Program Learning Outcomes
The Physical Therapist Assistant program prepares the physical therapist assistant (PTA) to provide physical therapy interventions and components of therapeutic measurement under the direction and supervision of a licensed physical therapist.
At the completion of the Physical Therapist Assistant program, a graduate will:
- Exhibit professional behaviors in the role as a responsible physical therapist assistant by providing safe, ethical, and legal care while working under the direction and supervision of a licensed physical therapist.
- Demonstrate entry-level competency in all required intervention skills of a PTA and provide proficient care based on the plan of care developed by the physical therapist.
- Communicate effectively with patients/clients, caregivers, family members, members of the health care team, payers, and policymakers through written, verbal, and non-verbal means.
- Compose accurate documentation in the health record to comply with facility and payer regulations consistent with the health care delivery system.
- Recognize healthcare disparities and social determinants of health with the delivery of physical therapy services.
- Participate in career development and lifelong learning opportunities to remain contemporary within an ever-changing healthcare environment.
| RCSJ’s Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) staff discuss the PTA program at RCSJ. The program is a two-year associate degree program, which allows students to become a PTA under the direction of a physical therapist. Requirements include scheduled classes, clinical experiences outside of the classroom with real life patients, and completion of open lab hours. Upon graduation, students are eligible to take the National Physical Therapy Exam, which allows them to practice in most of the United States. PTA students praise the faculty and hands on experience, as well as how the PTA program will help them achieve their professional goals. |
Selective Admissions
Selective admissions describes programs in which the applicant must meet additional admissions criteria. After completing the general RCSJ application and being accepted to the College, the applicant must submit a separate application (portfolio) for their program of choice. Each program accepts one cohort of students per academic year. Click the link to review the selective admissions requirements for this program.
Additional Information
Students receive acceptance into the program once, yearly, for the Summer semester. Petitions for entry into the program will be made available to students during
the preceding Spring/Summer semester. Students should contact their advisor
to clarify four-year degree transfer requirements and refer to the College catalog
for course pre-requisites.
Upon graduation from the PTA program, students will be eligible to take the National Physical Therapy Examination for Physical Therapist Assistants to determine competence for licensure application and thus will be able to work in a variety of patient settings.
- Program graduates will be entry-level prepared physical therapist assistants who are able to work under the direction and supervision of a physical therapist in a professional manner.
- Program graduates will value life-long learning and commitment through continued education and professional development.
- The program will prepare graduates to deliver safe, ethical, and effective physical therapy services to the diverse surrounding community.
- Program faculty will provide instruction based on current evidence-based practice within an innovative and supportive learning environment.
Physical Therapist Assistant is a selective admission program. Students must be accepted into the program prior to registering for any PTA courses. Please contact the Enrollment Services office for an admission packet.
Clinical agencies require criminal history background checks (CHBC) and urine drug screening (UDS) for all individuals engaged in patient care. All students must undergo a CHBC and UDS upon acceptance into the PTA Program. CHBC and UDS results may be sent to the clinical agencies, who have the sole discretion to decide if the student may engage in patient care at the agency. If a student is denied the opportunity to participate in the clinical agency as a result of the findings of the CHBC and UDS, the student will be dismissed from the PTA Program.
A minimum grade of “C+” is required in all courses, in the PTA program of study including General Education and Science courses and students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.50 or higher [as per the current institutional grading scale].
Refer to the course description section of this catalog for prerequisite and co-requisite course requirements. The most up-to-date application information is on the College’s website at RCSJ.edu/SelectiveAdmissions.
Education Unique to Each Student
The support I received at RCSJ means a lot, especially being first-generation. It meant a lot having those people there to guide me, have 100% trust in me to do what I said I was going to do, . . . and believe in me even more than I believed in myself.
Other Programs in this Academic Division
Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA)
Diagnostic Medical Sonography (DMS)
