Vision:

The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Baltimore City Community College strives to be the leader in the state of Maryland that produces quality Physical Therapist Assistants, who will impact future trends in Physical Therapy practice and add value to their own lives as well as the health care community.

Mission:

The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Baltimore City Community College provides an accessible and affordable quality education in rehabilitation to a diverse student population within Baltimore City and its surrounding areas. The program responds to the changing needs of the health care community by providing the academic, technical, and life skills training needed to produce graduates who are qualified to sit for the National Physical Therapy Exam for Physical Therapist Assistants and become successful licensed Physical Therapist Assistants.

The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Baltimore City 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: http://www.capteonline.org.  If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call Dr. James Dyett at 410-462-7723 or email jdyett@bccc.edu.

Graduates of the Physical Therapist Assistant program are eligible to take the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) to qualify for licensure as a Physical Therapist Assistant. BCCC’s PTA program provides an extraordinary opportunity for students interested in entering the Physical Therapy field, and who have as their goal the furtherance of their education and professional development. By law, the Maryland State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners may deny licensure for a variety of reasons. These include conviction of a felony or crime involving moral turpitude, if the nature of the offense bears directly on the fitness of the person to practice Physical Therapy.

Acquisition of Physical Therapy competency is developed through a combination of college-based lectures and skills laboratories, as well as direct involvement with patient care during part-time and full-time clinical internships. Successful completion of all courses in the PTA program, including any necessary remedial coursework, will lead to the Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in Physical Therapist Assisting.

BCCC’s two-year Physical Therapist Assistant program prepares students to work as Physical Therapist Assistants in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, extended care and sub-acute facilities, out-patient clinics, private practices, schools and pediatric centers.

The program is designed to prepare graduates to become respected members of the Physical Therapy team, providing direct patient care under the general supervision of a Physical Therapist. The Physical Therapist Assistant program is located on the second floor of the Student Services Wing in the Main Building of the Liberty Campus.

The Licensure/certification examination pass rates:

FY 2018 = 90.9%

FY 2019 = 100%

FY 2020 = 100%

Students in the Physical Therapist Assistant Program learn how to:

• Apply knowledge of the structure and function of the normal human body while delivering patient care within an established plan of care
• Perform safe, effective, and entry-level physical therapy services such as assisted movement, exercise treatment and heat/cold therapy under the guidance of a physical therapist
• Interpret and implement a treatment plan
• Educate client or caregivers in therapeutic exercise, functional training in self-care and work integration and reintegration

PTA students need manual dexterity and excellent critical thinking skills. They must demonstrate universal precautions, proper body mechanics, be able to lift persons and objects in excess of 100 pounds and tolerate prolonged standing, stooping, pushing and bending.

The Physical Therapist Assistant Program prepares students for employment in a variety of different settings that include:

• Hospitals
• Extended care facilities
• Home health care
• Wellness centers
• Outpatient practices

Learn more about national and state employment trends and wage data on the Bureau of Labor Statistics website www.bls.gov under overview of BLS wage data by area and occupation.