Physical Therapist Assistant, AAS
Program Description
A physical therapist assistant (PTA) is licensed to practice physical therapy under the supervision of a physical therapist (PT). This is one of two entry points into the field of physical therapy. PTA's treat people who are recovering from injuries to the bones and joints, brain and nerves, problems with pain, developmental complications, and movement disorders. Their main purpose is to assist people with reaching their optimal level of health and function. They help people to recover their ability to walk, heal from wounds, and overcome the effects of injuries and other health problems. Physical therapists (PTs) are responsible for evaluating and treating people who need physical therapy services. They identify problems that physical therapy can address, create goals, and decide what treatment the person will receive. PTA's work anywhere that physical therapists work, including hospitals, rehabilitation centers, outpatient clinics, skilled nursing facilities, schools, and home health. Specialty areas in physical therapy include orthopedics, neurology, pelvic health, vestibular, and more. PTA's work exclusively under the direction of physical therapists – this is required by professional ethics, codes of conduct, and by law.
Licensure
Utah Tech Physical Therapist Assistant program graduates are eligible to sit for the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE), a required step toward receiving a physical therapist assistant license. The NPTE is administered through the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT), whose mission is to protect the public by providing service and leadership that promote safe and competent physical therapy practice.
Professional Licensure/Certification (PLC) Requirements
The curriculum for programs at Utah Tech University leading to professional licensure are designed to prepare students for Utah licensure and certification requirements. Admission into programs for professions requiring licensure and certification does not guarantee that students will obtain a license or certificate. Licensure and certification requirements are set by agencies that are not controlled by or affiliated with the University, and licensure and certification requirements can change at any time.
Licensure boards in each state establish requirements for licensure and certification for their respective state. States vary by which professions are required to be licensed and how licensure functions, and such requirements may change at any time. The terms related to licensure and certification, among others, also vary by state as well.
Students and prospective students are strongly encouraged to contact the state licensure entity in the state where they intend to work to review all licensure and certification requirements imposed by the student’s state(s) of choice. The University cannot provide verification of a student’s ability to meet licensure or certification requirements unrelated to its educational programming. Some states require individuals to complete additional requirements that are unrelated to educational prerequisites. For more information, visit the State Authorization and Professional Licensure web page and select the program, or speak to the director of the program.
Utah Tech University shall not be held liable if a student is unable to qualify for licensure or certification in any jurisdiction.
This disclosure is made pursuant to 34 CFR §668.43(a)(5)(v)(C).
Accreditation
The Physical Therapist Assistant program at Utah Tech University 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: http://www.capteonline.org.
Admission Requirements
For admission requirements into the Physical Therapist Assistant program, visit the program website (following this link will take you out of the University Catalog).
Program Curriculum
82 credits
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements 1 | ||
| ENGL 1010 | Introduction to Writing (EN) | 3-4 |
| or ENGL 1010D | Introduction to Writing (EN) | |
| ENGL 2010 | Interm Writing Selected Topics: (EN) | 3 |
| MATH 1040 | Introduction to Statistics (MA) (preferred) | 3-4 |
| or MATH 1030 | Quantitative Reasoning (MA) | |
| or MATH 1050 | College Algebra / Pre-Calculus (MA) | |
| FSHD 1500 | Human Development Lifespan (SS, GC) | 3 |
| or PSY 1100 | Human Development Through Lifespan (SS, GC) | |
| COMM 1020 | Public Speaking ((HU, GC)) | 3 |
| or COMM 2110 | Interpersonal Communication (SS, GC) | |
- 1
The above listed General Education requirements can be completed before or during the PTA program. All General Education requirements must be passed with a grade of C or higher.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Program Prerequisites | ||
| BIOL 2320 & BIOL 2325 | Human Anatomy and Human Anatomy Lab | 5 |
| BIOL 2420 & BIOL 2425 | Human Physiology and Human Physiology Lab | 4 |
| HLOC 1000 | Medical Terminology | 2 |
| PTA 1010 | Introduction to Physical Therapy | 2 |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Discipline Core Requirements | ||
| Admission to the Physical Therapist Assistant program required | ||
| Semester I | ||
| PTA 2010 | Kinesiology | 2 |
| PTA 2011 | Kinesiology Lab | 2 |
| PTA 2110 | Fundamentals Physical Therapy | 2 |
| PTA 2111 | Fundamentals Physical Therapy Lab | 2 |
| PTA 2400 | Clinical Pathology | 3 |
| Semester II | ||
| PTA 2000 | Practice Issues | 2 |
| PTA 2200 | Physical Agents | 2 |
| PTA 2201 | Physical Agents Lab | 2 |
| PTA 2210 | Observation & Measurement | 2 |
| PTA 2211 | Observation & Measurement Lab | 2 |
| PTA 2300 | Orthopedic Rehabilitation | 2 |
| PTA 2301 | Orthopedic Rehabilitation Lab | 2 |
| Semester III | ||
| PTA 2605 | Clinical Practicum (ALPP) | 4 |
| Semester IV | ||
| PTA 2410 | Special Clientele | 2 |
| PTA 2411 | Special Clientele Lab | 1 |
| PTA 2520 | Neuromuscular Rehabilitation | 2 |
| PTA 2521 | Neuromuscular Rehabilitation Lab | 2 |
| PTA 2530 | Seminar | 4 |
| PTA 3000 | Clinical Skills | 2 |
| Semester V | ||
| PTA 2705 | Clinical Affiliation I (ALPP) | 6 |
| PTA 2805 | Clinical Affiliation II (ALPP) | 6 |
Graduation Requirements
- Complete a minimum of 82 college-level credits (1000 and above).
- Complete at least 20 semester hours of credits at Utah Tech for institutional residency.
- Cumulative GPA 2.0 or higher.
- Minimum 2.7 GPA in Program Prerequisite courses.
- Minimum cumulative GPA 2.75 in Discipline Core Requirement courses.