Onondaga Community Onondaga Community CollegeCollege

Physical Therapist Physical Therapist Assistant ProgramAssistant Program

Where the Jobs Will Be: Where the Jobs Will Be: Fastest Growing JobsFastest Growing Jobs

• Home Health AidesHome Health Aides• Network Systems & Network Systems &

Data CommunicationsData Communications• Medical AssistantsMedical Assistants• Physician AssistantsPhysician Assistants• Computer Computer

ApplicationsApplications• 46% growth from 46% growth from

2010-2020 (much 2010-2020 (much faster than average)faster than average)

• Physical Physical Therapist Therapist AssistantsAssistants

• Dental HygienistsDental Hygienists• Computer Systems Computer Systems

Software engineersSoftware engineers• Dental AssistantsDental Assistants

• Source: Bureau of Labor Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2012 Occupational Statistics, 2012 Occupational HandbookHandbook

Two year program, A.A.S.Two year program, A.A.S.

• 62 credits total62 credits total• Five semestersFive semesters• Daytime programDaytime program• PTA courses must PTA courses must

be taken in be taken in sequencesequence

Prerequisites for Prerequisites for AdmissionAdmission

• High School High School Diploma/GEDDiploma/GED

• 2 years HS Math or 2 years HS Math or place into MAT 114 place into MAT 114 at OCCat OCC

• 2 years HS/College 2 years HS/College Science, including Science, including BiologyBiology

• Grade of C+ or Grade of C+ or better in above (HS better in above (HS is 77)is 77)

Prerequisites for Prerequisites for AdmissionAdmission

• GPA of 2.6 or GPA of 2.6 or higher most recent higher most recent college experience college experience (77 in HS)(77 in HS)

• Placement test Placement test demonstrate demonstrate competency competency through MAT 087, through MAT 087, into MAT 114, & into MAT 114, & into ENG 103 & into ENG 103 & RDG 153RDG 153

Essential Skills for PTAEssential Skills for PTA

• Communication Communication SkillsSkills

• Conceptual & Conceptual & Analytical SkillsAnalytical Skills

• Social SkillsSocial Skills• Physical StrengthPhysical Strength• Bilateral & Bilateral &

Unilateral DexterityUnilateral Dexterity• BalanceBalance• Observational & Observational &

Sensory SkillsSensory Skills

Definition of a PTADefinition of a PTA

• ““An educated individual who works An educated individual who works under the direction and supervision under the direction and supervision of a physical therapist”of a physical therapist”

(American Physical Therapy Association)(American Physical Therapy Association)

What does a PTA do?What does a PTA do?

• Help with transfers Help with transfers and ambulationand ambulation

• Assistive device Assistive device trainingtraining

• Therapeutic Exercise Therapeutic Exercise and stretchingand stretching

• Uses Electrical & Uses Electrical & thermal modalitiesthermal modalities

• MassageMassage• WhirlpoolWhirlpool

• Relieve PainRelieve Pain• Promote HealingPromote Healing• Restore FunctionRestore Function• Maximize Maximize

IndependenceIndependence• EducationEducation• Preventive Preventive

MedicineMedicine

Multiple Settings: Acute Multiple Settings: Acute CareCare

Outpatient OrthopedicsOutpatient Orthopedics

PediatricsPediatrics

GeriatricsGeriatrics

Home CareHome Care

RehabilitationRehabilitation

SpecializationSpecialization

Work HardeningWork Hardening

Study SkillsStudy Skills

• Work less than 20 Work less than 20 hours per week.hours per week.

• Plan on three Plan on three hours of study for hours of study for each hour of class.each hour of class.

• Take advantage of Take advantage of opportunities opportunities offered at OCCoffered at OCC

• Attendance is Attendance is mandatorymandatory

• Have a back up Have a back up babysitterbabysitter

• You may need to You may need to take courses over take courses over the summerthe summer

• Some people like to Some people like to get corequisites get corequisites done before starting.done before starting.

What if the program is full What if the program is full this fall?this fall?

• Try to get some co-Try to get some co-requisites out of requisites out of the way to lighten the way to lighten your load:your load:

• Bio 171, 172, PSY Bio 171, 172, PSY 103/218, ENG 103/218, ENG 103/104103/104

• Bio 121 if you are Bio 121 if you are weak in science, or weak in science, or it has been awhileit has been awhile

• How might this How might this affect financial affect financial aide or living in aide or living in the dorms?the dorms?