Physical Therapist Assistant

Medical Careers Institute’s physical therapist assistant program is designed to provide graduates with the knowledge required to work under the supervision of a Physical Therapist in the rehabilitation process. Curriculum focuses on a variety of areas including:

• Human anatomy
• Physiology
• Aging of muscles and bones as it relates to exercise and its impact on mobility, strength and coordination

Students also gain hands-on experience in the use of physical modalities such as heat, ice, ultrasound, traction, massage, and electrical stimulation to help decrease pain, increase motion, and improve function.

Upon completion, graduates with an Associate of Science Degree in Health Science with a concentration in Physical Therapist Assisting could possibly pursue a career in a wide array of settings including:

• Rehabilitation
• Outpatient clinics
• Skilled nursing
• Extended care facilities
• Sports training facilities
• Hospitals
• Homes
• Schools
• Occupational environments
• Fitness centers

The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at ECPI University, School of Health Science, Medical Careers Institute – Newport News, VA Campus and Richmond, VA Campus (Emerywood/West End Location) is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) of the American Physical Therapy Association.

The Richmond, VA program is an expansion of the accredited parent PTA program at ECPI University, School of Health Science, Medical Careers Institute – Newport News, VA.

1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA, 22314
Phone: 703-706-3245
email: accreditation@apta.org
website: www.capteonline.org
website: Admissions and Outcomes Information

Program Requirements

This program consists of 1,800 contact hours.

• Prepare graduates for entry-level practice as physical therapist assistants who will work under the direction and supervision of a physical therapist in an ethical, legal, safe, and effective manner.
• Prepare graduates who are competent in the implementation of comprehensive treatment plans developed by the supervising physical therapist and prepare to effectively monitor and modify the plan of care within the knowledge and limits of practice and communicate with the supervising therapist in a timely manner regarding the patient's status .
• Provide a learning environment that recognizes individual differences and promotes caring behaviors in the health care community.
• Promote critical thinking skills to effectively address patient care problems and to adapt the rapidly changing challenges in healthcare and physical therapist assistant.
• Provide graduates with strong educational foundations for lifelong personal and professional growth
• Prepare graduates to take the national licensure exam.

Newport News Campus: Graduation rate for 2015 – 2017 is 83%. National Physical Therapy Exam for Physical Therapist Assistants pass rate 2015 – 2017 is: 97%. PTA graduates who sought employment that were employed within 6 months of passing the licensure exam for 2015 – 2017 is 95%.

Richmond West Campus: Graduation rate for 2015 – 2017 is 96%. National Physical Therapy Exam for Physical Therapist Assistants pass rate for 2015 – 2017 is: 99%. PTA graduates who sought employment that were employed within 6 months of passing the licensure exam for 2015 - 2017 is 99%.

The Physical Therapist Assistant Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), which requires the calculation of employment rates. These annual rates, as reported in the program’s Annual Accreditation Report (AAR), are calculated as the percentage of graduates who were employed as a Physical Therapist Assistant within 6 months of passing the licensure exam. This accreditor has established the employment rate threshold as the employment rate averaged over the most recent three years that is consistent with national trends as determined by annual reporting mechanisms. Therefore, this rate represents the program’s employment rate averaged over the most recent three years (graduating cohorts 2015 – 2017).