The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Berkshire 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: capteonline.org.
PTAs work in diverse settings which include hospitals, private PT practices, community health agencies, schools, pediatric facilities, nursing homes, industrial or corporate health facilities, and rehabilitation centers. It is the diversity that makes the field of physical therapy interesting and enticing for many students. Program graduates are eligible to take the national examination to become licensed PTAs.
Essential Functions
(Adapted with permission from “Essential Functions and Technical Standards for Physical Therapist Assistant Students” at Greenville Technical College)
The following standards reflect reasonable expectations of a student in the PTA Program for the performance of common physical therapy functions. They are necessary skills for the PTA to function in a broad variety of clinical situations while providing a spectrum of physical therapy interventions. All students are expected to perform these essential functions with or without accommodations throughout the PTA program.
- Critical Thinking/ Problem Solving Skills
- Ability to collect, interpret and integrate information and make decisions.
- Ability to collaboratively work with all PTA students and with program faculty in the classroom, lab and clinical setting.
- Behavioral/Emotional/Social Coping Skills
- Ability to respond appropriately to stressful environments or during impending deadlines.
- Ability to communicate effectively in English using verbal, nonverbal and written formats with faculty, other students, patients, families, and health care workers.
- Physical Mobility/Motor Skills
- Sufficient motor ability to execute the movement and skills required for safe and effective physical therapy treatment.
- Sufficient auditory, visual and tactile ability to monitor and assess health needs. Monitor and assess patient’s health needs with sufficient auditory, visual and tactile acuity.
- Ability to demonstrate professional behaviors and a strong work ethic.
Expected Outcomes
Graduates of this program should be able to demonstrate:
- Competent entry-level PT interventions working under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist;
- Effective communication skills in a culturally sensitive manner with all members of the healthcare team; and
- Legal, professional and ethical behavior guided by the “Guide for Conduct of the PTA” and jurisdictional law.
PTA Program Mission and Goals
PTA Program Mission
In conjunction with BCC’s mission, the PTA program is committed to provide equitable, accessible and transformative learning opportunities. Thus, facilitating the education, graduation and licensing of caring and compassionate PTAs who provide safe and effective patient care in a legal, professional and ethical manner, and who are inspired for lifelong learning.
Program Goals and Expected Program Outcomes
Goal 1: Graduates will demonstrate competent entry-level PT skills, working under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist.
- Students will demonstrate an understanding of the scope of practice of the physical therapist assistant and of State Practice Acts, and the Guide to Conduct for the PTA as demonstrated by examinations, and clinical rotations.
- Students will implement safe and effective physical therapy data collection and interventions based on the PT plan of care as demonstrated by lab practicals and clinical rotations.
- Graduates will pass the National Physical Therapist Assistant licensure exam.
Goal 2: Graduates will demonstrate effective communication skills in a culturally responsible manner with all members of the healthcare team.
- Students will present information in a professional manner that reflects a mutual respect to the person(s) receiving the information in all didactic and clinical components of the program.
- Students will collect and report pertinent information in a professional manner to the appropriate members of the healthcare team in all clinical experiences.
- Students will complete timely and effective documentation that complies with professional guidelines and the healthcare setting as demonstrated in clinical experiences.
Goal 3: Graduates will demonstrate legal, professional and ethical behaviors guided by the Guide for Conduct of the Physical Therapist Assistant, jurisdictional law and as modeled by the PTA faculty.
- Students will comply with jurisdictional law, practice guidelines, the APTA Guide of Conduct for the PTA and facility policies during all didactic and clinical components of the Program.
- Students will demonstrate Value Based Behaviors as set by the APTA during all didactic and clinical components of the Program.
Goal 4: The Physical Therapy education program will facilitate participation in community service and lifelong learning.
- The faculty will integrate current professional physical therapy research/topics into the academic curriculum.
- The faculty will participate in college level service.
- The faculty will participate in community service activities and promote student involvement.
- The faculty will participate in outreach and leadership opportunities in/outside of the college.
- Students will participate in at least one community service activity each year.
- Students will participate in educational opportunities outside of required academic classes each year.
Goal 5: The faculty will maintain a contemporary and comprehensive curriculum in accordance with CAPTE and Federation of State Boards for Physical Therapy guidelines, and BCC’s mission.
- Faculty will participate in continuing education each year.
- Faculty will participate in APTA meetings each year.
- Faculty will attend college professional development workshops each year.
- Faculty will emulate and promote justice, equity, diversity and inclusion across the program.
Goal 6: The Physical Therapy education program will facilitate student success in the PTA program.
- The graduation rate for each class will be 60% or higher.
- The ultimate pass rate for licensure examination for each class will be 85% or higher.
- The employment rate for each class will be at least 90%.
- Annual enrollment will be at least 10 students for incoming cohorts.
Admission Requirements
Students must submit a college application and a Physical Therapist Assistant Matriculation Form. Students who meet all admission requirements are accepted into the PTA program on a rolling basis. The cap for admissions is 20 students per cohort. Once the cap is met, students are placed on a space-available list. Applications are accepted from January through June 1st. Applications are reviewed by the PTA program faculty and advising to determine eligibility. Those who do not initially qualify for the program will be accepted as Pre-PTA students until they complete the Matriculation Form and meet admission requirements.
The sequence of PTA courses begins in the fall semester on a cyclical basis. Interested students are urged to consult the program advisor and to work on prerequisites and required courses while waiting to start their PTA courses.
Admission Requirements include:
- Math: ACCUPLACER Next Generation QAS score of 268 or greater OR successful completion of MAT-136 or other college level Math (with a minimum grade of C).
- Completion within 5 years of current application college-level Biology or Anatomy and Physiology with a C or better; OR completion within 2 years of current application, high school Biology with a second year of Advanced Biology or AP Biology with a grade of B (80) or better.
- Either:
- Graduate from high school within the last two years with an average of B (80%) or rank in the upper third of the graduating
class; OR
- Complete a minimum of 10 credits of college level non-PTA designated courses required in the PTA program with a C or
better.
- Complete 20 hours of documented clinical observation in a Physical Therapy setting or complete an essay activity outlined in the Matriculation Form
BCC will not admit students concurrently into any two of the following degree or certificate programs: Physical Therapist Assistant, Respiratory Care, LPN or Nursing.
Immunization Requirement and Health Forms
Verification of Student Health History and Physical Exam (PDF)
Physical Therapy Assistant Program Health and Immunization Form (PDF)
Two Year PTA Program Student Outcomes
Two Year Outcome Rates for 2023-2025
- Graduation Rate:65.2%
- First Time Licensure Examination Pass Rate: 75%
- Ultimate Licensure Examination Pass Rate: 81.25%
- Employment Rate: 100%
Student Outcomes
| Graduating Class* |
Graduation Rate |
First-ime Licensure Pass Rate |
Ultimate Licensure Pass Rate |
Employment Rate |
| Class of 2023 |
62% |
75% |
88% |
100% |
| Class of 2025 |
67% |
100% |
100% |
100% |
*No graduating class in 2024
Graduation Requirements
To earn a degree in this program, a student must complete all program and general education credits.
Program Courses
General Education Courses
COM-
| Communication | 3 |
ENG-
| English Composition/Writing | 6 |
MAT-
| Mathematics (0) | 0 |
PHY-
| Physics | 3 |
-
| Behavioral & Social Science | 3 |
-
| General Education Elective | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 18 |
COM Communication: See footnote 2
ENG English Composition/Writing: See footnote 3
MAT Mathematics: See footnote 4
PHY Physics: See footnote 5
General Education Elective: See footnote 6
Minimum grade required in each program course 2.000
Suggested Pathway to Graduation
The following is a suggestion for completing this program in two years. The actual time needed to complete the program will vary according to each student’s individual needs.
First Semester
| AHS-129 | Medical Terminology | 3 |
| BIO-201 | Anatomy & Physiology I | 4 |
| PTA-102 | Structural Anatomy | 3 |
| PTA-103 | Introduction to Physical Therapy | 3 |
ENG-
| English Composition/Writing | 3 |
PHY-
| Physics | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 19 |
PHY Physics: See footnote 5
Second Semester
| AHS-230 | Pathophysiology | 3 |
| BIO-202 | Anatomy & Physiology II | 4 |
| PTA-110 | Physical Therapist Assistant I | 4 |
| PTA-115 | Functional Anatomy | 3 |
COM-
| Communication | 3 |
ENG -
| English Composition | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 20 |
COM Communication: See footnote 2
ENG English Composition/Writing: See footnote 3
Third Semester (Summer)
| PTA-150 | Clinical Education I | 2 |
-
| Behavioral & Social Science | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 5 |
Fourth Semester
Fifth Semester
| PTA-207 | Physical Therapist Assistant II | 3 |
| PTA-209 | Physical Therapist Assistant Seminar | 2 |
| PTA-260 | Clinical Education III | 4 |
-
| General Education Elective | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 12 |
PTA-260: See footnote 1
General Education Elective: See footnote 6
Footnotes
- Students must be immunized prior to the start of the PTA program and must maintain currency throughout the curriculum.
- Communication chosen from COM-105 or COM-107.
- English Composition/Writing chosen from ENG-101 and ENG-102, or ENG-103 and ENG-104.
- Mathematics: Students must demonstrate competency at a level of MAT-136 or at a higher level prior to matriculation in the PTA program.
- PHY-111 or higher level physics (from PHY-111, PHY-101, PHY-102, ENT-161).
- General Education Elective chosen from History, Humanities and Fine Arts, Environmental Studies.
Notes
Berkshire Community College seeks to provide equal access to its programs, services and activities for people with disabilities. Therefore, to the extent practicable, the College will endeavor to make a reasonable academic adjustment for an applicant with a disability who is other- wise qualified.
There are specific sensory, motor and psychosocial skills needed to successfully complete the PTA program. Any student who feels he/ she will require accommodations with these skills should contact the coordinator of the Services for Students with Disabilities program.
CORI: Any prior criminal offense could hinder placement in clinical agencies and the ability to take the national licensure examination.