Physical Therapist Assistant Technology
Associate in Science Degree
The Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) associate degree program prepares students to help a variety of people in a variety of settings. PTAs assist people of all ages, with various movement disorders, to become independent in their day-to-day functions. Physical therapy is a hands-on career, which literally involves working to change people’s lives for the better. Because every client has a unique set of circumstances, PTAs help to carry out a unique treatment plan for each one, under the direction and supervision of a physical therapist.
As a PTA, graduates can work in traditional medical environments or in settings where people need to learn new ways to prevent injury or to promote health, wellness, and fitness. In the field, the PTA is supervised by a licensed physical therapist (PT). Most of the time, the PTA works with individual clients or groups under the direction of a PT. In the associate degree program, the student learns to act as part of the rehabilitation team, collecting data needed for the patient’s initial evaluation, carrying out selected physical therapy interventions outlined in the PT treatment plans, using technology to help people overcome disabilities, and designing activities to help people reach their goals.
After completion of all classroom training on campus, and Level I Clinical Education off campus, students enter the community for Level II Clinical Education. The two Level II Clinical Education experiences give the student many opportunities to apply classroom training to real life situations. Upon successful completion of all degree requirements, the student will be eligible to sit for the National Physical Therapy Examination for Physical Therapist Assistants. Employment is available in a wide variety of settings in the areas of physical disabilities, pediatrics, and geriatrics, as well as in athletic facilities and wellness programs. In addition, after completing certain prerequisites*, graduates of this program are eligible to continue on for a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management Technology.
ACCREDITATION STATUS
New England Institute of Technology is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: www.capteonline.org.
Program Mission, Goals and Outcomes