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Physical Therapist Assistant

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Health Sciences

Help others heal and thrive with hands-on physical therapy training.

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What You’ll Learn

The Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) degree prepares graduates to work in direct patient care settings under the supervision of physical therapists. Assistants work to improve or restore function by alleviation or prevention of physical impairment and perform other essential activities in a physical therapy department. Coursework includes normal human anatomy and physiology, the consequences of disease or injury, and physical therapy treatment of a variety of patient conditions affecting humans throughout the lifespan. Graduates may be eligible to take the licensure examination administered by the NC Board of Physical Therapy Examiners. Employment is available in general hospitals, rehabilitation centers, extended care facilities, specialty hospitals, home health agencies, private clinics, and public school systems.

Length: 5 Semesters

Credits to Graduate: 73

Locations: Chatham

Curriculum Guide

Why Study Physical Therapist Assistant at CCCC?

Experienced PTA Program Faculty 

The core program faculty includes the Department Chair, Tiffany Needham, and the Clinical Education Coordinator, Jason Harloff, with combined clinical experience of more than 50 years.  Both are active in the state and national physical therapy association and state licensure board.

State-of-the-art Facility

The PTA program at Chatham Health Sciences Center (CHSC) in Pittsboro, NC offers 40,000 sq. ft. of specialized instructional space, SMART classrooms, Wi-Fi, labs, a 24-seat computer lab, fitness labs, restrooms, medical suites, study rooms, a student lounge, faculty offices, and more.  

Help Transform Lives: Become a PTA

Physical therapist assistants (PTAs) are licensed clinicians who work under physical therapists to provide patient care, gather treatment data, and adjust care plans. PTAs assist patients of all ages, helping them achieve movement goals, regain independence, and lead active lives. Their impact is profound.

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Careers

The PTA program is a full-time, five-semester/two-year day program that prepares students to sit for the state-administered national physical therapist assistant licensure exam in order to practice. PTAs work in a variety of settings including hospitals, private practices, outpatient clinics, home health, nursing homes, schools, sports facilities, and more.

  • Physical Therapist Assistant Clinician
  • Director of Rehabilitation Department
  • Rehabilitation Manager
  • Physical Therapy Clinic Owner
  • Educator

Program Contact

  • Alt text

    Tiffany Needham

    Physical Therapist Assistant Department Chair
    Physical Therapist Assistant

Accreditation Information

Effective October 31, 2023, Central Carolina Community College has been granted Candidate for Accreditation status by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; phone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org). If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call Tiffany Needham, Department Chair at (919) 545-8652 or email tneedham@cccc.edu.

Candidate for Accreditation is an accreditation status of affiliation with the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education that indicates the program may matriculate students in technical/professional courses. Achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status does not assure that the program will be granted Initial Accreditation.

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Transfer Programs

Credits from select courses within the program may transfer to four-year colleges and universities on a case-by-case basis.

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