See list of Department Chairs on the Personnel page.
Career Opportunities
PTAs work under the direction of physical therapists, helping to manage conditions such as back and neck injuries, sprains/strains and fractures, arthritis, burns, amputations, strokes, multiple sclerosis, birth defects, injuries related to work and sports, and many other conditions. You will work in a broad range of settings, including hospitals, outpatient clinics, rehabilitation facilities, skilled nursing, extended care, sub-acute facilities, homes, schools, fitness centers and sports training facilities.
Program Description
The AAS degree prepares you to serve as a PTA within 5 semesters. The program is offered 2-2½ days per week except during the clinical experiences which occur in the third and fifth semester. Clinical experiences are scheduled for 40 hours per week and placement is typically anywhere in Southern Colorado. Learning experiences include lecture and interactive lab opportunities in a spacious lab with state-of-the-art equipment.
The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Pueblo Community College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, 3030 Potomac Ave, Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: http://www.capteonline.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 719-549-3433 or email Lori.Mcgill@pueblocc.edu.
Students accepted into the PTA program must pass a background check and drug screen before being officially admitted into the program. The background check and drug screen must be repeated before the student begins the second year of the program. Students are responsible for all expenses associated with internships and must provide their own transportation to and from clinicals. Financial aid is available through the PCC Financial Aid Office. Additional scholarship and grant information will be posted on the PTA bulletin board as it becomes available.
Program Requirements
The PTA Program has a selective admissions policy. You must submit a PTA application that is available through the Health and Public Safety Division or the PTA website. General Education requirements include ENG 1021 , COM 1150 , PSY 1001 , HPR 1038 , BIO 2101 and PHY 1105 . BIO 2101 and PHY 1105 must be completed before the application due date of May 25. All general education courses must be completed with a “C” or above and the applicant must have a minimum GPA of 2.50. Once in the program you must also have a health care provider CPR card to attend clinical experiences and you must provide proof of current immunizations and purchase liability insurance.
Note: Clinical sites used during the program require that you successfully complete a background check and drug screen. These need to be completed before final acceptance into the program.