Physical Therapist Assistant

Helping people to gain or regain the physical function, strength, and coordination needed for healthy living.

What does a Physical Therapist Assistant do?

As a Physical Therapist Assistant, you will help to relieve pain, restore physical function and prevent further disability as a result of disease, injury, loss of limbs, and surgery. Treatments may include exercise, hot or cold pack application, ultrasound, ultraviolet or infrared light treatments, electrical stimulation, hydrotherapy and more. You will have the opportunity to work at many different kinds of health care facilities, such as sports care clinics, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes and schools.

Who will be your patients?

You will work with people from all walks of life-your patients can range dramatically in age from the very elderly to the very young. You may be working with injured athletes, a young child with cerebral palsy, an adult who just had surgery, or an elderly person who had a stroke.

How do you become a Physical Therapist Assistant?

The Physical Therapist Assistant degree program at Genesee Community College is accredited by the American Physical Therapy Association, and is designed to prepare you for the national licensing exam. You can complete the degree in as little as two years of full-time study, or you can choose a more flexible part-time class schedule for a large portion of the curriculum.

The program includes on-site internship opportunities at health service providers in the Genesee region. The curriculum provides hands-on lab experiences in anatomy, physiology, kinesiology (mechanics of human movement), massage, and will include principles of orthopedics, pain control, pediatrics, neurology, and geriatrics.

What's so special about being a Physical Therapist Assistant?

As a physical therapist assistant, you will be a professional member of the health care team that will be directly involved in helping people with injuries to relieve their pain, to heal and to regain function so as to lead a more normal, independent life. This is a very hands-on calling, where the power of touch and your personal care will bring healing and relief to people in need. You can-and will-see and measure the difference you are making in people's lives.

Want to find out more information about Physical Therapist Assistant?

Contact the program director or instructors at: PTA@genesee.edu.