State Board Approval Date:

August 7, 2008

Implementation Date:

Spring 2009

Last Updated:

September 24, 2008

Physical Therapist Assistant, Degree

Program Standard and Course Guide 

Table of Contents

General Program Standards

SPECIFIC PROGRAM STANDARDS

Admission Requirements

PT03-02-01

Provisional Program Admissions

PT03-02-04

Program Numbering

PT03-03-02

Program Course Consistency and Sequence

PT03-03-03

Program Course List

Accreditation (Guide)

Appendix A

Suggested Course Sequence (Guide)

Appendix B

Suggested Equipment List (Guide)

Appendix C

Admissions

Standard Number: PT03-02-01 (Admission Requirements)

Standard Statement

Statewide admission requirements are implemented for the Physical Therapist Assistant, degree program.

Explanatory Comment

Admission refers to regular admission into a degree program.

 

Statewide program admission requirements consider state and national occupational licensing and certifying requirements, where applicable. The institution develops and implements clearly stated degree program admissions policies and procedures.

 

Admission requirements are related to the functions of the Physical Therapist Assistant, Degree profession.

Evaluative Criteria

The institution develops, implements, and publishes clearly stated Physical Therapist Assistant, degree program admission and advanced placement policies and procedures.

The requirements for admission to the Physical Therapist Assistant, degree program are:

 

a.     attain 16 years of age;

b.    documentation of high school graduation or satisfaction of High School Equivalency Requirements certificate;

c.     achievement of minimum regular admission scores on tests of reading, language, mathematics as specified in TCSG document Minimum Program Entrance Scores;

d.    documentation of physical examination; and

e.     completion of application and related procedures.

Admission of transfer students to the Physical Therapist Assistant program is contingent upon their meeting the following requirements:

 

a.     regular admission and good standing at a regionally accredited diploma or degree granting institution; and

b.    proper completion of application and related procedures.

Standard Number: PT03-02-04 (Provisional Admission Requirements)

Standard Statement

Statewide provisional admission requirements are implemented for the Physical Therapist Assistant, degree program.

Explanatory Comment

Provisional admission is granted to qualified students who do not meet the regular admission requirements of the program.

 

Provisionally admitted students are allowed to take developmental studies courses and/or certain occupational courses as designated in the course sequence standard.

 

The institution develops, implements, and publishes clearly stated policies and procedures for entry into programs on a provisional basis.

Evaluative Criteria

Provisional admission to the Physical Therapist Assistant, degree program is afforded those students who do not meet program requirements but do meet provisional admission requirements.

 

The requirements for provisional admission to the Physical Therapist Assistant, degree program are:

 

a.     attain 16 years of age;

b.    achievement of minimum regular admission scores on tests of reading, language, mathematics as specified in TCSG document Minimum Program Entrance Scores; or recommendation by program faculty and designated admissions personnel on the basis of interview and assessment of student potential;

c.     documentation of a physical exam; and

d.    completion of application and related procedures.

All Physical Therapist Assistant, degree program students initially admitted on a provisional basis meet regular admission requirements prior to graduation.

 

Provisionally admitted students whose English, math, and/or reading achievement levels do not meet regular program admission requirements are required to enroll in developmental studies courses approved by the State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia.

Program Structure

Standard Number: PT03-03-02 (Program Numbering System)

Standard Statement

A Program Major Code of PT03 and a Program CIP Code of 510806 are applied to the Physical Therapist Assistant, degree program.

Explanatory Comment

Assignment of a statewide Program Major Code PT03 and Program CIP Code 510806 to the Physical Therapist Assistant, degree program is the basis from which statewide programmatic consistency is developed.

 

Each degree/diploma/certificate program complies with the assigned Program Major Code(s) established in the relevant program-specific standards of the State Board of Technical and Adult Education.

Evaluative Criteria

Each authorized degree/diploma/certificate program is assigned a Program Major Code and Program CIP Code.

 

Each degree/diploma/certificate program having a given Program Major Code is consistent with all other programs throughout the state that have the same Program Major Code.

 

Degree/diploma/certificate programs having multiple specializations are assigned a Specialization Major Code and Specialization CIP Code for each option.

 

Standard Number: PT03-03-03 (Program Consistency and Sequence)

Standard Statement

The Physical Therapist Assistant, degree program utilizes essential course components consistent with statewide program requirements. Specific course alphanumeric identification Codes are assigned to each course. Students are required to progress through two course categories in a developmentally valid sequence.

Explanatory Comment

Programs are assigned an identical Major Code PT03 and are consistent statewide. Each specific course is assigned an alphanumeric descriptor that serves as a statewide course identification code.

Evaluative Criteria

The Physical Therapist Assistant, degree program is assigned a Major Code of PT03, and utilizes essential components designated for that program number statewide. Program components include, but are not limited to:

Program Title

Physical Therapist Assistant, Degree

Program Description

The Physical Therapist Assistant program is a sequence of courses that prepare students for positions in hospitals and clinics with Physical Therapist departments.  Learning opportunities develop academic, technical, and professional knowledge and skills required for job acquisition, retention, and advancement.  The program emphasizes a combination of didactic and clinical instruction necessary for successful employment.  Program graduates receive a Physical Therapist Assistant Associate of Applied Science degree, have the qualifications of a physical therapist assistant, and are then eligible to sit for a state administered national examination for physical therapist assistants.

 

Course
Code

General Core Course Title

Class
Hours

D.
Lab
Hours

P.
Lab/OBI
Hours

Weekly
Contact
Hours

Credit
Hours

ENG 1101

Composition and Rhetoric

[P] Program admission level language competency or ENG 098 and RDG 098

5

0

0

5

5

SPC 1101

Public Speaking

[P] Program admission level language competency or ENG 098

5

0

0

5

5

OR

ENG 1105

Technical Communications

[P] ENG 1101

(5)

(0)

(0)

(5)

(5)

ENG 1102

Literature and Composition

[P] ENG 1101 with a grade of C or better

5

0

0

5

5

                    OR

 

HUM 1101

Introduction to Humanities

[P] ENG 1101 with a grade of C or better

(5)

(0)

(0)

(5)

(5)

MAT 1111

College Algebra

[P] Minimum ASSET score of 42 or completion of MAT 099 with a minimum exit ASSET score of 42 or Compass equivalent.

5

0

0

5

5

OR

MAT 1101

Mathematical Modeling

[P] Minimum ASSET score of 42 or completion of MAT 099 with a minimum exit ASSET score of 42 or Compass equivalent

(5)

(0)

(0)

(5)

(5)

PSY 1101

Introductory Psychology

[P][Program admission.

5

0

0

5

5

PHY 1101

Introductory Physics

[P] MAT 1100 or MAT 1111

4

0

3

7

5

Minimum Required Hours:

29

0

3

32

30

 

Course
Code

Occupational Course Title

Class
Hours

D.
Lab
Hours

P.
Lab/OBI
Hours

Weekly
Contact
Hours

Credit
Hours

AHS 104

Introduction to Health Care

[P] Provisional Admission

2

0

3

5

3

AHS 109

Medical Terminology

[P] Provisional Admission

3

0

0

3

3

SCT 100

Introduction to Microcomputers

[P] Provisional Admission

1

4

0

5

3

BIO 2113

Anatomy and Physiology I

[P] Provisional Admission [C] ENG 1101

4

0

3

7

5

BIO 2114

Anatomy and Physiology II

[P] BIO 2113

4

0

3

7

5

PTA 101

Introduction to Physical Therapy

[P] Program Admission

2

0

3

5

3

PTA 102

Orientation to Physical Therapy and Patient Care Techniques

[P] PTA 101

2

 0

3

5

3

PTA 103

Functional Anatomy and Kinesiology

[P] BIO 2113, BIO 2114, PHY 1101, PTA 102

[C] PTA 102

3