Physical Therapist Assistant, AAS

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    Program Overview

    The Physical Therapist Assistant program instructs students on restoring and maintaining physical function, wellness, fitness, and quality of life. Physical therapist assistants work as part of a rehabilitation team to provide physical therapy under the direction and supervision of a physical therapist. After the physical therapist evaluates the patient and develops a plan of care, the physical therapist assistant helps implement the care plan utilizing a wide variety of skilled interventions. Students will learn treatment techniques to help their patients recover mobility and maximize their physical abilities.

    Upon satisfactory completion of the program, students will graduate and be eligible to apply for national licensure, which is required in most states to practice as a physical therapist assistant.

    Accredited by The Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).

    Vision:

    The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Baltimore City Community College strives to be the leader in the state of Maryland that produces quality Physical Therapist Assistants, who will impact future trends in Physical Therapy practice and add value to their own lives as well as the health care community.

    Mission:

    The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Baltimore City Community College provides an accessible and affordable quality education in rehabilitation to a diverse student population within Baltimore City and its surrounding areas. The program responds to the changing needs of the health care community by providing the academic, technical, and life skills training needed to produce graduates who are qualified to sit for the National Physical Therapy Exam for Physical Therapist Assistants and become successful licensed Physical Therapist Assistants.

Career Options

    • Hospitals
    • Rehabilitation centers
    • Extended care & sub-acute facilities
    • Schools & pediatric centers
    • Private practices & outpatient clinics
    • Sports & fitness facilities
    • Home health care agencies

BCCC's Advantage

    • Small classes
    • Student centered instruction
    • > 90% pass rate on licensure exam
    • Experienced advisors, instructors & community partners

Suggested Sequence Of Courses

  • Every degree-seeking student must complete the College’s General Education Requirements in addition to the requirements of his/her academic program. Through the College’s General Education Requirements, students acquire basic knowledge of the disciplines in the areas of arts and humanities, social and behavioral sciences, biological and physical sciences, mathematics, English composition, and computer literacy.

    Find out more in the Baltimore City Community College Catalog

Program Brochure

Program Faculty

Selective Admissions Requirements

    • Pre-requisites for the Program (14-15 credits) and all transcripts from other institutions must be completed prior to admission for the fall semester.

    • A video and quiz must be completed.

    • A Purpose Statement (350 words minimum) should be submitted with the program application: 1) Please describe your academic experiences and either your work experience, volunteer experience, or observational experience; 2) Please explain why you wish to gain entry into the PTA program; and 3) How will this program help you contribute to the broader community?

    • Please see the PTA application packet for additional details. 

    • Interested students must submit applications to the Coordinator of Special Populations for the following fall admission: 410-462-8411. 

Accreditation

  • The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Baltimore City Community College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: http://www.capteonline.org.  If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call Dr. James Dyett at 410-462-7723 or email jdyett@bccc.edu.

    Graduates of the Physical Therapist Assistant program are eligible to take the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) to qualify for licensure as a Physical Therapist Assistant. BCCC’s PTA program provides an extraordinary opportunity for students interested in entering the Physical Therapy field, and who have as their goal the furtherance of their education and professional development. By law, the Maryland State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners may deny licensure for a variety of reasons. These include conviction of a felony or crime involving moral turpitude, if the nature of the offense bears directly on the fitness of the person to practice Physical Therapy.

    Acquisition of Physical Therapy competency is developed through a combination of college-based lectures and skills laboratories, as well as direct involvement with patient care during part-time and full-time clinical internships. Successful completion of all courses in the PTA program, including any necessary remedial coursework, will lead to the Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in Physical Therapist Assisting.

    BCCC’s two-year Physical Therapist Assistant program prepares students to work as Physical Therapist Assistants in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, extended care and sub-acute facilities, out-patient clinics, private practices, schools and pediatric centers.

    The program is designed to prepare graduates to become respected members of the Physical Therapy team, providing direct patient care under the general supervision of a Physical Therapist. The Physical Therapist Assistant program is located on the second floor of the Student Services Wing in the Main Building of the Liberty Campus.

    The Licensure/certification examination pass rates:

    FY 2018 = 90.9%

    FY 2019 = 100%

    FY 2020 = 100%