Message from the Director of the Associate Degree in Physical Therapist Assistant Program
Dear Student:
I cordially welcome you to the Associate Degree Program in Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) at Atenas College. You are in a privileged place to take your first steps towards the goal of becoming a PTA.
Atenas College is committed to preparing Physical Therapist Assistants at entry level, competent to work under the direction and supervision of a Physical Therapist in a safe, ethical and legal manner. You will have the support of a committed faculty that will go along with you step by step during your training as a health professional.
The Associate Degree Program in Physical Therapist Assistant will provide you with all the necessary tools for your preparation and practical learning, in which you will be integrated into the Clinical Simulation and Learning Center with laboratories equipped for the development of the competences established in the program.
On the road to success, it is important to raise awareness that your commitment, passion and dedication will allow you to achieve the best results to perform as a Physical Therapist Assistant. We will be working together to provide you with the necessary tools to achieve passing the licensure exam and obtaining your permanent license. I trust that your experience in the program will be of great satisfaction and academic enrichment.
Once again, welcome!
Dra. Cristina M. Echevarría Crespo, PT, DPT
Program Director
PTA Program Vision Statement
In line with the institutional vision, the vision of the Associate Degree Program in Physical Therapist Assistant is to be an educational program known for its excellence in learning through innovative strategies, among which simulation stands out. We expect the program to be distinguished for its input to the educational field, developing competent professionals and establishing collaboration alliances at a local, national, and international level in addition to being leaders in Physical Therapist Assistants training.
PTA Program Mission Statement
In line with the institutional mission statement, the mission statement of the Associate Degree Program in Physical Therapist Assistant is to provide student training aimed to develop the expected competencies for an entry-level Physical Therapist Assistant, and to work under the direction and supervision of a Physical Therapist in a safe, ethical, and legal manner. Furthermore, the program seeks to develop graduates who can assume responsibility for themselves and to respond, within their scope of practice, to the needs of health and wellbeing of the community.
Program Values
The PTA Program management adopts the core values of the Physical Therapist Assistant as defined by the American Physical Therapy Association1 and is committed to base all its actions in such values. Student conduct must show adherence to these values in all its actions within the program, including visits and clinical experiences in clinical education sites. The core values of the Physical Therapist Assistant are:
- Altruism
- Care and Compassion
- Ongoing Competency
- Duty
- Integrity
- PT/PTA Collaboration
- Responsibility
- Social Responsibility
[1] Values-Based Behaviors for the Physical Therapist Assistant. American Physical Therapy Association. Enero 2011.
Accesible en:
http://www.apta.org/uploadedFiles/APTAorg/PTAs/Careers/Values/ValuesBasedBehaviorsforPTA.pdf
Accedido el 21 de diciembre de 2014.
Program Description
The Associate Degree Program in Physical Therapist Assistant trains entry-level professionals with the skills and competencies required to work under the supervision and direction of a Physical Therapist. The Physical Therapist Assistant helps the Physical Therapist in treatment of people on any stage of growth and development, who shows health problems or conditions that limit their ability to move and perform functional activities of their everyday life. Graduates from this program are prepared to take the board exam from the Puerto Rico Examining Board of Physical Therapy.
Program consists of 71 credits distributed into five (5) semesters. The student must meet the out-of-class- hours (outside work) required by the US Department of Education.
Table 1. Program Breakdown