Physical Therapist Assistant

In keeping with the mission and values of Lanier Technical College and its commitment to workforce development, the Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Lanier Technical College provides students with the skills necessary to graduate, pass licensure testing, and enter the workforce as proficient entry level Physical Therapist Assistants qualified to work in a variety of settings. Graduates of the program display leadership qualities, a commitment to life-long learning and a desire to promote health, wellness and rehabilitative services.

In realizing this mission, the Physical Therapist Assistant Program will integrate the work ethics of Lanier Technical College with the Values-based Behaviors for the PTA of the American Physical Therapy Association to foster graduates with not only a competent entry level knowledge base, but also an exceptional level of professionalism and ethical behavior.

The Lanier Technical College PTA program trains graduates to:

• Provide safe, ethical, and competent entry level care to a diverse population in a variety of settings under the supervision of a physical therapist.
• Analyze patient care situations and choose appropriate strategies within parameters set by the physical therapist.
• Communicate verbally, non-verbally, and in writing in a professional and effective manner.
• Grow as professionals and leaders in the field through continued education, advocacy, and community involvement.

• The PTA program will deliver both didactic and clinical education to meet the needs of each student in preparation for PTA practice and licensure examinations.
• The PTA program will cultivate and maintain varied clinical experiences for students.
• The PTA faculty will utilize evidence-based best practices in teaching and demonstration.
• The PTA faculty will model appropriate and effective communication skills in all interactions.
• The PTA faculty will provide learning opportunities and resources that encourage personal and professional student growth.
• The PTA program will utilize outcome measures to ensure quality.

• Communicates verbally and non-verbally with the patient, the physical therapist, health care delivery practitioners, and others in an effective, appropriate, culturally competent and capable manner.
• Demonstrates competence in implementing selected components of interventions identified in the plan of care established by the physical therapist.
• Demonstrates competency in performing components of data collection skills essential for carrying out the plan of care.
• Recognizes when interventions should not be provided due to changes in the patient’s status and reports this to the supervising physical therapist.
• Recognizes when the direction to perform an intervention is beyond that which is appropriate for a physical therapist assistant and initiates clarification with the physical therapist.

Please visit our Physical Therapist Assistant Degree catalog pages for more information.