Physical Therapist Assistant

A Physical Therapist Assistant, who implements treatment plans under the direction of a Physical Therapist, is trained in the application of therapeutic modalities, such as cold, massage and electricity; exercise; prosthetics and orthotics, and functional activities in the rehabilitation and treatment of adults and children.

A Physical Therapist Assistant must be able to manipulate and move equipment, sequence work and handle heavy work schedules, with or without accommodations, and have effective verbal and written communication skills.

Employment opportunities are found in hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, outpatient clinics,school systems and home health-care agencies.

The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Houston 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 713-718-7368 or email Michele.voight@hccs.edu.

Statement of Purpose
The Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Program, leading to an Associate Degree in Applied Science, encompasses a two-year, five semester course of study requiring a total of 66 semester hours of credit. The program is designed to prepare skilled technical health workers to perform physical therapy procedures and related tasks under the direction and supervision of a physical therapist. The treatment procedures include, but are not limited to, physical agents (ie. ultrasound, electrical stimulation, and massage), rehabilitation techniques, and therapeutic exercise. Enrolled students are required to successfully complete both the academic and clinical requirements of the program to receive the AAS degree. Graduates of the program take the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) and become licensed by the Texas State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners.

Vision
The Physical Therapist Assistant Program within the Houston Community College System will be a leader in the field of physical therapy education by using high-quality, innovative instruction to prepare students to effectively serve the current and future healthcare needs of our diverse community.
Mission
The Houston Community College Physical Therapist Assistant Program uses an evidence-based curriculum founded on contemporary practice to consistently produce highly qualified, professional, and ethical physical therapist assistants committed to both a lifetime of learning and transforming our communities through optimal movement.

Program Goals

• Graduate Goal #1: Graduates will provide safe, effective, and ethical patient/client management using evidence-based practice.
• Graduate Goal #2: Graduates will exhibit professional behavior, cultural competence, and lifelong learning.
• Program Goal: The program will produce students capable of obtaining licensure and employment as a physical therapist assistant.
• Faculty Goal: Faculty will model professionalism through professional advancement, contemporary practice, and/or engagement in the profession of physical therapy.

Program Outcomes

Graduate Goal #1:

• Graduate surveys will indicate that 100% of graduates feel adequately prepared or better to provide patient care in primary areas of practice.
• Graduate surveys will indicate that 100% of graduates feel adequately prepared or better to employ clinical judgment and decision-making.
• Employer surveys will indicate that 100% of employers agree that graduates are providing safe and effective patient/client management under the direction and supervision of a licensed physical therapist.
• Employer surveys will indicate that 100% of employers agree that graduates display knowledge of and adherence to ethical, legal, and regulatory standards of practice.

Graduate Goal #2:

• Graduate surveys will indicate that 100% of graduates feel adequately prepared or better to demonstrate cultural competency in clinic.
• Graduate surveys will indicate that 100% of graduates are participating in lifelong learning activities (members of their professional organization, pursuing additional credentialing or education, community engagement, reading professional literature, etc.).
• Employer surveys will indicate that 100% of employers agree that program graduates demonstrate professional behavior and cultural competence in all interactions.
• Employer surveys will indicate that 100% of employers agree that program graduates seek out opportunities to gain new knowledge and experience.

Program Goal:

• A first time NPTE pass rate of at least 90% will be achieved annually as well as at least a 95% ultimate NPTE pass rate.
• The employment rate will be at least 90% for all graduates who pursued employment as a physical therapist assistant within a year of graduation.

Faculty Goal:

• Faculty performance evaluation plans (PEP) for full-time faculty will indicate that 100% of faculty set and achieve at least one professional advancement goal annually (involvement in professional organization, credential advancement, skill development, etc.).
• All faculty (full-time and adjunct) will indicate education and/or work in contemporary practice and engagement in the profession of physical therapy on their faculty professional development document and curriculum vitae (CV).
• Graduate surveys will indicate that 100% of graduates agree that faculty professionalism/role modeling was adequate or better.

PSLO 2022 - 2023

• 90% of students will demonstrate comprehensive academic knowledge of the PTHA curriculum in preparation for the state licensure exam.
• 100% of students exhibit entry-level skills in interpersonal professional behavior following the final clinical rotation.
• 100% of students demonstrate competent entry-level physical therapist assistant skills in treatment implementation and meet employable criteria following the final clinical rotation.
• 100% of students demonstrate clinical application to progress, modify and/or withhold interventions based on the supervising physical therapist’s plan of care as determined by safe and effective treatment implementation during the final clinical rotation.

Estimated Cost 2023 - 2024

Physical Therapists Assistant Program Financial Fact Sheet

The Physical Therapist Assistant program graduates licensures/certifications are issued by the nationally recognized Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy.

2022 Third-Party Licensure/Certification Exam Results

Occupational licensure and/or certification pass rates reported by calendar year (Jan. 1 – Dec. 31). Results for the 2020 and 2021 calendar years are provided for comparison.

There are 858 Physical Therapist Assistants employed in the Greater Houston Area. This number is expected to increase by 23.3% over the next four years.

• The estimated annual job openings is 78 jobs a year.
• Median Wages - $41, 600 - $62,400 or $20 - $30 hourly.