| PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT
Associate in Applied Science Degree MEC
Purpose: The PTA program is designed to prepare students
to utilize exercise, specialty equipment and other treatment procedures
to prevent, identify, correct, and alleviate movement dysfunction.
The program design provides students with the philosophical, theoretical,
and clinical knowledge necessary to deliver high-quality patient
care. Ultimately, students are prepared as skilled technical health
care providers who work under the direction and supervision of
a physical therapist to provide selected components of physical
therapy treatments. Upon successful completion of the program,
students must take and pass a licensing examination to begin their
career as a physical therapist assistant (PTA). Students are prepared
for employment in a variety of health-care settings including
acute care hospitals, outpatient clinics, extended care facilities,
rehabilitation centers, contract agencies and schools.
Special Accreditation Status: The program is fully accredited
by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education.
Transfer Information: NVCC has two formal articulation agreements
for transfer: Old Dominion University TELETECHNET, B.S. in Health
Sciences-Health Care Management, and George Mason University,
B.S. in Health Science Administration.
Students must comply with all General Admission Requirements
for Allied Health Programs. (See page 101.)
Program Admission Process: To be admitted to the PTA program,
applicants must meet all of the following requirements:
1. Satisfactory completion of anatomy and physiology. NAS 150
with a grade of C or better is required. BIO 141-142 or NAS 161-162
may be substituted for NAS 150.
2. Attendance at a PTA Program Information Session. (This satisfies
the "Interview with the Assistant Dean" requirement.)
Call the program office at 703-822-6570 for scheduled dates.
3. 2.0 GPA at last school attended.
4. Be 18 years of age or older.
5. Satisfactory scores on NVCC placement tests to qualify for
MTH 120 and ENG 111.
6. Meeting with Allied Health and Nursing Program Counselor
for admission to the PTA curriculum.
Completion of steps 1-6 above constitutes a completed PTA Program
Application. Completed PTA Program Applications will be accepted
in the PTA program office on October first for the following
Fall semester. Acceptance is determined on a first-come-first-served
basis. Students are notified in writing of acceptance into the
program following submission of a completed application.
Professional Standards Requirements: Students are expected to
consistently demonstrate professional behavior in both the classroom
and during clinical affiliations. Professional behavior must
be consistent with the APTA Code of Ethics for Affiliate Member
and Generic Abilities (see PTA Program Handbook). Behavior inconsistent
with the Code of Ethics and/or the Generic Abilities will result
in dismissal from the program.
Additional Requirements: In addition to the Admission
Requirements for Allied Health Programs, students must complete
a basic first aid course prior to admission to any PTH courses.
Advanced Placement Admission: Students seeking advanced
placement, or transfer, including military physical therapy technicians,
should contact the assistant dean of the PTA program for individual
counseling.
Laboratory Examination Requirements: Each student must
achieve a minimum passing score of 70% on each laboratory practical
exam. In the event that a lab practical is failed, a maximum of
one reexamination, per examination will be permitted. Performance
determined to be less than competent will result in withdrawal
and/or failure from the class. A student who does not achieve
a 70% or greater on the second attempt will fail the class and
be administratively withdrawn from the program.
Re-Enrollment:
1. Students in good standing may be permitted to re-enroll in
the PTA curriculum on a space available basis, with permission
of the Assistant Dean.
2. Students who leave the program for any period up to two years
or more for either personal or academic reasons are required to
demonstrate proficiency in all previously enrolled skills courses
prior to re-entering the program. "Practical exams"
are administered and scheduled by the program faculty. A written
exam will be required.
3. Students who leave the program for any period of time for
medical reasons are required to submit evidence of good physical
and mental health, as substantiated by a newly completed Pre-Admission
Health History and Physical for Allied Health and Nursing form
(NVCC 125-7) signed by the primary physician responsible for theircare.
|
First Year |
1st Semester |
2nd Semester |
3rd Semester |
|
|
ENG |
111 |
College Composition I |
3 |
|
PED |
220 |
Adult Health and Development |
2  |
|
PTH |
105 |
Intro. to Physical Therapy |
3 |
|
PTH |
121 |
Therapeutic Proc. I |
5 |
|
PTH |
151 |
Musculoskeletal Structure and Function |
5 |
|
SDV |
101 |
Orientation to Health Care |
1 |
|
|
1 ___ |
|
Humanities/Fine Arts Elective |
|
3 |
|
PSY |
201 |
Intro. to Psychology I |
|
3 |
|
PTH |
115 |
Kinesiology for the Physical |
|
|
|
|
|
Therapist Assistant |
|
5 |
|
PTH |
122 |
Therapeutic Proc. II |
|
5 |
|
|
MTH |
|
Elective |
|
|
3 |
|
PTH |
131 |
Clinical Education I |
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
|
Total Credits/Semester |
19 |
16 |
6 |
|
Second Year |
1st Semester |
2nd Semester |
|
|
PTH |
225 |
Rehab. Procedures |
5 |
|
PTH |
231 |
Clinical Education II |
5 |
|
2 ___ |
|
Social Science Elective |
3 |
|
|
PTH |
210 |
Psych. Aspects of Therapy |
|
2 |
|
PTH |
227 |
Pathological Conditions |
|
2 |
|
PTH |
232 |
Clinical Education III |
|
5 |
|
PTH |
245 |
Professional Issues |
|
3 |
|
|
|
|
Total Credits/Semester |
13 |
12 |
Total credits for the A.A.S. Degree in Physical Therapist Assistant
= 66 (71 with 4 credit NAS prerequisite).
To graduate from a degree program, students entering
NVCC Fall 1999 or later must demonstrate computer competency
skills as described
in the Degree Requirements section of the Instructional Programs
of this catalog. Students in this program may take HIT 130 – Intro.
to Healthcare Information Systems or take the NVCC computer
competency
test.
NOTE: In addition to the courses outlined,
a medical terminology course (HLT 141 or 143) is strongly encouraged.
1 Humanities/fine arts
elective may be selected from the list on page 38.
2 The following are recommended:
PSY 202, PSY 215, PSY 216, PSY 225, PSY 235, PSY 237, SOC 201,
or SOC 207. See NVCC Catalog for additional courses that satisfy
the Social Science requirement.
*This
information has been updated/corrected from the original printed
version. Click here, or on the updated symbol for more information.
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