Physical Therapist Assistant, AAS

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

Program Description/Purpose: The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Laurel Ridge is conducted at the Luray-Page County Center (Jenkins Hall). Labs will be conducted at either Jenkins Hall or the Page Memorial Hospital rehabilitation facility in Page County. Students are placed in clinical education experiences throughout the Laurel Ridge service region and nearby areas.

The associate of applied science degree with a major in Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) is designed to prepare successful graduates with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes expected of entry-level physical therapist assistants. Upon completion of the program, graduates will be eligible to take the national physical therapist assistant licensure examination administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT).

Accreditation Status: The Physical Therapy Assistant Program at Laurel Ridge Community College is accredited by the:

Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE)
3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100
Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085
Telephone: (703) 706-3245
CAPTE Email
CAPTE Website

If you need to contact the program/institution directly, please call (540) 843-0798 or email Dr. Rekha Parameswaran.

Admissions Requirements:

Applicants must meet the general admission requirements to Laurel Ridge Community College. For application information, materials, and additional program information, please look at the Laurel Ridge Community College Program Pathway.

It is highly recommended that students consult with their academic advisor to select the most appropriate elective.

Program Curriculum

Students progress sequentially through the PTA curriculum, designed to prepare the student with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary for the physical therapist assistant. The curriculum includes classroom and lab components and three full-time clinical education experiences. Progression to the subsequent semester depends on passing each PTH-prefix course with a C or better, maintaining an overall 2.5 or better GPA, and meeting course-specific requirements in each syllabus. Students are given an opportunity for remediation if they are in danger of not passing a course.

It is highly recommended for students, if able, to complete co-requisite courses of BIO 142 and SOC 200 before program application; however, there is time allotted in the program semesters to complete these courses. HLT 105 is also a co-requisite course required for graduation, but it is recommended that students wait until receipt of “conditional acceptance” in May of the application year to take this credit. This allows certification to remain valid throughout a student’s tenure in the program.