Physical Therapist Assistant - A.A.S. Degree (Career)
APPLICATION CODE 282
For curriculum information, contact the Division of Health, Science, and Technology—Room SET-430—443-518-1600.
Under the direction and supervision of a Physical Therapist, the Physical Therapist Assistant, a skilled technical health care provider, performs selected physical therapy procedures and related tasks. Depending on the employment setting and the individual patient, those tasks may include contributing to total patient care and assisting the Physical Therapist in carrying out complete procedures and programs.
Suggested Summer Term
Suggested Semester 1
Suggested Semester 2
Suggested Summer Term
Suggested Semester 3
Suggested Semester 4
Total Credit Hours: 68
Applicants for the PTA program must have completed the following minimum prerequisite/general education coursework: college-level English Composition or HCC’s ENGL 121, BIOL 101/101L, and MATH 138. Applicants must have an overall HCC GPA of 2.25 or higher and an overall science/mathematics GPA of 2.0 or higher, must have completed BIOL 203/203L with a “B” or better, and are required to have a minimum of 50 hours of documented PT clinical observation experience. A grade of “C” or better is required in all Physical Therapist Assistant and science courses.
The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Howard Community College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; telephone: 800-999-2782; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: www.capteonline.org.
A graduate should be able to
- Administer competent, entry-level patient care, under the direction of a licensed physical therapist.
- Model ethical, legal, and effective clinical judgment across healthcare settings.
- Develop the skills to educate and advocate for their patient populations and communities at large.
- Demonstrate the capacity to build strong professional partnerships and take on leadership roles.