Allied Health: Physical Therapist Assistant

Associate Dean of Academic Affairs
(315) 866-0300 or toll free 1-888-GO-4-HCCC, ext. 8230

Cathy Delorme PT, MS
Assistant Professor, Program Director
(315) 866-0300 or toll free 1-888-GO-4-HCCC, ext. 8340

Dr. Karen S. Jones, PT, DPT
Instructor, Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education
(315) 866-0300 or toll free 1-888-GO-4-HCCC, ext. 8740

Program Summary

The Physical Therapist Assistant program at Herkimer County Community College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). The program is designed to prepare the student to be a skilled health care provider who works under the supervision of a Physical Therapist.

The Physical Therapist Assistant curriculum gives the student a science and physical therapy technical foundation as it applies to the Physical Therapist Assistant. The student has both lecture and labs on campus and clinical education at participating clinical facilities.

Program Philosophy

HCCC Physical Therapist Assistant program prepares students to enter the healthcare workforce as a Physical Therapist Assistant with an Associate's in Applied Science Degree.  The program strives to provide our students with a quality education that promotes professional healthcare practices, while maintaining established guidelines for clinical practice as outlined by the APTA and which emphasizes ongoing post-graduation professional education.  The program seeks to increase each students potential through informal student-faculty exchange and interactions with additional learning and service opportunities sponsored by the Physical Therapist Assistant Club.

Mission

The Physical Therapist Assistant Program will, by offering students an affordable, quality education, provide local and regional areas with competent, professional, employable, healthcare providers.  The PTA is trained, under the supervision of a licensed Physical Therapist, to approach a diversity of health related conditions in a manner that follows established guidelines for practice as outlined by the APTA.  The PTA program emphasizes ongoing post-graduate professional education, thereby supporting the overall mission of HCCC.

Clinical Education

Clinical education is a key component of the Physical Therapist Assistant Program at HCCC. During the course of the two-year program, students will complete three full-time supervised five-week clinical fieldwork experiences. The student has at least one rotation in an acute care hospital, sub-acute or rehabilitation hospital. The student has two other clinical experiences which may include a pediatric setting, private practice out-patient setting, skilled nursing facility or other area of interest.

Clinical fieldwork assignments usually involve a 40 hour work week for the duration of the experience. The final affiliation is scheduled only after all other course work has been completed satisfactorily. Due to the limited availability of local clinical sites, students enrolled in the Physical Therapist Assistant program must be prepared to travel to participating facilities regardless of the location. No guarantee of local placement can be made. Students will be required to meet their own living and travel needs during all fieldwork assignments.

Fieldwork sites require compliance with New York State Health Department and pertinent OSHA regulations. This means that a physical examination with evidence of required immunizations is required for each student prior to admission to the program, and the physical must be updated annually and be current for the duration of each clinical. Each student is responsible for providing individual health insurance prior to each clinical fieldwork. Personal liability and malpractice insurance protection, in the amount of $1 million coverage per occurrence, is arranged for by the college for each clinical affiliation and is paid by the student in special program fees. Each student must provide evidence of up-to-date CPR and First Aid certifications prior to every clinical affiliation.

Requirements for Certification

Program of Study at Herkimer

Click Physical Therapist Assistant for the current program of study page.

What makes a successful Physical Therapist Assistant student?

Successful Physical Therapist Assistant students focus on their academic preparation. Allied Health programs, by the nature of the heavy science and professional emphasis, are among the toughest programs at the College, requiring increased study and dedication over other programs. The demands placed upon Physical Therapist Assistant students in the academic and practical portions of the program, and later in clinical settings, make good physical and mental health essential. Areas of study consists of both theoretical and practical knowledge, but emphasizes the practical applications. After graduation, graduates will take the National Physical Therapist Assistant Licensing Exam. The student must realize that the board examination will test in all aspects of their education. Successful completion of the Herkimer County Community College curriculum and the National Physical Therapist Assistant Licensing Exam makes the graduate eligible to be certified by the NYS Board of Education as a Physical Therapist Assistant.

Special PTA Program Requirements

A student in the PTA curriculum must pass all PT courses with a "C+" or better, SC courses with a "C" or better and pass all PTA lab practical examinations with a "B" or better to continue in this program. Each student must demonstrate professional behavior in class, lab and clinical settings. A student must demonstrate discernable progress toward the achievement of a degree in this program. A student previously enrolled in, and dropped from the program, who has successfully completed readmission requirements may be readmitted one time.

Skill Requirements

Students interested in pursuing a career as a physical therapist assistant are encouraged to "look into a mirror" to see if you have the necessary abilities to perform the work of a PTA with or without accommodations. Check out the essential functions for a PTA.

Admission Requirements

High School Students (No college course work)

1. Minimum 80% high school average.
2. Successful completion of high school Regents Biology with an average of 80% or higher grade.
3. Successful completion of Math Courses I and II, A & B, or algebra & geometry (Math sequence) with a 75% or higher grade.
4. Successful completion of high school chemistry or high school physics with a 75% or higher grade. Effective fall 2007 successful completion of both high school physics and chemistry.
5. Completion of a minimum 15 hours of clinical visitation.

Transfer Students or Curriculum Changes (12 or more college credits)

1. 2.5 GPA in completed college courses.
2. Successful completion of high school Regents Biology as noted above or college Biology with a "C" or better.
3. Successful completion of Math Courses I and II or equivalent with a 75% or higher grade.
4. Successful completion of high school (75% or higher grade) or college ("C" or better) Chemistry or Physics.
5. Completion of a minimum 15 hours of clinical visitation.

Transfer Students or Curriculum Changes (Fewer than 12 credits)

High school graduation requirements, college equivalent or combination of the two may apply.

Special Application Procedures

Applicants to the Physical Therapist Assistant program will be notified by mail of special application procedures and retention requirements. 100% of qualified applicants are offered a place in the program until the program is filled.

Nature of the Work

The PTA may perform physical therapy interventions and related tasks that have been selected and delegated by the supervising physical therapist. Such duties may include active or passive exercise, physical agents for pain relief and healing, instruction in the use of assistive devices for walking, hydrotherapy, wound care, prevention, wellness, and much more. Where permitted by law the PTA may also carry out routine operational functions such as supervising the PT aide and documentation of progress.

The PTA works in hospitals, private practices, community health centers, corporate or industrial health centers, sports facilities, research institutions, rehabilitation centers, skilled nursing facilities, home health agencies, schools, pediatric centers, and colleges and universities. PTA's generally work 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday, with some settings having weekend or evening hours as well.

For further information about physical therapy and the role of the Physical Therapist Assistant, please see the following web pages:

American Physical Therapy Association
New York Physical Therapy Association
PT Central: physical therapy information, news, jobs, online tools
Physical Therapist Online: physical therapy information, news, jobs, online library
New York State Career Zone: job description, wages, job outlook

Job Outlook

According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, employment of physical therapist assistants is expected to grow at a much faster rate than the average job through the year 2016. This increased demand results from the rapidly growing elderly population, large baby boomer population who will in the future require disease related rehabilitation, growth in the number of individuals with disabilities or limited function plus the improved survival for trauma victims due to developing medical science. For further information on the job outlook report please reference.
http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos167.htm

Program Goals

Having met all of the New York State and college requirements, the HCCC PTA program graduate:

1. demonstrates a sound theoretical and practical knowledge base for physical therapy
2. demonstrates competence with the computer and other current technology as it relates to the Physical Therapy environment.
3. demonstrates the skills and abilities to safely practice in the field of physical therapy
4. utilizes the skills to apply scientific principles as a means to treat or prevent disability, injury or disease
5. practices with integrity and adherence to ethical principles
6. practices with respect and sensitivity for individual differences
7. demonstrates the ability to use the problem solving  process of physical therapy in dealing with a variety of patients/clients
8. demonstrates the ability to carry out patient care functions in a timely, cost efficient manner under the supervision of the physical therapist
9. seeks new knowledge through continuing education
10. fulfills a need in the marketplace

Desired Program outcomes

• Graduation: At least 70% of students entering the program will graduate from the PTA program within 2-3 years.
• Experience:  100% of program graduates will have had a variety of clinical experiences. One clinical experience  will include an acute care experience, subacute  experience or rehabilitation experience. The other clinical experiences may include, but will not be limited to, out-patient orthopedics, pediatric, geriatric and developmental disabilities.
• Professional Behavior:  At least 85% of employers will rate graduates as average or above average in professional behavior, ethical behavior, interpersonal skills and time management skills and at least 50% of program graduates will maintain APTA membership.
• Life Long Learning:  At least 85%  of graduates will participate in professional continuing education.
• Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Integration of Skills and Procedures Learned in all Coursework:  At least 85% of employers will rate graduates as average to above average in critical thinking, problem solving and integration of skills and procedures learned from classroom to clinical site.
• Communication Skills: At least 85% of employers will rate graduates as average to above average in all aspects of communication. 
• Documentation Skills: At least 85% of employers will rate graduates as average to above average in documentation skills.
• Cultural Competence:  At least 85% of employers will rate graduates as average to above average in cultural competency.
• Physical Therapy Technical Competence:  At least 85% of employers will rate graduates as average to above average in PT intervention delivery and data collection.
• Safety: 100% of employers will rate graduates as average to above average in meeting safety competency.
• Performance on the FSBPT Licensing Examination:  At least 80%  pass rate of graduates averaged over a 3 year period.
• Employment Rate:  100% of graduates seeking employment will be employed within 1 year of graduation.
• Technology Competence:  At least 85% of employers will rate graduates as competent in computer and other current technology as it relates to the Physical Therapy environment.

Current Outcomes

Class of 2008

Employment: 100% of those seeking a job were offered a job.
Licensing examination: 100% of those attempting the Physical Therapy board (NPTE) examination passed (as of 10/16/08), 31% of eligible graduates have not attempted the exam.

Pass Rate on Boards - 3 year Average (2006-2008)

Pass Rate on Boards - 3 year Average (2005-2007)

Pass Rate on Boards - 3 year Average (2004-2006)

Program Retention/Graduation Rate

The three-year retention/graduation rate average from 2005 - 2007 is 52%.
Class of 2008: matriculated 21, graduated 13
Class of 2007: matriculated 29, graduated 13 
Class of 2006: matriculated 28, graduated 14

Comments/Complaints

If you wish to make a comment or complaint regarding the physical therapist assistant program or the program graduates please feel free to send a message to the Program Director, Cathy Delorme at delormece@herkimer.edu and she will respond to your comments or complaints or any other issues. If the complaint is regarding the program director please address your concerns to Interim Associate Dean Oriolo at orioloma@herkimer.edu and he will address your concerns.