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.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, a student will be able to:

1. Demonstrate appropriate conduct and ethical behavior as described in the Standards for Ethical Conduct for the Physical Therapist Assistant and applicable jurisdictional regulation, the APTA Values Based Behaviors of the Physical Therapist Assistant and the Standards of Practice developed by the APTA.
2. Be sensitive to individual and cultural differences in all aspects of physical therapy services.
3. Demonstrate comprehensive, accurate, organized and timely written and verbal communication in the provision of patient care and related activities.
4. Participate in teaching and communicating with other healthcare providers, patients, families and caregivers with respect to physical therapy services as directed by a physical therapist.
5. Demonstrate competence in the application of physical therapy interventions according to the plan of care established by the physical therapist.
6. Demonstrate competence in using data collection skills.
7. Utilize effective time management skills and good organizational skills in their role as a physical therapist assistant or student physical therapist assistant.
8. Demonstrate critical thinking skills through sound clinical judgments and practices.
9. Demonstrate the ability to modify patient care interventions according to the patient response and within the plan of care established by the physical therapist.
10. Demonstrate the skills necessary to use an evidence- based approach to physical therapy management.

Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Preadmission General Education Requirements
This course must be taken prior to program admission:
BIOL 2201	Human Anatomy & Physiology I MSCI; Information Literacy; Scientific Reasoning	4
Subtotal		4
General Education Requirements
BIOL 2202	Human Anatomy & Physiology II MSCI; Information Literacy; Scientific Reasoning	4
COMM 1010	Communication Fundamentals^ HUMN; Non-Written Communication; Social and Professional Responsibilities	3
ENGL 1010	Composition I (or ENGL 1010A) HUMN; Written Communication; Information Literacy	3
MATH 1025	Introduction to College Mathematics 1; MSCX; Scientific Reasoning; Quantitative Literacy	3
PSYC 2010	General Psychology SSCI; Critical Thinking; Scientific Reasoning	4
PSYC 2030	Developmental Psychology SSCI; Critical Thinking; Scientific Reasoning	3
Subtotal		20
Preadmission Major Requirements
These courses must be taken prior to program admission.
PHTA 1000	Introduction to the Physical Therapist Assistant	2
RHAB 1010	Medical Terminology for Rehabilitative Health	1
Subtotal		3
Major Education Requirements
Students must be accepted into the program before taking any major requirements.
PHTA 1010	Physical Therapist Assistant I	6
PHTA 1020	Physical Therapist Assistant II	4
PHTA 1120	Tests and Measurements for Physical Therapist Assistants	2
PHTA 2010	Physical Therapist Assistant III	7
PHTA 2020	Physical Therapist Assistant IV	7
PHTA 2040	Career Development Seminar	1
PHTA 2910	Clinical Education I 3	3
PHTA 2920	Clinical Education II 3	3
PHTA 2930	Clinical Education III^ 3	3
RHAB 1030	Pathophysiology for Rehabilitative Health Practitioners	3
RHAB 1110	Kinesiology 2	4
Select ONE of the following: 4
PHTA 1220	Basic Therapeutic Exercise
PHTA 2030	Physical Therapy for Impaired Neuro Function
RHAB 1100	Foundational Kinesiology
Subtotal		43
Total Hours		70

¹

If you plan to transfer to a four-year institution, please consider registering for Mathematics for Liberal Arts Students (MATH 1139) or (MATH 1139C), or Statistics for the Health and Social Sciences (MATH 1175) or (MATH 1175C).

²

Students are strongly encouraged to take Kinesiology (RHAB 1110) in the summer semester prior to entering the program.

³

40 hours of clinical education for six weeks for a total of 240 hours for Clinical Education I (PHTA 2910), Clinical Education II (PHTA 2920) and Clinical Education III^ (PHTA 2930).

⁴

Optional but strongly recommended

^

Work-based learning course

Recommended Course Sequence

Plan of Study Grid

Prerequisites		Hours
BIOL 2201	Human Anatomy & Physiology I	4
PHTA 1000	Introduction to the Physical Therapist Assistant	2
RHAB 1010	Medical Terminology for Rehabilitative Health	1
	Hours	7
Year 1
Semester 1
RHAB 1110	Kinesiology	4
PHTA 1010	Physical Therapist Assistant I	6
PHTA 1120	Tests and Measurements for Physical Therapist Assistants	2
BIOL 2202	Human Anatomy & Physiology II	4
	Hours	16
Semester 2
RHAB 1030	Pathophysiology for Rehabilitative Health Practitioners	3
PHTA 1020	Physical Therapist Assistant II	4
ENGL 1010	Composition I (or ENGL 1010A)	3
COMM 1010	Communication Fundamentals^	3
MATH 1139	Mathematics for Liberal Arts Students 1	3
	Hours	16
Summer Session
PHTA 2910	Clinical Education I	3
PSYC 2010	General Psychology	4
	Hours	7
Year 2
Semester 1
PHTA 2010	Physical Therapist Assistant III	7
PHTA 2920	Clinical Education II	3
PSYC 2030	Developmental Psychology	3
	Hours	13
Semester 2
PHTA 2020	Physical Therapist Assistant IV	7
PHTA 2930	Clinical Education III	3
PHTA 2040	Career Development Seminar	1
	Hours	11
	Total Hours	70

¹

If you plan to transfer to a four-year institution, please consider registering for Mathematics for Liberal Arts Students (MATH 1139) or (MATH 1139C), or Statistics for the Health and Social Sciences (MATH 1175) or (MATH 1175C).

^

Work-based learning course

Transfer

Please meet with an Academic Advisor/Student Success Coach if you are interested in earning a bachelor's degree. Your Academic Advisor will help you select the courses that best prepare you for transfer to a four-year college or university.

Check out the Joint Admissions Agreement if you are interested in transferring to Rhode Island College or the University of Rhode Island. The JAA program offers seamless transfer to RIC or URI with additional benefits. Transfer information, events, and articulations are available on the Transfer Center website.