Physical Therapist Assistant - Associate in Applied Science

Occupational Title: Physical Therapist Assistant
Newport County Campus only

Physical therapist assistants work under the supervision of a physical therapist utilizing prescribed activities to help patients recover physical function lost through disease, injury or other causes, and to relieve pain and promote healing. Licensed physical therapist assistants work in public or private hospitals, clinics, school systems or other health agencies.

The Physical Therapist Assistant program is a full-time, day program. It consists of a variety of courses that includes physical therapy theory and practice as well as supporting courses from general education.

Students who successfully complete this program are eligible to take the licensure examination for physical therapist assistants.

Technical standards: The physical activity level for the physical therapist assistant is classified as “medium” by the Department of Labor in the Dictionary of Occupational Titles.

Note: Many courses require prerequisites, corequisites and/or testing. See course descriptions for details.

General Policies

See important general policies in the beginning of this section on the performance-based Health Sciences application process, academic progress, advanced placement, background check, CPR certification, health insurance, health records, reinstatement, transportation, uniforms, and equipment.

Minimum Requirements to Apply to the Physical Therapist Assistant Program

1. CCRI application – Complete and submit a CCRI Application for Enrollment. General Studies should be the first choice; pre-Physical Therapist Assistant (PHTA) should be the second choice.
2. High school transcript – Send an official copy of the applicant’s high school or GED® transcript, including date of graduation. If the applicant holds a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university, the high school transcript may be waived; a college transcript must indicate completion and degree awarded.
3. CCRI uses a multiple measures approach to determine admission into Health Science programs (For example: High School and GED® transcripts, SAT, ACT, HESI A2 or ACCUPLACER scores). Placement can also be determined by taking college level English and Math courses. Anyone with a degree from a regionally accredited higher education institution may have this requirement waived following submission of the official college transcript. If using ACCUPLACER, the following guidelines are used:
   • Placement testing – Complete a standardized test (ACCUPLACER) issued by CCRI’s Advising Center. Students may NOT retake the ACCUPLACER test before completing the remedial course/courses. Note: For application purposes, ACCUPLACER testing can be waived for students who provide documentation of a bachelor’s degree or higher. Students are advised that individual departments may still require ACCUPLACER testing as a prerequisite for their courses. 
   • Reading comprehension test must show competency of 90 or above in the Classic ACCUPLACER or a score of 250 or above in the Next Generation ACCUPLACER or students must complete Reading and Study Skills Program (ENGL 1002) with a grade of B- or better. Composition I for Speakers of English as a Second Language (ESL) (ENGL 1300) will not substitute for Composition I (ENGL 1010).    Demonstrate competency at the Introduction to College Mathematics (MATH 1025) level.  The following courses will substitute for Introduction to College Mathematics (MATH 1025): Mathematics for Liberal Arts Students (MATH 1139) or (MATH 1139C), College Trigonometry (MATH 2110),  Statistics for the Health and Social Sciences (MATH 1175) or (MATH 1175C), Statistical Analysis I (MATH 1240), Quantitative Business Analysis I (MATH 2077), Quantitative Business Analysis II (MATH 2138), Pre-Calculus Mathematics (MATH 2111), Calculus I (MATH 2141), Calculus II (MATH 2142), Calculus III (MATH 2243). (Highest grade earned in any of these courses will be calculated in the point system.)
4. Complete Foundational Kinesiology (RHAB 1100) (recommended) and it may be considered in the performance-based acceptance process.
5. Complete the following courses with a grade of B- or better:
   • Human Anatomy & Physiology I (BIOL 2201) 
   • Introduction to the Physical Therapist Assistant (PHTA 1000)
   • Medical Terminology for Rehabilitative Health (RHAB 1010) 
6. GPA – Earn a cumulative grade point average of 2.7 or better for all college courses taken
7. Health Sciences application – Complete and submit performance-based Health Sciences application including a preadmission degree evaluation during the open enrollment period. The application and instructions can be found on the Admissions webpage.
   • Important: All the above requirements must be completed satisfactorily before submission of performance-based Health Sciences application and do not guarantee acceptance to the program. Students declining acceptance into the program for the semester offered must resubmit a performance-based Health Sciences application for the program and meet the current admission requirements for the application period in which they reapply. Once accepted into Physical Therapist Assistant program, the student must attend a mandatory orientation conducted by the Allied and Rehabilitative Health Department.
8. Background check – Students are required to submit a background check when directed by notification from One Stop Student Services. Final acceptance to the program is dependent on the results of the background check.