Accreditation Status

The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at LaGuardia Community College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).

111 North Fairfax Street,
Alexandria Virginia 22314

Phone: (703)706-3245
E-mail: accreditation@apta.org
Website: www.capteonline.org
 

Mission Statement

The PTA Program is responsive to the health care needs in New York as well as the United States. Today's physical therapist addresses both preventative health care as well as post injury health care.

PTAs entering the field of Physical Therapy are trained to provide therapeutic intervention throughout the rehabilitation process. The PTA Program trains students to work with patients in various settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, private practices, and the patient’s home.

Students are trained to provide quality technical skills towards functional outcomes of the rehabilitation process. Students will be able to apply therapeutic concepts of exercise, manual techniques, and mobility training, along with the use of therapeutic modalities under the direct supervision of a licensed Physical Therapist.

The PTA Program is offered full time during the day. The program accepts students from various cultural and academic backgrounds. Support services, personal counseling, and academic advisement are offered by the college to assist in successful completion of the PTA Program. Successful completion of core course curriculum leads to three clinical fieldwork experiences in various clinical settings.

Upon successful completion of core course curriculum and three clinical fieldwork assignments, as well as general college requirements, the student is eligible to graduate from LaGuardia Community College, apply for New York State Licensure and is eligible to take the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE).

Admission Booklet

Students interested in applying to LaGuardia Community College should contact the Admissions Office located in room M-147, 31-10 Thompson Avenue, Long Island City, New York 11101. Applications are available for both freshman and transfer students. Transfer students with questions about the evaluation of credits earned at previously attended institutions should contact the Transfer Credit Office located in Room M-149. All inquiries regarding admission and transfer credit can be made by calling (718) 482-7206.

All new students are admitted directly into the Pre-Clinical phase of the Physical Therapist Assistant Program. Progression to the Clinical Phase of the program is competitive.

Please note that the Physical Therapist Assistant Program Faculty does not directly admit new students into the program, nor does the Physical Therapist Assistant Program Faculty evaluate transfer credit.

For more information regarding admission into the College click the link below:

Admission at LaGuardia Community College

 PTA Admission Handbook  

Grading Standards

The minimum passing grade for all PTA Courses is a “C” and students must maintain the “C” average for both the laboratory and lecture portion for each course. Students are permitted to repeat only one Physical Therapy course during their entire Clinical Phase of the program. Students who fail or withdraw or request medical leave from more than one course will be dismissed from the program.

GRADING GUIDELINES & STANDARDS FOR ALL PTA COURSES 

1. The minimum passing grade for all Physical Therapist courses is "C".
2. Students must achieve a passing grade on both the theoretical and clinical portion of each PTA course. Therefore, the following rules will apply:

   	You must have at lease a 70% combined average grade for all written exams.
   	You must have at least a 70 % combined average grade for all laboratory practical exams.
   	No grade below 60% on a laboratory practical exam will be accepted.
   	You must have at least 70% average on your clinical evaluation and at lease 70% average on the seminar portion of your Clinical Affiliation and Seminar courses.
   	You must have an overall average of a least 70% for each course.

   
    
3. All exams must be taken at the time scheduled. There will be no make-up exams.
4. All students are expected to exhibit professional behavior in attendance, punctuality, cooperation, relations with peers, and conduct in the classroom, laboratory and clinic. If you fail to live up to these standards, your average for the course may be reduced up to a full grade at the discretion of the course instructor, clinical coordinator, or program director.
5. Any students observed to be sharing answers, glancing at another student's paper, passing notes to another student, or using  any written and/or electronic aids (unless permitted by instructor) during an exam will be subject to the penalties described in LaGuardia Policy on Academic Integrity.
6. Any student who commits plagiarism or any other violation of academic integrity will be subject to the process described in the college's brochure on Academic Integrity.
7. If you do no complete a PTA course with a grade of A, B , or C, you will be unable to take any physical therapist assistant course for which that course is pre-requisite.
8. If you have previously received a grade of "F", "W", or "WU" (including "W" for medical leave) for any physical therapy assistant (SCT) course, and failure to complete that same PTA course with a grade of  A, B , or C, will result in dismissal from the Physical Therapist Assistant Program.

Graduate Objectives

Program Objectives: Competencies Upon Graduation 

1. Demonstrate knowledge and adhere to the “Standards of Ethical Conduct” and “Guide for conduct of the Physical Therapist Assistant” as they relate to supervision and practice.
2. Demonstrate knowledge of medical terminology, abbreviations and components of a medical chart related to physical therapy intervention.
3. Demonstrate ability to extrapolate pertinent information from the medical Chart.
4. Demonstrate oral communication skills in the ability to interview a patient/client and obtain pertinent medical history, social history and history of the present illness.
5. Demonstrate ability to monitor patients/clients during a treatment session using vital signs and to be able to recognize changes in physiological states.
6. Demonstrate ability to position and drape patients/clients with regard to patient’s/client’s safety, comfort, modesty, and accessibility to the treatment area.
7. Demonstrate competency in massage, selected manual techniques and use of physical agents.
8. Demonstrate knowledge and application of therapeutic exercise for strengthening, flexibility, endurance, balance, coordination and neurophysiological stimulation.
9. Demonstrate ability to choose and measure assistive devices and instruct the patient in appropriate gait pattern using appropriate guarding techniques.
10. Demonstrate ability to manage a patient/client with prosthetics and/or orthotics.
11. Demonstrate ability to perform functional mobility activities including transfers, position changes and movement of the patient/client in bed.
12. Demonstrate ability to utilize universal precautions, aseptic technique, and to care for the patient/client with integumentary and/or infectious conditions.
13. Demonstrate ability to safely perform interventions applicable to the Physical Therapist Assistant on a patient/client with cardiopulmonary complications.
14. Demonstrate understanding of the role of a Physical Therapist, Physical Therapist Assistant, Physical Therapy Aide and other members of the health care team.
15. Demonstrate ability to adjust exercise equipment for patient/client safety and effectiveness.
16. Demonstrate ability to assess joint measurements inclusive of establishing end feel.
17. Demonstrate ability to monitor the patient /client during functional activities and modify interventions/activities according to the plan of care.
18. Demonstrate the ability to select and document data collection, intervention and patient/client response.
19. Demonstrate an ability to communicate clearly and effectively in both written and verbal form with patient/client, family, colleagues and other professionals.
20. Demonstrate knowledge of indications and contraindications for all physical therapy intervention.
21. Demonstrate proficiency in instructing and supervising patients/clients in exercise programs.
22. Demonstrate effective time management in the clinical setting.
23. Maintain a clean and safe environment in the clinic.
24. Demonstrate proficiency in providing rationale for patient/client intervention based on critical thinking and critical reading.
25. Demonstrate the ability to access and analyze, throughout the curriculum, health care literature and complete an evidence based practice paper in the capstone course.
26. Demonstrate the ability to utilize technology in the PTA curriculum.
27. Demonstrate the ability to recognize individual and cultural differences in individuals and respond appropriately.
28. Demonstrate the ability to perform data collection and intervention skills as outlined in the plan of care of the Physical Therapist.

Physical Therapist Assistant Curriculum

The Physical Therapist Assistant Program leads to an Associate in Applied Science:

(AAS) degree and its graduates are eligible for certification by the New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions. The program is approved by the New York State Education Department and is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).
North Fairfax Street
Alexandria, Virginia
website: www.apta.org

Graduates work under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist in a variety of settings including: out patient practices, hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, schools and sports centers. Physical Therapist Assistants carry out the plan of care established by the Physical Therapist, and work with patients who have neuromuscular, musculokeletal, cardiopulmonary and integumentary impairments

The interventions performed by the Physical Therapist Assistant include therapeutic exercise, aerobic conditioning, mobility, gait training, and use of physical agents for pain management, tissue healing and motor retraining. The program consists of classroom and laboratory courses at the college, as well as clinical affiliations in different physical therapy settings.

Special progression standards exist for students taking courses in the "clinical" phases of the major. To progress to the "clinical" phase, specific criteria must be met as described in the program's admissions handbook. These handbooks are available from the Program Director in Room E 300 and from the Admissions Office. Completion of 50 volunteer hours in a physical therapy setting with a letter from the physical therapy supervisor is required prior to entering the clinical phase.

Students who need additional skill development as determined by the college placement exam will be required to take basic skills and /or ESL courses, prior to admission to the pre clinical phase. The particular courses students must successfully complete are determined by their scores on the college placement test.

 

Staff

Please schedule an appointment below or call 718.482.5185 

	Clarence Chan, PT, DPT  Interim Program Director Office: E-300-Q (718) 482-5943 E-Mail: cchan@lagcc.cuny.edu
	Debra Engel, PT,DPT, MS Associate Professor Office: E-300-R (718) 482-5780 E-Mail: dengel@lagcc.cuny.edu
	Jackie Ross, PT, DPT, ACCE  Clinical Coordinator Office: E-300-AA (718) 482-5771 E-Mail: rossja@lagcc.cuny.edu
	May Tom PT, DPT   Adjunct Faculty
	Lori Finz  Program Administrator Assistant E-Mail: ifinz@lagcc.cuny.edu
	Felicia Vinci PT, DPT Adjunct Faculty  (718) 482-5943 E-Mail: fvinci@lagcc.cuny.edu
	Ralph Mitchell, PTA  College Lab Technician Office: E- 335 (718) 482-5781 E-Mail: rmitchell@lagcc.cuny.edu
	Diane McKee Burke  Secretary Office: E-300 (718) 482-5774 E-Mail: dianemc@lagcc.cuny.edu

In addition, we have Student Peers, Assistants and Interns, who are available to help every day of the week.

Frenquently Asked Questions

Q:1  HOW DO I APPLY FOR THE PTA PROGRAM? 

A: There is a specific method of application into the Physical Therapist Assistant Program. If you are already a student at LaGuardia Community College you first need to declare Physical Therapist Assistant as your major. Please refer to the following link for further information. Click here If you are not currently a student at LaGuardia Community College please click on the link below to obtain information on LaGuardia Community College Admission Information.

Q:2  IF I AM ALREADY AT LAGUARDIA HOW DO I CHANGE MY MAJOR? 

A: Change of major can only be obtained from the Program Director. In order to proceed with this process you need to see the Program Director, during the posted office hours, and present with a copy of your transcript. No changes of major can be done without the Director reviewing you transcript.

Q:3  WHEN DO I NEED TO APPLY FOR CANDIDACY? 

A: Application for Candidacy is done during either 12 week session; Fall I or Spring I.
Students applying for candidacy during the Fall I session will begin their clinical phase studies during the Spring II (summer) of the following year.
Students applying for candidacy during the Spring I session will begin in the Fall II (winter) of the following year.

Q:4  WHAT COURSES DO I NEED TO COMPLETE BEFORE APPLYING FOR CANDIDACY? 

A: The course work required before applying for candidacy can be found on the link below. Click here

Q:5- WHAT ARE MY CHANCES OF GETTING INTO THE PROGRAM? 

A: All four key courses must be completed and a minimum of a 2.50 GPA will be considered for acceptance into the program. Since the number of students permitted to progress each semester is limited this GPA does not guarantee that a student will be selected for progression. Admission into the program is competitive based on ones overall GPA and seat availability.

Q:6  IF I AM NOT ACCEPTED INTO THE PROGRAM CAN I APPLY AGAIN? 

A: Students are limited to a maximum of two attempts at candidacy.

Q:7  HOW MANY CLINICAL HOURS DO I NEED TO COMPLETE? 

A: There is one part time affiliation of 100 hours and two full time affiliations of 280 hours each. Each clinical affiliation is accompanied by a weekly seminar class that is held one evening per week. The part time affiliation begins after successful completion of three Clinical PTA courses. The two full time affiliations begin after successful completion of all Clinical coursework. There are no waivers or exemptions from these affiliations. It is usually not feasible for students to continue working while they are on their clinical affiliations. We recommend that students begin financial planning for this period as soon as they have been accepted into the clinical phase of the program.

Q:8  WILL MY CREDITS BE ABLE TO BE TRANSFERRED TO A P.T. PROGRAM? 

A: Currently no Physical Therapy Programs are accepting transfer of credits obtained during the Clinical Phase of the Program. The pre-requisites for entrance into the PTA Program, i.e. the basic science courses are sometimes transferable.