Physical Therapist Assistant - AAS Degree
Overview
Limited Entry Program
See Department website and program contacts here
The Physical Therapist Assistant (AAS) degree is designed for students seeking careers helping individuals recover from injury, illness, or mobility limitations. The curriculum combines classroom instruction, laboratory learning, and clinical experience to prepare students to work under the supervision of licensed physical therapists in a variety of healthcare settings.
Coursework includes topics such as therapeutic exercise, patient mobility, rehabilitation techniques, anatomy and physiology, and physical therapy procedures. Students develop practical clinical skills used to assist patients with movement, pain management, mobility devices, and rehabilitation plans of care.
The Physical Therapist Assistant program is workforce-focused and prepares students for the National Physical Therapy Examination and licensure as physical therapist assistants. Graduates may pursue employment in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, clinics, long-term care facilities, and other healthcare environments.
Please note: This program is designed to prepare students for careers as physical therapist assistants and is not intended to serve as a direct pathway into Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) programs.
The Physical Therapist Assistant program at MHCC is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).
Because this is a limited entry program, students should review application requirements carefully and work with program advisors regarding eligibility, prerequisite completion, and program planning.
Students are encouraged to work with an advisor to ensure appropriate course selection and program planning based on their educational background and career goals.
Refer to the tabs above for additional information about:
- Education Plan – provides a sample term-by-term sequence of courses
- How to Apply – details the steps required to apply to the program
- Career Info – includes information on potential occupations, employment trends, and earnings
Program Learning Objectives
At the completion of this program, students should be able to:
- Apply knowledge of anatomy, physiology, pathology, pharmacology, body systems, and cellular/tissue health throughout the lifespan while providing physical therapy services under the direction and general supervision of a physical therapist.
- Behave in a manner consistent with the professional ethics, values, responsibilities, service, and leadership expectations for the physical therapist assistant.
- Apply principles of evidence-informed practice and clinical reasoning during the provision of physical therapy services.
- Educate in a manner that meets the needs of patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals.
- Adjust personal behavior to optimize inclusive and equitable patient care.
- Collaborate with and under the direction and supervision of a physical therapist in the provision of physical therapy services.
Education Plan
This sample Education Plan illustrates one possible course sequence. Students should consult an advisor to create a personalized plan.
Oregon Health Profession Student Clinical Training Standards
The Oregon legislature passed Senate Bill 879 in 2011, which required the Oregon Health Authority to “convene a work group to develop standards for administrative requirements for student placement in clinical training settings in Oregon.” The intention of SB 879 was: to mitigate inconsistencies that currently exist across clinical placements; to promote efficient solutions to reduce costs for students, health profession programs and clinical placement sites; and to ensure patient, clinical staff and student safety.
These rules establish standards for administrative requirements (immunizations, screenings, trainings, and insurance coverage requirements) for health professional student placements in clinical training settings within the state of Oregon. Students studying in a variety of health profession programs, such as medicine, nursing, pharmacy, professional counseling, and medical assisting, will need to meet these requirements prior to clinical training. For most students, satisfying these requirements once will be sufficient for all subsequent clinical training experiences. Clinical facilities that must abide by these rules include hospitals, health systems, and long-term care residential facilities, as well as others listed in the rules. There are also some exceptions to the rules, including procedures for temporary variations and exemptions for some health profession programs that do not conduct off-site clinical training.
Prerequisite Courses
For the most updated information and a list of prerequisite courses, please see the Physical Therapist Assistant - How to Get Started page. It is the student's responsibility to verify completion of appropriate prerequisite courses.
Students must complete the following courses before applying to the Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program.
The following courses are needed to meet the Associate of Applied Science degree requirements. These bring the total program credits to 96-98.
- WR121Z Composition I with a grade of "C" or higher (4 credits)
- MTH065 Beginning Algebra II or higher, or MTH058 Quantitative Reasoning I Quantitative Reasoning I, with a grade of "C" or higher (4-6 credits)
Additional prerequisite courses include:
- BI231Z Human Anatomy and Physiology I with a grade of "B" or higher (4 credits)
- BI232Z Human Anatomy and Physiology II with a grade of "B" or higher (4 credits)
- BI233Z Human Anatomy and Physiology III with a grade of "B" or higher (4 credits)
- MO111 Medical Terminology with a grade of "C" or higher (4 credits)
-
PSY201Z Introduction to Psychology I with a grade of "C" or higher (4 credits)
| Prerequisites | ||
|---|---|---|
| WR121Z | Composition I (Included in total program credits) | 4 |
| MTH065 or MTH058 | Beginning Algebra II (or higher. Included in total program credits) or Quantitative Reasoning I | 4-6 |
| PSY201Z | Introduction to Psychology I | 4 |
| MO111 | Medical Terminology | 4 |
| BI231Z | Human Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 |
| BI232Z | Human Anatomy and Physiology II | 4 |
| BI233Z | Human Anatomy and Physiology III | 4 |
| Credits | 8-10 | |
| First Quarter | ||
| Fall | Credits | |
| PTA101 | Physical Therapy Interventions 1 | 5 |
| PTA101L | Physical Therapy Interventions 1 Lab | 2 |
| PTA105 | Introduction to Physical Therapy | 2 |
| PTA121 | Clinical Kinesiology | 4 |
| HE207 | Stress Control Through Activity Intervention | 1 |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Second Quarter | ||
| Winter | ||
| PTA102 | Physical Therapy Interventions 2 | 5 |
| PTA102L | Physical Therapy Interventions 2 Lab | 2 |
| PTA106 | Cross-Cultural Communication in Physical Therapy | 3 |
| PTA122 | Manual Therapy Techniques | 3 |
| HE262 | Basic Life Support | 1 |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Third Quarter | ||
| Spring | ||
| PTA103 | Physical Therapy Interventions 3 | 5 |
| PTA103L | Physical Therapy Interventions 3 Lab | 2 |
| PTA107 | Introduction to Clinical Practice | 2 |
| PTA123 | Balance and Gait | 3 |
| HE202 | Adult Development and Aging | 1 |
| Credits | 13 | |
| Fourth Quarter | ||
| Summer | ||
| PTA251 | Clinical Applications I | 1 |
| PTA261 | Clinical Affiliation I | 8 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Fifth Quarter | ||
| Fall | ||
| PTA201 | Physical Therapy Interventions 4 | 4 |
| PTA201L | Physical Therapy Interventions 4 Lab | 1 |
| PTA262 | Clinical Affiliation II | 8 |
| Credits | 13 | |
| Sixth Quarter | ||
| Winter | ||
| PTA202 | Physical Therapy Interventions 5 | 5 |
| PTA202L | Physical Therapy Interventions 5 Lab | 2 |
| PTA257 | Evidence Informed Physical Therapy Practice | 1 |
| PSY239 | Introduction to Abnormal Psychology | 4 |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Seventh Quarter | ||
| Spring | ||
| PTA203 | Physical Therapy Interventions 6 | 3 |
| PTA203L | Physical Therapy Interventions 6 Lab | 1 |
| PTA258 | Licensure and Lifelong Learning | 1 |
| PTA263 | Clinical Affiliation III | 8 |
| Credits | 13 | |
| Total Credits | 96-98 | |
Awarding Requirements
The following requirement(s) must be fulfilled to be awarded the AAS in Physical Therapist Assistant degree:
- Health and Psychology coursework must be completed with a grade of "C" or higher.
- All core program courses (PTA) must be completed with a minimum grade of "C" or higher.
- All core program courses (PTA) must be completed within three (3) years of starting the program.
How to Apply
The Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program is a limited-entry program. The program admits approximately 24 students each fall term. Students who meet admission requirements are eligible for selection, and if the number of qualified applicants exceeds available spaces, admission is determined through a lottery process.
View current admissions requirements, deadlines, and application information
Application Steps
Step 1: Apply to MHCC
Students should apply for admission to Mt. Hood Community College and work with an advisor regarding prerequisite coursework and program planning.
Step 2: Complete Prerequisite Coursework
Students must complete all required prerequisite coursework prior to applying to the program. Students are encouraged to carefully review current prerequisite requirements and admission deadlines.
Step 3: Submit Official Transcripts
Students must submit official transcripts for evaluation and prerequisite verification.
Step 4: Apply to the PTA Program
Students must complete and submit the Physical Therapist Assistant program application during the published application period.
Prerequisite Advising
Students needing assistance planning prerequisite coursework are encouraged to contact the Academic Advising & Transfer Center.
- Phone: 503-491-7315
- Location: AC2253 (Student Services)
- Email: Advising.Questions@mhcc.edu
Additional Information
Admission to Mt. Hood Community College does not guarantee admission to the Physical Therapist Assistant program. MHCC reserves the right to modify admission requirements and selection processes.
Mt. Hood Community College welcomes students of all backgrounds and identities. Students of all races, ethnicities, ages, genders, religions, sexual orientations, socio-economic statuses, nationalities, physical abilities, and cognitive differences are encouraged to apply.