Physical Therapist Assistant
Associate Degree Program
Physical Therapist Assistants are licensed healthcare workers who provide physical therapy services under the supervision and direction of the physical therapist. They assist with data collection, implement delegated patient interventions, modify interventions within the established plan of care, participate in discharge planning and follow-up care, document the care provided, and educate and interact with healthcare team members including families, caregivers, students, and patients. Students study both on campus and at varied clinical sites. Graduates of the program may be employed by hospitals, rehabilitation centers, private practice clinics, home health agencies, and other healthcare settings.
The Physical Therapist Assistant programs at the Wilmington Campus and the Owens Campus are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, VA 22305-3085, (703) 706-3245, email: accreditation@apta.org; website: .
Academically ready students can apply to the program following the guidelines of the Allied Health competitive admission process. Interested applicants should review the information provided here and contact their program advisor for application requirements.
Offered at the following location(s): 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.
Pathway to Graduation
PROGRAM SPECIFIC ADVISEMENT STATEMENT
Delaware Tech does not apply blanket age limits to courses for the purposes of transfer in, meeting selective admission programs' ranking/entrance procedures, or meeting program requirements for award completion. There is an age limit used in the selective admission procedures for the Physical Therapist Assistant program.
Semester 1
| Number | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| First Year Seminar | 1 | |
| Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 | |
| Statistical Reasoning | 4 | |
| Composition I | 3 |
Semester 2
| Number | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Anatomy and Physiology II | 4 | |
| General Psychology | 3 | |
| Introduction to PTA | 2 | |
| Clinical Functional Anatomy | 3 | |
| Composition II | 3 |
Semester 3
| Number | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Ethical Issues in Healthcare | 3 | |
| Basic Techniques | 4 | |
| Modalities | 3 | |
| Kinesiology | 3 |
Semester 4
| Number | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Pathology | 3 |
Semester 5
| Number | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Pathology/Treatment of Orthopedic Conditions | 4 | |
| Pathology/Treatment of Neurologic Conditions | 4 | |
| Clinical Practice I | 4 |
Semester 6
| Number | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Special Topics for the PTA | 3 | |
| PTA Management Issues | 2 | |
| Clinical Practice II | 3 | |
| Clinical Practice III | 4 |
To complete program requirements, you must pass the above courses and earn at least 67 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 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@dtcc.edu
(302) 259-6676
Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ 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: .
If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call (302) 259-6676 or email pbird2@dtcc.edu.
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 .
- Allied Health Admissions Process (PDF)
- (submission dates in effect)
- Ranking Worksheet (PDF)
- Public Comment Policy (PDF)
This program is offered at the Georgetown and Wilmington campuses.
Rachel Carter
Department Chair
rachel.carter@dtcc.edu
(302) 657-5131
The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ 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: .
If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call (302) 657-5131 or email rachel.carter@dtcc.edu.
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 .
- Allied Health Admissions Process (PDF)
- (submission dates in effect)
- Ranking Worksheet (PDF)
- Public Comment Policy (PDF)
- Technical Standards (PDF)