Physical Therapist Assistant, AAS

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107 Credits

This degree program awards an Associate in Applied Science degree and is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy education. Once students begin PTA classes, they typically complete the program in two years with 107 credits, depending on previous college work. PTA program courses must be taken in sequence and are only offered to students who are accepted into the PTA Program. The program admits a cohort up to 32 each fall quarter. Admission is by application and applicants are evaluated based on academic preparation and familiarity with physical therapy.

PTA program students must earn a minimum of 2.0 in all required courses. After graduating from the program students are eligible to apply for licensure and sit for the PTA licensing examination, which is given nationally. Most states require licensure of PTAs, and may have requirements in addition to the licensure examination. Washington State requires PTA licensure.

The PTA, under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist, treats individuals with physical limitations to relieve pain and restore function. Physical therapist assistants work in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, school systems, private physical therapy practices, home health care agencies, and sports medicine facilities. Prospective students must complete the admissions prerequisites and apply for the Physical Therapist Assistant program.

Application Requirements:

Please refer to the PTA program website at www.instruction.greenriver.edu/PTA for the most current information about application requirements or register for an information session at www.greenriver.edu/infosessions.

The required prerequisites are as follows:

Human Anatomy and Physiology 1 and 2
The prerequisite requires 10 quarter-credits (or equivalent) of human anatomy and physiology with a lab. The minimum courses meeting this requirement at GRC are AP 103 and AP 104 . BIOL& 241 (AP I) and BIOL& 242 (AP II) also meet this prerequisite.

The selection and clinical placement process::

Students who satisfy the above requirements will be selected based on academic preparation, placement scores, GPA, and familiarity or experience with physical therapy or closely-related field requirements. Please access the website http://www.instruction.greenriver.edu/PTA/ or consult the Pre-PTA Program Advisor for the most current information.

Clinical placements occur in the second year of the program and students must be able to provide all the proper on-boarding documentation and requirements for the various clinical sites, which are site specific and are general requirements for the clinical educational and experience courses within the PTA program. This includes but is not limited to the following: immunizations, vaccinations, CPR, mandatory reporting and national and state background checks. Any concerns regarding these requirements can be discussed with the academic coordinator of clinical education.

Note Regarding Open Enrollment

Information Session Sign up: greenriver.edu/info-sessions

Program Website: Physical Therapist Assistant | https://www.greenriver.edu/students/academics/degrees-programs/physical-therapist-assistant/

Program Outcomes

Students who successfully complete this program will be able to:

Implement plans of care developed by physical therapists.
Provide care in a safe, legal and ethical manner.
Communicate effectively and appropriately with patients, families, physical therapists and other care providers both verbally and non‐verbally including accurate written communication and documentation.
Instruct patients, families and other health care providers using techniques consistent with the level of the audience.
Function as integral team members and participate in the team process.
Transition to successful employment as PTAs.