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Physical Therapist Assistant - Associate in Applied Science Degree
Program Requirements:
Admission Type:
Health
PTA Application Process
Locations:
Contact:
Admissions
(843) 347-3186

The A.A.S. in Physical Therapist Assistant degree prepares students to implement physical therapy treatment procedures under the supervision of licensed Physical Therapists. As an assistant to a physical therapist, you will help patients recovering from debilitating illness, amputation, surgery, or accident to improve mobility, restore physical function, relieve pain, and prevent or limit permanent physical disabilities.
For more information about Health Science Admissions visit: www.hgtc.edu/healthscience.
For more information, contact:
Dr. Samantha Martel - 843-477-2075
The Physical Therapist Assistant program: Horry-Georgetown Technical College 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; e-mail: accreditation@apta.org; website: www.capteonline.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 843-477-2075 or email Samantha.Martel@hgtc.edu.
For more information about HGTC's accreditations, click here.
PTA Program Mission Statement:
Consistent with the mission of Horry-Georgetown Technical College, the Physical Therapist Assistant program provides evidence-based didactic and clinical education to prepare graduates from diverse cultures and backgrounds to enter the physical therapy profession. The comprehensive learning opportunities of the program will enhance the lives of HGTC students, strengthen the physical therapy workforce and contribute to the health and well-being of the community we serve. Faculty and graduates of the program will exemplify the Core Values of the Physical Therapy profession and demonstrate dedication to the profession and professional growth through life-long learning.
PTA Program Goals
- The program will support diversity, equity, and inclusion to meet the needs of Horry and Georgetown communities.
- Students and faculty will exemplify the Core Values of the Physical Therapy profession to provide highest quality of physical therapist services.
- Prepare competent graduates to be successful on the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) to qualify for state licensure and meet the community’s employment needs.
- Students and faculty will demonstrate dedication to the profession and professional growth through lifelong learning.
- Produce graduates who work effectively as a member of the health care team to provide high quality contemporary patient-centered care.
HGTC PTA Student Learning Outcomes:
After successful completion of the Horry-Georgetown Technical College Physical Therapist Assistant Program the graduate will be able to achieve the program learning outcomes.
- PLO1: Students will demonstrate competence in implementing interventions and performing data collection within the parameters of the physical therapist plan of care based on the review of medical and physical therapy documentation for common pathologies seen by physical therapist assistants. (Discipline Body of Knowledge Competency 7B, 7D16, 7D17-22, 7D23, 7D24, 7D25)
- PLO2: Students will comply with policies and procedures and participate in quality assurance to ensure safety for all stakeholders and effective response to patient/client and environmental emergencies that occur in the healthcare setting. (Patient Safety and Quality Improvement using Evidence Based Practice within Systems Environment 7D26, 7D27 and 7D29)
- PLO3: Students will use information and technology to communicate, document, manage knowledge, mitigate error, and support decision making for effective operation of the organization. (Informatics, Technology and Practice Management 7D25, 7D30-31)
- PLO4: Students will demonstrate professional and ethical behaviors consistent with the core values for the physical therapist assistant. (Professional & Ethical Behavior 7D1-7D14)
- PLO5: Students will communicate effectively with all stakeholders for patient-centered, interprofessional collaborative care with respect for individual, socioeconomic, cultural, and psychological differences. (Communication, collaboration, and teamwork 7D7, 7D15, 7D28)
Compliments
If you wish to communicate compliments of the PTA Program at HGTC, please contact
the Program Director/Chair, Dr. Samantha Martel, at 843-477-2075 or email Samantha.Martel@hgtc.edu
Student Complaints:
Complaints from students will follow the PTA Program Student Policy 17, Due Process.
Students are instructed to follow the Student Grievance Procedure for the South Carolina
Technical College System. See Procedure 9.3.7.2 at the following link: Student Grievance
Non-faculty and Non-student Complaint Process:
Complaints will be directed to the PTA Program Director/Chair for stakeholders of
the HGTC PTA Program.
Contact Information: Dr. Samantha Martel, Phone: 843-477-2075, Email: Samantha.martel@hgtc.edu
Process for handling complaints:
• The Program Director will complete the Physical Therapist Assistant Program Complaint
Form.
• The Program Director will contact the appropriate college personnel to seek resolution
of the complaint.
• A written response will be provided from the appropriate college personnel to the
person filing the complaint with a timeline that is dependent on the nature of the
complaint.
• A copy of all complaints will be kept in a secure location in the Program Director’s
office.
If a stakeholder wishes to speak with someone other than the PTA Program Director,
complaints can be directed to the AVP/Dean of the program.
Contact Information: Ann Daniels, Phone: 843-477-2168, Email: ann.daniels@hgtc.edu
Complaints related to the accreditation of the HGTC PTA Program are directed to the
Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).
Contact Information:
Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE)
3030 Potomac Ave, Suite 100
Alexandria, VA 22305-3085
https://www.capteonline.org/complaints
Career Outlook
On a typical day, a physical therapist assistant will perform components of a variety of treatment procedures, including:
- Exercise
- Massage
- Electrical stimulation
- Traction
- Ultrasound
- Clerical and record-keeping duties
Employment Opportunities
- Hospitals
- Nursing homes
- Rehabilitation centers
- Outpatient offices
- Sports medicine clinics
- Schools
- Home health agencies
For more information about careers, visit O*Net Online for an overview of South Carolina and National earnings statistics, and Career Services for more employment resources.
Program Information |
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Specific Admission Requirements for Program
Course Sequence and Progression Requirements A minimum grade of "C" or better is required for all PTH-prefixed courses for progression and graduation. |
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Curriculum Sequence |
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General Education Requirements | Course Title | Semester Credit Hours |
BIO 210 | Anatomy Physiology I | 4 |
BIO 211 | Anatomy Physiology II | 4 |
ENG 101 | English Composition I | 3 |
MAT 110 | College Algebra | 3 |
OR | ||
MAT 120 | Probability and Statistics (preferred) | |
PSY 201 | General Psychology | 3 |
Humanities | 3 | |
TOTAL | 20 | |
First Semester - Fall | ||
PTH 101 | Physical Therapy Professional Preparation | 2 |
PTH 204 | Physical Therapy Functional Anatomy and Application | 5 |
PTH 205 | Physical Therapy Functional Anatomy | 4 |
PTH 221 | Pathology I | 2 |
PSY 203 | Human Growth Development | 3 |
TOTAL | 16 | |
Second Semester - Spring | ||
PTH 202 | Physical Therapy Modalities | 4 |
PTH 234 | Clinical Education I | 3 |
PTH 240 | Therapeutic Exercises/Applications | 5 |
PTH 270 | Special Topics in Physical Therapy | 3 |
TOTAL | 15 | |
Third Semester - Summer | ||
PTH 242 | Orthopedic Management | 4 |
PTH 244 | Rehabilitation | 4 |
TOTAL | 8 | |
Fourth Semester - Fall | ||
PTH 235 | Interpersonal Dynamics | 2 |
PTH 253 | Clinical Practice II | 3 |
PTH 275 | Advanced Professional Preparation | 1 |
PTH 276 | Physical Therapy Practicum II | 6 |
TOTAL | 12 | |
Total Credit Hours |
71 |
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