their muscles, nerves, joints, and bones. They instruct, motivate, and assist patients with functional activities, and assist physical therapists with patient evaluation. Physical therapist assistants are employed in a variety of health care settings.

STUDENT OUTCOMES

Pensacola State College Physical Therapist Assistant Program Student Outcomes This program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education of the American Physical Therapy Association through 2024.

	Graduation Rate:	Licensing Exam Pass Rate: First Time	Licensing Exam Pass Rate: Ultimate	Employment Rate:
2020-2021	82.4%	71.4%	92.9%	100%
2021-2022	60%	88.9%	100%	100%
2022-2023	84.6%	83.3%	91.7%	100%
2-year avg:	71.4%	85.7%	95.2%	100%

The Physical Therapist Assistant program at Pensacola State 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: accreditation@apta.org; website: http://www.capteonline.org.

If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call Dr. Allison MacKay @ 850-484-2209 or email amackay@pensacolastate.edu.