Physical Therapist Assistant - Curriculum

Offered through a Collaborative Program Agreement with Martin Community College

The Physical Therapist Assistant curriculum prepares graduates to work in direct patient care settings under supervision of physical therapists. Assistants work to improve or restore function by alleviation or prevention of physical impairment and perform other essential activities in a physical therapy department.

Coursework includes normal human anatomy and physiology, the consequences of disease or injury, and physical therapy treatment of a variety of patient conditions affecting humans throughout the life-span. Clinical Education is provided at cooperating hospitals, public healthcare facilities, and private physical therapy centers.

Graduates may be eligible to take the licensure examination administered by the NC Board of Physical Therapy Examiners. Employment is available in general hospitals, rehabilitation centers, extended care facilities, specialty hospitals, home health agencies, private clinics, and public school systems.

Martin Community College will accept two students from ECC each year who meet admission requirements for the Physical Therapist Assistant program. The Physical Therapist Assistant program at Martin Community College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085. For specific admission requirements, students should consult the Halifax Community College catalog or contact an ECC counselor.

Curriculum Plan

For current coursework required for the Physical Therapist Assistant degree, please visit the Program Completion Guide.

Upon successful completion of the course requirements, the Associate in Applied Science degree in Physical Therapist Assistant will be awarded by Martin Community College.

Physical Therapist Assistant - Schedule

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Physical Therapist Assistant - Program Outcomes

Program Goals

Upon completion, graduates of the PTA program will be prepared to:

  1. Perform duties and patient care activities appropriate for a skilled PTA.
  2. Apply the knowledge, skills, and techniques learned in the PTA didactic courses to safe and effective patient care.
  3. Recognize the needs of the patient, family, and caregivers, and document changes in the patient’s condition, communicating these changes to the physical therapist.
  4. Effectively and accurately communicate information relevant to patient status, progress, and safety in the patient’s record, to the supervising physical therapist, and with the patient’s health care team.
  5. Demonstrate ethical, legal, safe, and professional conduct appropriate in a health care setting.

Program Objectives

The program aims to ensure that graduates:

  1. Work as Physical Therapist Assistants after demonstrating competence on an examination for licensure.
  2. Perform safe and competent evidence-based interventions under the supervision of physical therapists.
  3. Provide physical therapy interventions effectively to progress the individual patient through the plan of care and recognize when an intervention is inappropriate due to changes in the patient’s status.
  4. Utilize information from data collection to adjust interventions within the plan of care established by a physical therapist and report changes in patient/client status to the supervising physical therapist.
  5. Communicate confidently and interact respectfully with patients, families, caregivers, and other health care team members both in spoken word, for educational and collaborative purposes, and in written word, for documentation of physical therapy services.
  6. Adhere to legal and professional standards of conduct as well as institutional policies by recognizing the roles and responsibilities of physical therapist assistants in enhancing the delivery of physical therapy services.
  7. Supervise the physical therapy aide in patient-related activities as delegated by the physical therapist and defined by the policies of the practice setting.
  8. Participate in career development to enhance knowledge and skills and maintain safe and effective patient care.
  9. Interact professionally and provide psychosocial support to a diverse patient population and their families and caregivers.
  10. Participate in services, activities, or organizations that enhance and promote the field of physical therapy, such as assuming the role of clinical educator after a year or more of clinical practice as a physical therapist assistant or participating in clinical research.

Physical Therapist Assistant - Contact

Dr. Dean McCall
Director
(252) 789-0265
wm78783@martinccedu