The Program

The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Villa is an associate degree program which prepares students to enter physical therapist assistant positions in a variety of health care settings. In addition to the liberal arts core, the program incorporates the professional courses which provide the competencies necessary for students to be successful on the New York State Physical Therapist Assistant licensing examination.

Villa's program is the only two-year accredited Physical Therapist Assistant program in Erie County. The program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) .

Physical Therapist Assistant jobs are ranked #4 in the top ten list of fast-gowing jobs in Western New York according to Discover Everything Buffalo (The premier guide to the Buffalo Niagara region) special section published by the Buffalo News.

Physical Therapist Assistants are skilled health care providers who work under direct supervision of licensed Physical Therapists. They teach patients exercise routines and rehabilitation activities, assist in treatment programs as well as with clinic and equipment preparation, and report to the Physical Therapist on the progress of patients.


The Requirements

Course requirements include 22 credit hours of liberal arts courses and 42 credit hours in the area of concentration as follows:


Liberal Arts Core

  • English Composition ENG 101
  • Introduction to Literature ENG 102
  • Fine Arts Elective
  • General Psychology PSY 101
  • Philosophy Elective
  • Religious Studies Elective
  • Human Anatomy and Physiology I + Laboratory BIO 103 & (L)
  • Area of Concentration
  • College Algebra MAT 111
  • Human Anatomy and Physiology II + Laboratory BIO 104 & (L)
  • Introduction to Gerontology GER 101
  • Kinesiology and Laboratory BIO 203 & (L)
  • Nature and Needs of Exceptional Children EDU 211
  • Physical Therapist Assistant I + Laboratory PTA 101 & (L)
  • Physical Therapist Assistant II + Laboratory PTA 102 & (L)
  • Physical Therapist Assistant III + Laboratory PTA 201 & (L)
  • Physical Therapist Assistant IV + Laboratory PTA 202 & (L)
  • Physical Therapist Assistant Internship I + Seminar PTA 109
  • Physical Therapist Assistant Internship II + Seminar PTA 209
  • Physical Therapist Assistant Internship III + Seminar PTA 309


Employment Opportunities

The Bureau of Labor Statistics recently indicated that physical therapy occupations including those served by physical and corrective therapy assistants are expected to grow faster that other health care occupations. A 93% percentage growth has been projected for the time frame between 1992 and 2005. The national median income for physical therapist assistants is $30,000.

A recent survey by the New York State Department of Health indicated a continued need for physical therapist assistants in Western New York.

Physical therapist assistants can seek positions in a wide variety of settings including hospitals, private practices, community health centers, nursing homes, sports facilities, rehabilitation centers, and pediatric centers--anywhere there is a need for treating injuries through rehabilitation.

Special Program Notes

Admission to the Physical Therapist Assistant Program is competitive. It is advisable to apply early. An interview with the Program Coordinator is required as part of the admissions process. Applicants are expected to have a high school average of 85% or better.

Prerequisite high school courses are the following: Mathematics Course I and Course 2 or their equivalents, biology, and physics.

Underprepared students may be accepted under special admittance guidelines. Such students will need more than two years to complete the program.

It is advantageous to have volunteer or past work experience in the health care field. Applicants should submit to the Director of Admissions a letter of recommendation from the supervisor of his/her health care experience.

Enrolled students must maintain a 2.5 quality point average in Physical Therapist Assistant courses.

All interested students--including adults and transfer students--are encouraged to call the Villa Maria College Admissions Office for information on how to qualify for entry into this program.



For Further Information