
Physical Therapist Assistant
Associate Degree Program
Physical therapist assistants work under the supervision of licensed physical therapists to provide services to people of all ages who have a variety of physical limitations, resulting from injury, disease or other causes. As a physical therapist assistant (PTA), you will be a licensed health care worker who provides physical therapy services under the supervision and direction of the physical therapist. You will assist with data collection, implement patient programs designed by the physical therapist, make appropriate judgments, modify interventions within the established plan of care, participate in discharge planning and follow-up care, and document the care provided to the patient. You will also educate and interact with health care team members, including families, caregivers, students and patients. Upon successful completion of this program, you will be eligible to sit for the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE).
Academically ready students can apply to the program following the guidelines of the Allied Health competitive admission process. Interested applicants should review the information provided here and contact their program advisor for application requirements.
Offered at the Georgetown and Wilmington campuses.
What You Can Do
In this program, you will gain the knowledge and skills to prepare you for positions in:
- Hospitals
- Rehabilitation centers
- Home health
- Out-patient clinics
- Schools
- Skilled nursing facilities
What You Will Earn
Competitive starting salaries range from $35,000 - $48,000.
What You Will Learn
Program Graduate Competencies
The Program Graduate Competencies listed below identify the major learning goals related to your specific program of study and identify the knowledge and skills you will have when you graduate to be successful in your chosen field.
- Work under the supervision of a physical therapist in an ethical, legal, safe and effective manner.
- Implement PT interventions within the plan of care.
- Perform specific data collection techniques related to the plan of care.
- Demonstrate effective communication in the physical therapy environment.
- Formulate appropriate judgments and modification to the program within the patient's plan of care.
- Demonstrate effective interactions and professional behaviors.
- Participate in career development activities.
- Exhibit a commitment to the physical therapy profession,physical therapy patients, and the community.
Core Curriculum Competencies
The Core Curriculum Competencies listed below identify what you will be able to do as a graduate, regardless of your program of study. You will acquire these core competencies through general education courses and program-specific coursework. You will be expected to use relevant technology to achieve these outcomes:
- Apply clear and effective communication skills.
- Use critical thinking to solve problems.
- Collaborate to achieve a common goal.
- Demonstrate professional and ethical conduct.
- Use information literacy for effective vocational and/or academic research.
- Apply quantitative reasoning and/or scientific inquiry to solve practical problems.
Pursuing a Bachelor's Degree?
This is a Connected Degree program that enables you to complete your associate degree and then transfer to a four-year degree program as a junior. See a program advisor for details.
Del Tech Makes DE | Alumni Jerry Felipe, PTA
Contact Georgetown:
Patricia Bird
Department Chair, Instructor,
and Program Advisor
pbird2@dtcc.edu
(302) 259-6676
Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Delaware Technical Community College Jack F. Owens Campus is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, VA 22305-3085; telephone: (703) 706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: capteonline.org.
If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call (302) 259-6676 or email pbird2@dtcc.edu.
The program has determined that its curriculum meets the state educational requirements for licensure or certification in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands secondary to its accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, based on the following: CAPTE accreditation of a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant program satisfies state educational requirements in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Thus, students graduating from CAPTE-accredited physical therapist and physical therapist assistant education programs are eligible to take the National Physical Therapy Examination and apply for licensure in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. For more information regarding state qualifications and licensure requirements, refer to the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy website at www.fsbpt.org.
Contact Wilmington:
Rachel Carter
Department Chair
rachel.carter@dtcc.edu
(302) 657-5131
The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Delaware Technical Community College Orlando J. George, Jr Campus is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, VA 22305-3085; telephone: (703) 706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: capteonline.org.
If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call (302) 657-5131 or email rachel.carter@dtcc.edu.
The program has determined that its curriculum meets the state educational requirements for licensure or certification in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands secondary to its accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, based on the following: CAPTE accreditation of a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant program satisfies state educational requirements in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Thus, students graduating from CAPTE-accredited physical therapist and physical therapist assistant education programs are eligible to take the National Physical Therapy Examination and apply for licensure in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. For more information regarding state qualifications and licensure requirements, refer to the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy website at www.fsbpt.org.
- Programs of Study
- Accounting
- Advertising Design
- Agribusiness Management
- Architectural Engineering Technology
- Automotive Technician Studies
- Automotive Technology
- Aviation Maintenance Technology
- Bachelor of Science in Education
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Baking and Pastry Skills Certificate
- Baking and Pastry Skills Studies
- Biological Sciences
- Biotechnology
- Building Automation Systems Option
- Business Administration Transfer Option
- Cardiovascular Sonography
- Chemical Process Operator
- Chemical Process Operator Certificate
- Chemical Process Operator Studies
- Chemistry
- Chemistry Math Concentration
- Civil Engineering Technology
- Civil Transfer Option
- Communications
- Computer Aided Drafting Design Technology
- Computing and Information Science
- Construction Management
- Cooking Certificate
- Correctional Officer Certificate
- Criminal Justice
- Culinary Arts
- Dental Hygiene
- Design Engineering Mechanical
- Diagnostic Medical Sonography
- Diesel Technology
- Drug Alcohol Counseling
- Drug Alcohol Counseling Certificate
- Early Care and Education Birth to Second Grade
- Early Childhood Development
- Early Childhood Studies
- Electrical and Computer Engineering Transfer Option
- Electromechanical Engineering Technology
- Electronics Engineering Tcy
- Electronics Engineering Technology Instrumentation Option
- Elementary Education
- Emergency Medical Technician Paramedic
- Emergency Medical Technician Paramedic Certificate
- Energy Management
- English
- English as a Second Language Certificate
- Entrepreneurship
- Entrepreneurship Certificate
- Environmental Engineering Technology
- Exercise Science
- General Airframe Maintenance Certificate
- General Business
- General Powerplant Maintenance Certificate
- General Studies
- Geographic Information Systems Technology
- Health Information Management
- Histotechnician
- Homeland Security and Emergency Management
- Human Services
- Information Technology and Networking
- Instruction, Design, and Technology Certificate
- Kitchen Skills Studies
- Law Enforcement Option
- Legal Studies
- Management
- Marketing
- Math Secondary Education
- Mathematics
- Mechanical Engineering Technology
- Medical Assistant
- Medical Assistant Studies
- Medical Laboratory Technician
- Middle-Level Math Education
- Multimedia
- Nuclear Medicine
- Nursing
- Occupational Therapy Assistant
- Office Administration
- Paraeducator
- Paralegal Certificate
- Photo Imaging
- Physical Therapist Assistant
- Practical Nursing Studies
- Production Agriculture
- Radiologic Technology
- Refrigeration Heating AC
- Refrigeration Heating AC Studies
- Renewable Energy Solar
- Respiratory Care
- Science
- Science Education Chemistry Physics
- Social Science
- Surgical Technology
- Turf and Ornamental Horticulture
- Veterinary Technology
- Registration
- Academic Calendar
- Transfer Options
- International Education
- Earning College Credit in High School
- Instructional Technology & CCIT
- Catalog/Student Handbook