| BLINN HOME | BRENHAM | BRYAN | SCHULENBURG |
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Physical Therapist Assistant - Bryan |
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Program Information
Department FacultyAllied Health Division Chair Thena Parrott, PhD, RN
Program Director Christy Gantt, DPT, PT
PTA Program Administrative Assistant 979-209-7284
Faculty Mary Cumbers, BA, PTA Kelly Yendrey, BS, PTA
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Program Overview
Thank you for your interest in the Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Program at the Bryan Campus of Blinn College. The Physical Therapist Assistant Program is a cooperative endeavor by Blinn College and area physical therapy facilities. Physical therapist assistants (PTA) work under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist to help people recover from illness or injury, and return to the activities of daily living. Their work environments include, but are not limited to:
hospitals rehabilitation centers home health nursing homes outpatient clinics school systems
They are skilled technical health workers who perform various treatment procedures including:
modalities rehabilitation techniques therapeutic exercises training the patient to use special equipment education of the patient to prevent further physical problems
Students will be instructed in the use of specialized equipment, learn how to instruct patients in the use and care of braces, prosthesis, assistive devices and receive specific training which will allow them to function as a physical therapist assistant in today's health care field.
After completing approximately 70 semester hours, an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree is granted to the student. The curriculum contains a strong core of physical therapy classes as well as related general education courses - anatomy and physiology, psychology, communication, human growth and development, math and a humanities elective. The program includes lecture and supervised laboratory courses in physical therapy science and procedures as well as clinical experiences. All Physical Therapist Assistant courses must be taken in sequence and can be taken only in the semester listed. All courses listed within the program curriculum must be passed with a grade of 75 or higher, and a 2.5 GPA must be maintained.
The PTA Program at Blinn College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education of the America Physical Therapy Association, therefore, a graduate with an AAS degree is eligible to sit for national licensure examination for physical therapist assistants, and apply for state licensure.
The PTA program begins in the fall semester of each year, and is designed to be completed in two years regardless of the number of general education or elective courses taken prior to entry into the program. The general education courses can be completed prior to admission to the PTHA Program. All of the PTHA courses begin upon admission into the program and must be taken sequentially.
Enrollment in the PTA program is limited to a maximum of 20 students each year. Due to the competitive admission process, it is recommended that you begin the admission process early to be sure your application is complete by the application deadline. However, completion of all admission requirements does not guarantee admission into the PTA Program. Program statistics indicate that approximately 50% of PTA program applicants have been granted admission into the PTA program since its inception. Approximately 87% of PTA students admitted into the program have graduated within a two year period. The Blinn College PTA program boasts a 94% pass rate on the national licensure examination since the first graduating class from the program in 1999.
Once accepted into the Blinn College PTA program, students are responsible for:
a physical examination, including immunizations CPR certification transportation to the college and to all clinical agencies
Due to the heavy time demands of coursework, students are discouraged from working full time while in the program. Part-time work is possible when grades can be maintained. Most students spend an average of 15-24 hours per week in scheduled program activities, including labs and lectures. As a "rule of thumb", students need to spend 30 or more hours per week to study and prepare for clinicals and lectures. The clinical schedule for PTA courses includes traveling to area Physical Therapy facilities.
Students must have the ability to perform the cognitive essential functions of a Physical Therapist Assistant, and are required to meet minimal health requirements to participate in the clinical education component of the PTHA program. Cognitive and affective essential functions are based on the 10 Generic Abilities developed by the University of Wisconsin, Madison in 1992.
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