Physical Therapist Assistant
Associate Degree Program
Physical therapist assistants work under the supervision of licensed physical therapists to provide services to people of all ages who have a variety of physical limitations, resulting from injury, disease or other causes. As a physical therapist assistant (PTA), you will be a licensed health care worker who provides physical therapy services under the supervision and direction of the physical therapist. You will assist with data collection, implement patient programs designed by the physical therapist, make appropriate judgments, modify interventions within the established plan of care, participate in discharge planning and follow-up care, and document the care provided to the patient. You will also educate and interact with health care team members, including families, caregivers, students and patients. Upon successful completion of this program, you will be eligible to sit for the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE).
Academically ready students can apply to the program following the guidelines of the Allied Health admissions process. Interested applicants should review the information provided here and contact their program advisor for application requirements.
Offered at the following campus(es): Georgetown, Wilmington
What You Can Do
In this program, you will gain the knowledge and skills to prepare you for positions in:
- Hospitals
- Rehabilitation centers
- Home health
- Out-patient clinics
- Schools
- Skilled nursing facilities
What You Will Learn
Program Graduate Competencies
The Program Graduate Competencies listed below identify the major learning goals related to your specific program of study and identify the knowledge and skills you will have when you graduate to be successful in your chosen field.
- Work under the supervision of a physical therapist in an ethical, legal, safe and effective manner.
- Implement PT interventions within the plan of care.
- Perform specific data collection techniques related to the plan of care.
- Demonstrate effective communication in the physical therapy environment.
- Formulate appropriate judgments and modification to the program within the patient's plan of care.
- Demonstrate effective interactions and professional behaviors.
- Participate in career development activities.
- Exhibit a commitment to the physical therapy profession, physical therapy patients, and the community.
Core Curriculum Competencies
The Core Curriculum Competencies listed below identify what you will be able to do as a graduate, regardless of your program of study. You will acquire these core competencies through general education courses and program-specific coursework. You will be expected to use relevant technology to achieve these outcomes:
- Apply clear and effective communication skills.
- Use critical thinking to solve problems.
- Collaborate to achieve a common goal.
- Demonstrate professional and ethical conduct.
- Use information literacy for effective vocational and/or academic research.
- Apply quantitative reasoning and/or scientific inquiry to solve practical problems.
Suggested Pathway to Graduation
Semester 1
Number | Course Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
SSC 100 | First Year Seminar | 1 |
BIO 120 | Anatomy and Physiology I | 5 |
MAT 162 | Statistical Reasoning | 4 |
BIO 100 | Medical Terminology | 3 |
Semester 2
Number | Course Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
ENG 101 | Composition I | 3 |
BIO 121 | Anatomy and Physiology II | 5 |
PHY 110 | Physics for the Physical Therapist Assistant | 4 |
Or | ||
PHY 205 | General Physics I | 4 |
PSY 121 | General Psychology | 3 |
PTA 100 | Introduction to PTA | 2 |
Semester 3
Number | Course Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
BIO 123 | Clinical Functional Anatomy | 3 |
ENG 102 | Composition II | 3 |
PTA 101 | Basic Techniques | 4 |
PTA 115 | Kinesiology | 3 |
PTA 102 | Modalities | 3 |
Semester 4
Number | Course Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
PTA 116 | Introduction to Pathology | 3 |
Semester 5
Number | Course Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
PTA 205 | Pathology/Treatment of Orthopedic Conditions | 4 |
PTA 206 | Pathology/Treatment of Neurologic Conditions | 4 |
PTA 211 | Clinical Practice I | 4 |
SOC 213 | Ethical Issues in Healthcare | 3 |
Semester 6
Number | Course Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
PTA 208 | Special Topics for the PTA | 3 |
PTA 209 | PTA Management Issues | 2 |
PTA 212 | Clinical Practice II | 3 |
PTA 213 | Clinical Practice III | 4 |
To complete program requirements, you must pass the above courses and earn at least 76 credits. The number of courses and credits required for graduation may be more depending on college readiness and the elective courses offered in your program major (if electives are a part of the program).
AHTAASPTA
Semester 1
Number | Course Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
SSC 100 | First Year Seminar | 1 |
MAT 162 | Statistical Reasoning | 4 |
BIO 120 | Anatomy and Physiology I | 5 |
Semester 2
Number | Course Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
BIO 121 | Anatomy and Physiology II | 5 |
BIO 100 | Medical Terminology | 3 |
PHY 110 | Physics for the Physical Therapist Assistant | 4 |
Or | ||
PHY 205 | General Physics I | 4 |
PSY 121 | General Psychology | 3 |
PTA 100 | Introduction to PTA | 2 |
Semester 3
Number | Course Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
BIO 123 | Clinical Functional Anatomy | 3 |
ENG 101 | Composition I | 3 |
PTA 101 | Basic Techniques | 4 |
PTA 115 | Kinesiology | 3 |
PTA 116 | Introduction to Pathology | 3 |
Semester 4
Number | Course Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
ENG 102 | Composition II | 3 |
PTA 102 | Modalities | 3 |
Semester 5
Number | Course Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
PTA 205 | Pathology/Treatment of Orthopedic Conditions | 4 |
PTA 206 | Pathology/Treatment of Neurologic Conditions | 4 |
PTA 211 | Clinical Practice I | 4 |
SOC 213 | Ethical Issues in Healthcare | 3 |
Semester 6
Number | Course Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
PTA 208 | Special Topics for the PTA | 3 |
PTA 209 | PTA Management Issues | 2 |
PTA 212 | Clinical Practice II | 3 |
PTA 213 | Clinical Practice III | 4 |
To complete program requirements, you must pass the above courses and earn at least 76 credits. The number of courses and credits required for graduation may be more depending on college readiness and the elective courses offered in your program major (if electives are a part of the program).
AHTAASPTA
Pursuing a Bachelor's Degree?
This is a Connected Degree program that enables you to complete your associate degree and then transfer to a four-year degree program as a junior. See a program advisor for details!
Alumni | Jerry Felipe
Patricia Bird
Department Chair, Instructor,
and Program Advisor
pbird2@51jiyangshi.com
(302) 259-6676
Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Delaware Technical Community College Jack F. Owens Campus is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, VA 22305-3085; telephone: (703) 706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: capteonline.org.
If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call (302) 259-6676 or email pbird2@51jiyangshi.com.
The program has determined that its curriculum meets the state educational requirements for licensure or certification in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands secondary to its accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, based on the following: CAPTE accreditation of a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant program satisfies state educational requirements in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Thus, students graduating from CAPTE-accredited physical therapist and physical therapist assistant education programs are eligible to take the National Physical Therapy Examination and apply for licensure in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. For more information regarding state qualifications and licensure requirements, refer to the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy website at www.fsbpt.org.
This program is offered at the Georgetown and Wilmington campuses.
Rachel Carter
Department Chair
rachel.carter@51jiyangshi.com
(302) 657-5131
The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Delaware Technical Community College Orlando J. George, Jr Campus is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, VA 22305-3085; telephone: (703) 706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: capteonline.org.
If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call (302) 657-5131 or email rachel.carter@51jiyangshi.com.
The program has determined that its curriculum meets the state educational requirements for licensure or certification in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands secondary to its accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, based on the following: CAPTE accreditation of a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant program satisfies state educational requirements in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Thus, students graduating from CAPTE-accredited physical therapist and physical therapist assistant education programs are eligible to take the National Physical Therapy Examination and apply for licensure in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. For more information regarding state qualifications and licensure requirements, refer to the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy website at www.fsbpt.org.