The Physical Therapist Assistant Program leads to the Associate of Science (AS) degree. Upon completion of the program students are eligible to take the national examination through the Federation of State Boards in Physical Therapy (FSBPT) to become Physical Therapist Assistants (PTA). The program features general education and science requirements as well as physical therapy procedure and systems courses and a clinical education component. During clinical courses students may be required to attend clinical sites outside the Topeka area. All students in this program are required to provide their own transportation to clinicals as well as clinical lab attire. Professional liability insurance is provided by Washburn University, however, some clinical sites may require malpractice insurance.

Mission

The mission of the Physical Therapist Assistant Program is to offer a quality career oriented program allowing graduates to become credentialed Physical Therapist Assistants. To help students achieve this goal, the program is focused on providing excellence in teaching with high faculty-student interaction and enhanced educational experiences through relationships with community partners. By doing so, it allows students to realize their intellectual, academic, and professional potential so they can become lifelong learners who are responsible and productive members of the health care team and local community, state, and region.

Washburn University Assessment - Program Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the program students will be able to:

• PSLO 1: Demonstrate the ability to work under the supervision of a physical therapist in an ethical, legal, safe, and effective manner.
• PSLO 2: Implement a comprehensive treatment plan developed by a physical therapist.
• PSLO 3: Communicate regularly with supervising physical therapists about the patient’s progress or adjustments made in treatment procedures in accordance with changes in patient status.
• PSLO 4: Perform appropriate measurement techniques within the knowledge and limits of practice to assist the supervising physical therapists in monitoring and modifying the plan of care.
• PSLO 5: Interact with patients and families in a manner which provides the desired psychosocial support including the recognition of cultural and socioeconomic differences.
• PSLO 6: Participate in the teaching of other health care providers, patients, and families.
• PSLO 7: Document relevant aspects of patient treatment and participate in discharge planning and follow-up care.
• PSLO 8: Demonstrate effective written, oral, and nonverbal communication with patients and their families, colleagues, health care providers, and the public.
• PSLO 9: Understand the levels of authority and responsibility; planning, time management, supervisory process, performance evaluations, policies, and procedures; fiscal considerations for physical therapy providers and consumers, and continuous quality improvement.
• PSLO 10: Practice professional development through reading and interpreting professional literature, participation in professional organizations, and attendance at continuing education programs.
• PSLO 11: Graduate pass rates for the PTA Certification Examination will be at or above the national pass rate average.

Accreditation

The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Washburn University is accredited by:

The Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE)
3030 Potomac Ave  Ste 100
Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085
telephone: 703-706-3245; e-mail: accreditation@apta.org;
website: www.capteonline.org.

If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 785-670-2170 or email mark.kohls@washburn.edu.

Physical Therapy Club

The purpose of the Physical Therapy Club is to provide an environment which facilitates professional growth, creates a community of professionals for mentorship and peer support, and develops a group that will provide community and educational leadership and service at Washburn University and the surrounding geographical area.

Admission Requirements

This program has special admission requirements. Interested students should contact the Allied Health Department for specific requirements or visit: https://www.washburn.edu/academics/college-schools/applied-studies/departments/allied-health/pta/index.html. A maximum of twenty-four students are accepted for the fall of each year.

Degree Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Major Courses
AL 170	Physical Therapy Procedures	3
AL 171	Musculoskeletal Assessment in Physical Therapy	3
AL 186	Cardiopulmonary Assessment	2
AL 261	Therapeutic Modalities in Physical Therapy	3
AL 264	Physical Therapy Clinical I and Lab	3
AL 265	Applied Neurophysiology - Physical Therapist Assistant	3
AL 268	Integumentary Assessment in Physical Therapy	2
AL 271	Health Policy & Systems in Physical Therapy	2
AL 272	Current Rehabilitation Techniques in Physical Therapy	2
AL 273	Physical Therapy Issues	1
AL 279	Physical Therapy Clinical II & III	6
Subtotal		30
Correlate Courses
AL 101	Foundations of Healthcare	3
AL 320	Human Disease	3
BI 230	Introduction to Human Physiology	3
BI 275	Human Anatomy 1	4
KN 321	Anatomical Kinesiology	3
IL 170	Library Research Strategies	1
Subtotal		17
Total Hours		47

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No online Anatomy or Physiology courses are accepted by the PTA program.

See Table of Contents for University Requirements and General Education Requirements.