SCHOOL OF HEALTH SCIENCES

Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Program

WHAT IS A PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT?

Physical Therapist Assistants work under the supervision of a licensed Physical Therapist in the delivery of care. In conjunction with the Physical Therapist, the Physical Therapist Assistant provides treatment programs which may include: hot or cold packs, electrical modalities, hydrotherapy, pain modalities, ambulation training, exercises to strengthen or retrain weak muscles, coordination exercises, activities of daily living and other activities to help people with disabilities regain their function and independence. The Physical Therapist Assistant is an integral part of the health care team, which serves to restore function and diminish disability in individuals of all ages. Physical Therapist Assistants are in high demand with an excellent job growth rate projected into the next century.

The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Touro College is a two-year course of study leading to an Associate Degree in Applied Sciences (AAS) as a Physical Therapist Assistant. The curriculum provides a foundation in liberal arts and sciences, as well as, specific courses for the Physical Therapist Assistant. Students receive their education through both didactic course work and clinical fieldwork training under the supervision of licensed Physical Therapists and Physical Therapist Assistants.

Physical Therapist Assistants Work in...

Accreditation and Registration

The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Touro College is registered with the Division of Professional Education of the New York State Education Department. It is also accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, located at 1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. Graduates of the Physical Therapy Assistant Program are eligible to apply for New York State registration as well as licensure in other states.

Admission Requirements and Procedures

All applicants are required to complete the following for admission in to the PTA program.

• Prerequisite courses prior to admission:
  College Writing I - 3cr
  College Math - 3cr
  These pre-requisites may be waived for applicants whose placement test scores place them beyond these courses.
• A diploma from an accredited high school or its equivalent is required.
• Two Letters of Recommendation must accompany the application: one from a former teacher and one from a physical therapist.
• Applicants must volunteer for a minimum of 25 hours in a physical therapy setting.
• A Volunteer Evaluation Form completed by the supervising physical therapist.
• Candidates for admission are strongly encouraged to submit Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or American College Testing (ACT) scores to the Office of Admissions.
• The TOEFL exam is required for applicants who did not complete high school or college in the United States (or an English speaking country). Students with TOEFL scores greater or equal to 220 (computer) or 550 (paper) will be considered for admission into the PTA program. The TOEFL exam may be waived if you have achieved grades of B or better in both College Writing I and II or their equivalent. Foreign transcripts must be evaluated and translated by one of the services approved by Touro College.

Those students that meet all of the above criteria will be invited to a required interview with a PTA faculty member that includes a short written statement completed on-site.

Students apply to the Department of Admissions for Touro College. Decisions on admission are made by a committee made up of faculty based on assessment of the applicant’s past academic performance, personal interview, and commitment to the profession of physical therapy. Entry into the program is in the fall semester for the full time day program and the spring semester for the decelerated evening program. Preference is given to students apply by July 15^th for the Fall start of the Day Program and November 15^th for the Spring start of the Evening Program.

For applications and further information, please call or write to:

Tuition, Fees and Expenses

Students are admitted to the program on a full-time basis. This requires a major commitment of both time and resources. Tuition and fees are subject to change annually. The Touro College Board of trustees reserves the right to change the fee schedule without prior written notice. For 2006-2007 costs will be as follows:

Annual personal expenses for books, travel, housing, food, uniforms, supplies, and other items will vary greatly from individual to individual.  All students are required to carry malpractice and health insurance.  Travel plus room and board for distant fieldwork assignments will also affect student costs.  Students are encouraged to meet with a financial aid counselor early in the application process to plan for these expenses.  Annual expenses for a dependent commuting student were estimated as follows for 20006-2007:

In addition, all students are required to maintain at their own expense background checks, health insurance (expense varies), malpractice insurance ($20), and professional membership in the American Physical Therapy Association ($85).

Curriculum Sequence

Applications

Click here to fill out an Online Express Inquiry Form!
Click here to download an Application for Admission!