Physical Therapist Assistant

The Physical Therapist Assistant is a skilled technical health care worker who carries out patient treatment programs under the supervision of a Physical Therapist. The assistant works to relieve pain and/or increase function in patients via therapeutic application of heat, cold, light, water, electricity, sound, massage, exercise, gait, and functional activity.

This page outlines the School of Health Care's PTA degree track, constituting both the general course pre-requisites as well as the Major Course Requirements (technical portion) of the Physical Therapist Assistant program. All pre-requisites must be completed prior to a student being considered for an interview into the technical portion of the PTA Program.

The Physical Therapist Assistant curriculum is configured sequentially to allow the student to complete the general education courses in a flexible format. During this time, the student can complete not only the academic requirements needed for the associate degree but can also complete the observation requirements and all necessary documentation required prior to applying for the technical portion of the degree. Movement into the technical portion is dependent on the successful completion of the pre-requisite coursework as well as the additional specific admissions requirements found below.

Educational clinical experience is provided in a variety of settings including, but not limited to: hospitals, rehabilitation agencies, schools, private offices, and long-term care facilities.

Accreditation

The Physical Therapist Assistant program at Midlands Technical College is accredited by: 
Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).
3030 Potomac Avenue, Suite 100
Alexandra, VA 22305-3085
Telephone: 703.706.3245
Email: accreditation@apta.org

If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 803.822.3337 or email pta@midlandstech.edu. You can also click here to submit a formal complaint or comment regarding the PTA program, its faculty, or students.

PTA Learning Experiences

To enhance student learning, the Physical Therapist Assistant Degree Program utilizes dedicated classroom and laboratory space within Lexington Hall, on the Airport Campus. Student preclinical experience in the physical therapy skills labs allows students to attain competency prior to progression into the required clinical rotations (externships/internships). Clinical experiences are arranged through affiliations with local physical therapy practices and other healthcare facilities.​ Click to here view the MTC PTA Clinic Manual. 

Information Sessions

Participation with a PTA Program information session is mandatory and must be completed prior to submitting an application for consideration of acceptance into the technical portion of the PTA Program. Participants will have the opportunity to learn about the profession and the program, including admission requirements, be introduced to the faculty, and see the facilities. Preregistration for information sessions is not required. Participation will be verified.

Please email the program at pta@midlandstech.edu for details and/or how to access.

Specific Admission Requirements to the Physical Therapist Assistant Program

Prior to being considered for acceptance into the PTA Program, all prospective students will need to:

• Apply and be accepted to MTC. This includes having all previous college and/or high school transcripts submitted and assessed by the college.
• Attend an advisory appointment with your assigned School of Health Care advisor. This meeting will highlight the details and requirements for admittance into the PTA Program.
• Attend at least one mandatory PTA Program information session (see above).
• Complete 20 or more hours of recent (within the past 2 years) clinical Physical Therapy observation experiences, 5 hours should be in an acute care hospital setting with 15 additional hours attained in other types of PT setting(s).
  • Proof of observation attendance is to be recorded on the MTC PTA Program observation evaluation forms. These forms must be picked up in person and directly from the PTA program.
• Write a 2-3 page self-reflection of experience summary paper about your observation experiences.

The above items need to be completed prior to submittal of the PTA Program application.

• Submit all required application materials by the due date published on the program website.
• All prerequisite courses must meet the following criteria for a prospective student to apply to the PTA Program:
  • Have a cumulative GPA of 2.900 or higher (calculated using only the prerequisite courses as outlined in the “Program Plan” below).
  • Be successfully completed:
    • With a C or better, by the end of the spring semester of the application due date (intended acceptance year).
    • With adherence to the “Course Acceptance Timeframe Policy.”
      • Math and Science courses (including AHS 102) must have been completed within a specific timeframe.
        • Earned grade of A taken within 5 years of program entry
        • Earned grade of B taken within 4 years of program entry
        • Earned grade of C taken within 3 years of program entry
      • All other (non-math or science) pre-requisite courses must have been completed within 10 years of the prospective student’s application cycle close date (end of spring semester applying in)
    • With adherence to the “Course Repeat Policy.”
      • Restrictions for repeating pre-requisite courses.
        • A maximum of two prerequisite courses may have an unsuccessful first attempt (W/D/F grade). One repeat opportunity will be allowed for each of those unsuccessfully attempted courses.
        • One repeat opportunity for a higher grade will be allowed for prerequisite courses successfully completed with a grade of C or better on the first attempt.

Please reference the non "PTH” courses outlined in the “Program Plan” below when considering acceptable PTA Program prerequisite courses.

• Successfully interview with the Physical Therapist Assistant Program Admissions Committee.
  • Please prepare ahead for an interview that has been offered. Students will only be afforded one opportunity to interview for the PTA Program. Those students who either fail to progress into the technical portion due to a poor interview or those who decline an offer of admit following an interview will not be permitted to apply again.
  • Please prepare ahead for an interview that has been offered. Students who fail to progress into the technical portion due to a poor interview will not be permitted to apply again. 

Only after a student is accepted into the PTA Program’s technical portion do the following items need to be completed prior to the Fall Term start date:

• Have an acceptable criminal background check and drug screening results.
• Be certified in First-Aid and American Heart Association CPR (BLS/AED) for the Health Care Provider.
• Have proof that all School of Health Care and PTA Program vaccination requirements/records are up to date.
• Meet, at a minimum, the Essential Functions and Technical Standards requirements.

Essential Functions and Technical Standards

The following standards reflect reasonable expectations of a student in the PTA Program for the performance of common physical therapy functions. In adopting these standards, the PTA Program is mindful of the patient’s right to safe and quality treatment by a skilled PTA. These skills are necessary for the PTA to function in a broad variety of clinical situations while providing the spectrum of physical therapy interventions. These standards generally reflect what may be required for the employment of the graduate PTA. Upon admission, to verify that a student has the ability to perform these essential functions, students may be required to demonstrate the following technical standards:

Critical Thinking/Problem Solving Skills

Definition: Ability to collect, interpret and integrate information and make decisions.

Standard (examples are not all-inclusive):

• Collect, interpret and integrate information and make decisions.
• Read and comprehend relevant information in textbooks, medical records, and professional literature.
• Identify cause/effect relationships in the provision of health care.
• Identify patient problems and adjust patient goals and interventions appropriately within the health care team plan of care.
• Respond calmly and effectively to emergencies.
• Know when and how to apply universal precautions.
• Use effective teaching, learning, and test-taking strategies.

Interpersonal Skills

Definition: Ability to collaboratively work with all PTA students and with program faculty in the classroom, lab, and clinical setting.

Standard (examples are not all-inclusive):

• Work collaboratively with all PTA students, faculty and staff, clinicians and patients in the classroom, lab, and clinical settings.
• Embody the spirit of cooperation and collegiality, employing basic conflict management skills as situations require.
• Establish positive and supportive rapport with patients/clients and colleagues.
• Participate in all lab situations to experience both clinician and patient roles, receiving and communicating empathy.
• Establish positive, supportive, effective and harmonious relationships in diverse settings, with diverse patient/clients and colleagues.

Behavioral/Emotional/ Social Coping Skills

Definition: Ability to respond appropriately to stressful environments or during impending deadlines.

Standard (examples are not all-inclusive):

• Display maturity, good judgment, sensitivity, and emotional stability when in academic and professional settings.
• Manage heavy academic schedules and deadlines.
• Concentrate on professional duties without distraction in all settings.
• Set priorities and perform all aspects of therapy services in fast-paced academic and clinical situations.
• Cope effectively with psychosocial issues involving illness, disability, and death without hindering the effective performance of duties.
• Work collaboratively with all PTA students, faculty and staff, clinicians and patients in the classroom, lab, and clinical settings.

Communication Skills

Definition: Ability to communicate effectively in English using verbal, nonverbal and written formats with faculty, other students, patients, families, and health care workers.

Standard (examples are not all-inclusive):

• Communicate effectively in English using verbal, non-verbal and written formats with faculty, other students, patients, families, and health care workers.
• Describe and teach physical therapy procedures in both oral and written format.
• Give directions to patients and family members.
• Answer questions to the satisfaction of patients, co-workers, physicians, and other health care providers.
• Keep accurate logs and records of treatment procedures and charges using appropriate medical terminology, correct spelling and grammar?
• Demonstrate active listening skills. Recognize, interpret and respond to non-verbal behavior of self and others.

Physical Mobility/Motor Skills

Definition: Sufficient motor ability to execute the movement and skills required for safe and effective physical therapy treatment.

Standard (examples are not all-inclusive):

• Execute the movement and skills required for safe and effective physical therapy treatment.
• Demonstrate adequate coordination, balance, speed, and agility to assist and safely manage patients who are walking on level and unlevel terrain to include: stairs, ramps, grass/gravel, curbs, and diverse home flooring.
• Demonstrate and perform exercise programs and functional activities required of established patient care interventions without injuring self or others.
• Move, adjust and position patients or equipment which involves bending, stooping freely to the floor, reaching overhead, lifting, pulling or guiding a weight of 200-250 pounds.
• Provide emergency care and administer CPR.
• Stand, kneel, sit, walk or crawl for 90 minutes without rest.
• Perform transfer and gait training techniques using correct and safe body mechanics.
• Manipulate with sufficient dexterity bi-manually the devices used in physical therapy, such as adjusting gauges, dials with one hand while moving thermal/electric devices with the other hand.
• Manipulate small nuts/bolts, and therapy equipment settings with sufficient hand strength and dexterity.

Sensory Abilities

Definition: Sufficient auditory, visual and tactile ability to monitor and assess health needs.

Standard (examples are not all-inclusive):

• Monitor and assess patient’s health needs with sufficient auditory, visual and tactile acuity.
• Visual – (corrected as necessary) recognize and interpret facial expressions and body language and patient posture, identify normal and abnormal patterns of movement, discriminate color changes and interpret and assess the environment up to 20 feet; read or set parameters on physical therapy equipment.
• Auditory – (corrected as necessary) recognize and respond to soft voices or voices under protective garb, auditory timers, equipment/emergency alarms, and effectively use devices for the measurement of vital signs and breath sounds. Be able to hear patients and respond to patient critical needs when not in direct line of sight.
• Tactile –palpate a pulse and detect changes or abnormalities of surface texture, skin temperature, body segment contour, muscle tone, and joint movement.

Professionalism

Definition: Ability to demonstrate professional behaviors and a strong work ethic.

Standard (examples are not all-inclusive):

• Demonstrate unselfish, honest, moral and ethical behavior in all academic and professional settings.
• Take initiative; be creative, prepared, flexible, enthusiastic, cooperative, tolerant, respectful of authority, and industrious in all academic, clinical and professional settings.
• Demonstrate time management skills that promote punctual attendance to class, labs, and clinics as required.
• Demonstrate a work ethic consistent with professional standards.
• Recognize personal limitations and request assistance as appropriate.
• Demonstrate responsibility for personal and professional development.
• Demonstrate respect for the patient, other health care providers and the profession of physical therapy.
• Maintain confidences.
• Present a professional appearance and maintain personal hygiene.

Adapted from the Red Alert: The Americans with Disabilities Act - Implications for Nursing Education (March '93)

Application Process

Program Costs

View the most recent Financial Fact Sheet for MTC's Physical Therapy Assistant Program.

Progression

No more than two prerequisite courses may be unsuccessfully attempted (requiring repeating) and no single course may be unsuccessfully attempted and repeated more than once. The repeat policy is collectively applied to coursework taken at MTC and/or other colleges.

After program acceptance and matriculation, all technical portion (PTH prefixed) courses of the Physical Therapist Assistant Program are sequentially dependent and must be successfully completed per program policies in order to progress further within the curriculum.

Please view our program statistics. 

Readmission

Physical Therapist Assistant Program technical portion students who chose to withdraw OR who are unable to continue due to grade deficiency must (re)apply for program readmission consideration. Readmission is not guaranteed and is dependent on a space-available basis. Students may re-enter the program only once and must repeat, complete, and pass all Physical Therapist Assistant Program technical coursework to be eligible for graduation and licensure consideration.