Physical Therapist Assistant Associate in Science (PTA-AS)

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. This program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education. The Physical Therapist Assistant program at Pensacola State College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) 1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314; telephone: [phone]; email: [e-mail]; website: http://www.capteonline.org.

Special Admissions Requirements

Student enrollment in the program is limited. The number of students in each class shall be determined by the availability of space, equipment, qualified faculty and hospital and clinical facilities necessary for a meaningful education. Only one class per year is accepted. Program acceptance is based on selection from all qualified applicants meeting the minimum criteria on a first-qualified/first served basis. After the allotted seats for each class are filled, the applicants meeting the minimum criteria will be guaranteed a seat in the next starting class. All applicants who meet the established criteria will be accepted into the program. However, not all will be guaranteed seats in the class of their choice if the application is not completed in a timely fashion. Minimum requirements for eligibility to the program 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 2.5 or higher and have completed prerequisite course work with "C's" or better. Finally, applicants must provide documentation of 48 hours of observation of physical therapy in three different venues. Final admission to the program is contingent upon submission of a satisfactory federal criminal background check and a drug screen. Admissions information packets are available on the Pensacola State College website. 

We strongly encourage you to contact the Allied Health Department for assistance in planning your program of study.

Department Head:

Christa Ruber, [phone]

[e-mail]

Program Contact (Interim):

Teena Carroll, [phone]

[e-mail]

Degree Requirements

Prerequisite Courses (12 cc)

Students must complete prerequisite courses with a C or better to be accepted into the Physical Therapist Assistant Program.

BSC 1080	Essentials of Anatomy and Physiology	3 cc
ENC 1101C	English Composition I	3 cc
HLP 1081	Concepts of Life Fitness	3 cc
MAC 1105	College Algebra	3 cc

Semester 1 (18 cc)

DEP 2004	Human Growth and Development	3 cc
PHI 2600	Ethics	3 cc
PHT 1000	Introduction to Physical Therapy	3 cc
PHT 1120	Functional Anatomy and Kinesiology	3 cc
PHT 1120L	Functional Anatomy and Kinesiology Laboratory	2 cc
PHT 1251	Basic Skills in Patient Care	2 cc
PHT 1251L	Basic Skills in Patient Care Laboratory	2 cc

Before the start of Semester 2, students must possess and maintain a Healthcare Providers CPR card, American Heart or Red Cross only.  Certification can be earned be successfully completing W 00753 CPR for Healthcare Providers.

DEP 2004 must be completed prior to Semester 3.

Semester 2 (15 cc)

LIS 2005	Information and Internet Research	3 cc
PHT 1210C	Therapeutic Modalities	3 cc
PHT 1253	Neuromuscular Therapeutic Techniques I	1 cc
PHT 1253L	Neuromuscular Therapeutic Techniques I Laboratory	2 cc
PHT 1224	Musculoskeletal Therapeutic Techniques I	3 cc
PHT 1224L	Musculoskeletal Therapeutic Techniques I Laboratory	2 cc
PHT 1801L	PTA Clinic I	1 cc

Semester 3 (14 cc)

PHT 2162	Neuromuscular Therapeutic Techniques II	1 cc
PHT 2162L	Neuromuscular Therapeutic Techniques II Laboratory	2 cc
PHT 2301	Pathological Conditions in Physical Therapy I	3 cc
PHT 2227C	Musculoskeletal Therapeutic Techniques II	2 cc
PHT 2810L	PTA Clinic II	6 cc

Semester 4 (15 cc)

PHT 2020	Trends and Issues in PTA	4 cc
PHT 2304	Pathological Conditions in Physical Therapy II	3 cc
PHT 2401	Psychosocial Issues of the Disabled	2 cc
PHT 2820L	PTA Clinic III	6 cc

Total Credit Hours: 74