Physical Therapist Assistant, AAS

92 CREDITS

The Physical Therapist Assistant AAS degree prepares students to work as a PTA in a variety of settings including hospitals, long-term care skilled nursing facilities, outpatient clinics, and pediatric facilities. PTAs provide physical therapy interventions under the direction and supervision of a physical therapist to people of all ages with health-related conditions which limit their ability to move and perform functional activities in their daily lives. Students are trained in procedural interventions such as exercises for mobility, strength, balance, coordination, training for functional activities, and the use of modalities and physical agents. Students are also trained in skills such as communication, patient education, plan of care review and documentation. Clinical affiliations occur in a variety of off-campus settings.

The Physical Therapist Assistant program at Lake Washington Institute of Technology is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) please refer to the PTA webpage for full accreditation information.

Physical Therapist Assistant AAS degree graduates will:

• be prepared to obtain an entry-level position as a physical therapist assistant
• perform safe, effective, and ethical entry-level physical therapy services under the direction and supervision of a physical therapist
• be prepared to engage in lifelong learning and career development as a physical therapist assistant in order to maintain industry competitiveness
• demonstrate communication, critical thinking, cultural humility, information literacy, and teamwork skills
• meet Humanities , Quantitative Reasoning , Social Science , and Written Communication  general education distribution area outcomes

Admission to the PTA program is selective. In order to be considered for admission applicants must complete prerequisite courses and fulfill PTA program application requirements.

Lake Washington Institute of Technology does not offer every course each quarter. It is the student’s responsibility to consult the Class Schedule and work out an individual schedule with an advisor. Any developmental coursework a student may be required to complete may increase the program length.