Physical Therapist Assistant

Wallace State Community College

Associate's Degree

Physical Therapist Assistant program prepares students for PTA licensure and careers as PTAs. CAPTE-accredited program covering therapeutic exercises, modalities, rehabilitation procedures, and clinical practice.

Credits

69 credits

Format

In-Person

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Program Pathways

Credentials this program stacks toward

No program pathways.

Program Requirements

Courses required to complete this program

PTA 200PT Issues and Trends

2 cr

PTA 222Functional Anatomy and Kinesiology Lab

2 cr

PTA 230Neuroscience

2 cr

BIO 201Human Anatomy and Physiology I

4 cr

BIO 202Human Anatomy and Physiology II

4 cr

ENG 101English Composition I

3 cr

PSY 200General Psychology

3 cr

SPH 106Fundamentals of Oral Communication Fundamentals of Oral

3 cr

Program Details

Detailed information about this program

No detailed information available.

Requirements

What you need to earn this credential

No requirements listed.

Financial Aid

Eligible funding programs

No funding information available.

Scholarships

No scholarships listed.

Physical Therapist Assistant

Wallace State Community College

Associate's Degree

Credits

69 credits

Format

In-Person

Eligibility Calculator

Which aid programs apply to this program?

Record Quality Eligibility Calculators

Skills & Competencies

Skills developed through this program

Auto-populatedfrom O*NET via SOC 31-2021.00

Skills

Active ListeningSpeakingMonitoringSocial PerceptivenessService OrientationWritingCritical ThinkingActive Learning

Knowledge

Customer and Personal ServiceTherapy and CounselingEnglish LanguageEducation and TrainingPsychology

Abilities

Oral ExpressionOral ComprehensionSpeech RecognitionSpeech ClarityWritten ComprehensionProblem SensitivityNear VisionWritten ExpressionDeductive ReasoningInductive Reasoning

Tasks

Instruct, motivate, safeguard, and assist patients as they practice exercises or functional activiti
Document patient information, such as notes on their progress.
Observe patients during treatments to compile and evaluate data on their responses and progress and

Technology

Accounting softwareMedical softwareBilling and invoicing softwareData base user interface and query softwareElectronic mail software

Tools

Above-the-knee prostheticsAnkle-foot orthoticsArm prostheticsAutomated external defibrillators AEDBack bracesBalance beamsBalance boardsBelow-the-knee prostheticsBlood pressure cuffsBody-fat calipersCardiac monitorsCervical traction equipmentCold packsContinuous passive motion CPM equipmentCrutches

Work Values

RelationshipsWorking ConditionsSupportAchievementIndependenceRecognition

Career Pathways

Occupations this program prepares you for

Physical Therapist Assistants31-2021.00

Program Pathways

Credentials this program stacks toward

No program pathways.

What You'll Learn

Key competencies developed through this program

Auto-populatedfrom NSX Competency Framework

Mastery: developing (Level 2)(based on Associate's Degree)

Prescribed exercise programs — instruct and motivate patients through established therapeutic exercise routines with reduced therapist oversight in an outpatient rehabilitation clinic.
Progress documentation — compile and submit accurate session notes and functional outcome data using medical software in a timely manner across a routine patient caseload.
Therapeutic modalities — administer ultrasound, electrical stimulation, and therapeutic massage according to the physical therapist's plan of care in a skilled nursing facility.
Functional mobility training — guide patients through aquatic exercise and gait training activities, adapting verbal cues to individual learning needs in a pool therapy environment.
Patient data evaluation — observe treatment responses, identify patterns of improvement or regression, and relay structured progress reports to the supervising physical therapist.
Equipment operation — independently secure and position patients on therapy tables, parallel bars, and mechanical devices following facility safety standards.
Interdisciplinary conferencing — contribute relevant patient observations during care coordination meetings with physical therapy and nursing staff in a hospital rehabilitation unit.
Time management — schedule and prioritize a daily patient load of routine cases to maintain productivity targets in a high-volume outpatient setting.
Body mechanics education — instruct patients in ergonomic posture and movement strategies to support safe daily functioning in home and work environments.
Billing and invoicing software — accurately code completed treatment procedures and submit documentation to support reimbursement workflows under administrative oversight.

Program Requirements

Courses required to complete this program

PTA 200PT Issues and Trends

2 cr

PTA 222Functional Anatomy and Kinesiology Lab

2 cr

PTA 230Neuroscience

2 cr

BIO 201Human Anatomy and Physiology I

4 cr

BIO 202Human Anatomy and Physiology II

4 cr

ENG 101English Composition I

3 cr

PSY 200General Psychology

3 cr

SPH 106Fundamentals of Oral Communication Fundamentals of Oral

3 cr

Program Details

Detailed information about this program

No detailed information available.

Requirements

What you need to earn this credential

No requirements listed.

Financial Aid

Eligible funding programs

No funding information available.

Scholarships

No scholarships listed.

Some details on this page are auto-populated from public workforce data sources: O*NET (opens in new tab), BLS (opens in new tab), College Scorecard (opens in new tab), DOL Training Provider Results (opens in new tab), NSX (opens in new tab). Provided in partnership with LER.me Career Intelligence.