Physical Therapist Assistant, A.A.S.

Olympic College offers a two-year curriculum designed to prepare graduates to be employed as Physical Therapist Assistants. The curriculum is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) www. apta.org/capte. The program utilizes a selective admission process to enroll 24 students annually. The deadline for application to the program is April 30th, for Fall Quarter admission. The program offers a balance of general education courses, physical therapy theory and physical therapist assistant practice. Students accepted into the program will complete 560 hours of clinical education as part of the professional curriculum. Following acceptance, the professional phase of the program can be completed in six consecutive quarters. PTA program courses require a minimum 2.7 grade point or above to progress in the program. Clinical education courses are pass/fail. Graduates are prepared for immediate employment as physical therapist assistants (PTA) in various health care settings including hospitals, longterm care and skilled nursing facilities, private out-patient practice, school settings and home health. Students are prepared to take the national licensing examination for physical therapist assistants (NPTE).