Physical Therapist Assistant

Physical Therapist Assistant Associate of Science

Physical Therapy is a health care profession whose practitioners work in a variety of settings including hospitals, private practice, outpatient clinics, home health agencies, schools, sport and fitness facilities, skilled nursing facilities, and work settings. The Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) is a member of the health care team who provides physical therapy services under the direction and supervision of a licensed physical therapist. The PTA once graduated and licensed provides care through instruction to patients/clients' exercises for range of motion, strength, and coordination along with mobility training for functional activities such as gait, transfers, and bed mobility with varying assistive devices, wheelchairs, crutches, canes, and walkers. The PTA is also skilled in massage and usage of modalities/physical agents such as electrical stimulation or ultrasound and cryotherapy /thermotherapy. The PTA provides all services under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist. Bakersfield College’s Physical Therapist Assistant Associate of Science Program provides concurrent didactic and clinical education. The program is 24 months in length (excluding prerequisite coursework) and begins each year in January. Students should anticipate making a full-time commitment to the program during the school year. The program is primarily scheduled during the day, but there may be weekend/evening classes or clinicals. Clinical education sites include hospitals, acute rehab facilities, out-patient clinics, and skilled nursing facilities in Kern County. Students may be assigned to any clinical education center in any geographical location and must provide their own transportation to these centers. The Physical Therapist Assistant Associate of Science degree prepares graduates for the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) and California Law Examination (CLE) for Physical Therapist Assistant by providing theory, skills, and experience needed to perform as an entry-level physical therapist assistant. To achieve the Physical Therapist Assistant Associate of Science Degree students must complete the required general education coursework for an Associate of Science Degree, the required core technical courses with at least a “C” grade along with passing the laboratory skills section of each course, complete required clinical hours, and meet all clinical education competencies. Once the student has graduated with the Physical Therapist Assistant Associate of Science Degree, they are eligible to sit for the above National and State examinations required for licensure. For more information, it is highly recommended students consult with the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) at apta.org (http://www.apta.org). Review the APTA “Becoming a PTA” section and explore careers in physical therapist assistant. All pre-requisites must be completed at the time the application is submitted, and applicants must have earned a “C” grade or higher at BC, or an equivalent course at another accredited college. • BIOL B32 Anatomy & Physiology I 4 units at Bakersfield College or an equivalent course at another accredited college. • BIOL B33 Anatomy & Physiology II 4 units at Bakersfield College or an equivalent course at another accredited college. • PHTA B50 Introduction to PTA 2 units at Bakersfield College. Upon completion of graduation requirements and the required degree courses with at least a “C” or “P” grade in each course, the student will be eligible for an Associate of Science degree.

Program Learning Outcomes

• 1. Upon completion of the program, the student will be able to demonstrate a comprehensive evidenced-based knowledge set in foundational sciences and physical therapist assistant education (didactic and clinical), applying critical thinking and reasoning to optimize client outcomes across the lifespan under the Physical Therapist's plan of care.

• 2. Upon completion of the program, the student will be able to demonstrate competency by achieving entry-level status for a Physical Therapist Assistant with implementation of physical therapy interventions, assessments, and data collection to achieve optimal client outcomes across the lifespan within diverse cultures and clinical settings under the PT plan of care.

• 3. Upon completion of the program, the student will be able to implement safe and efficient physical therapy interventions across the lifespan in all clinical settings under the supervision of a Physical Therapist.

• 4. Upon completion of the program, the student will be able to communicate effectively and professionally, both orally and in writing, with diverse populations, clients, families, and the multidisciplinary healthcare team (including the supervising Physical Therapist) across the lifespan, fostering collaborative relationships for optimal patient outcomes.

• 5. Upon completion of the program, the student will be able to demonstrate entry-level professional behaviors, including empathy, cultural sensitivity, skills in inter-professional collaboration, and a commitment to Justice, equality, diversity and inclusion (JEDI) to foster inclusive and equitable practices that address healthcare disparities across the healthcare continuum.

• 6. Upon completion of the program, the student will be able to demonstrate adherence to ethical, moral, and legal regulations outlined in the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Standards of Ethical Conduct for the Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) and the Laws and Regulations by the California Physical Therapy Board.

Program Requirements