Physical Therapist Assistant: A.A.S.
SUNY Broome’s Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program graduated its first class in 1989. The PTA program prepares students to carry out a planned patient care program under the supervision of a Physical Therapist (PT) in a variety of healthcare settings.
Interventions provided by a PTA include exercises for increasing strength, endurance, coordination, and range of motion; the use of heat, cold, electricity, sound, and water to relieve pain and stimulate muscle activity; instruction in activities of daily living; and the use of assistive devices such as walkers, crutches, and wheelchairs.
A significant part of this program includes on-site clinical experiences in which the student practices physical therapy skills under the supervision of a PTA or PT. Upon successful completion of the PTA curriculum, students graduate with an Associate in Applied Science degree. They are then eligible to take a National Licensing Examination and apply for certification as a physical therapist assistant.
As a PTA you will be part of the PT profession. Service to the community is a large part of your commitment to the profession. To prepare you for this commitment, you will be expected to perform a minimum number of volunteer clinical hours prior to enrollment in PTA courses. These hours will be considered service learning hours. While providing service to the community through volunteering, you are asked to keep a journal of your experience and learning opportunities.
Reflect in your journal on various conditions and illnesses you observe, how hospital personnel interact, how PT provides a service to the public, what the role of the PTA is, how important is communication, what is the hospital clinic's mission. How do they achieve this mission? As a volunteer, how did you help them meet their mission, etc.? You must maintain confidentiality in all of your entries.
If you have already worked in such a facility you may have this requirement waived but you will need to discuss it with the Chairperson of the program first for this determination. If you cannot complete the hours prior to class you may request a waiver for extended time from the program chairperson. Waivers will only be granted for extraordinary circumstances.
In order to participate in clinical rotations, which are required to graduate from this program, students are required to submit proof of a current physical and up-to-date required vaccinations, including influenza and SARS-CoV-2 (COVID). Specific instructions about required documentation and deadlines are provided by the Program Director.
Outcome Measures
The following are some program outcome measures for the Physical Therapist Assistant.
- Graduation rate (2023 – 2024): 70%
- Licensure examination pass rate (average of 2022-2023): 90.6%
- 2022
- First time Test Takers – 62.5%
- Ultimate pass Rate – 81.3%
- 2023
- First time Test Takers – 72.7%
- Ultimate pass Rate – 100%
- 2022
- Employment Rate (average of 2022 - 2023) : 100%
Program Goals
- To present concepts, facts, and entry-level skills as mandated appropriate for the physical therapist assistant by the APTA, starting with the very basic ideas and progressing to the more complex levels of application in order to achieve professional certification.
- To be responsive to student retention and attrition rates.
- Provide learning experiences that meet the needs of students and effectively assist graduates in meeting their educational, professional, and related personal goals.
- Provide learning experiences that encourage student engagement in lifelong learning experiences.
- To graduate competent practitioners who are able to integrate the skills and procedures learned in all of their coursework including English, humanities, etc., to meet the diverse needs of employers in healthcare institutions and related organizations.
- Provide a sufficient number of healthcare graduates to meet the employment needs of healthcare organizations in their communities, and assist graduates to have adequate opportunities for employment in fields related to their program of study.
- To encourage students to achieve and maintain a desirable level of professionalism.
This program is not designed as a transfer program to an upper-division Physical Therapy program leading to the master's degree or doctorate program. However, students can CONTINUE their education, earn a bachelors degree and then apply to an upper division PT program. SUNY Broome Community College has an articulation agreement with Excelsior College to assist the student in bridging the gap to a bachelor's degree. If you would like to discuss options for continuing in the career of physical therapy, please contact the department chairperson.
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Julianne Martin SUNY Broome, PTA Department Chairperson/Program Director 907 Upper Front Street Binghamton, New York 13905 |
Robbie Centorani, PT, MSED SECO Sidney 4 Cartwright Ave. Sidney, NY 13838 |
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Elizabeth C. Finch, PT G & E Therapies 236 Burts Road Kirkwood, NY 13795 |
Morgan Henninge, PT DPT UHS PT/Rehab, Greene 26 Genesee St. Greene, NY 13778 |
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Beth Hoyt PT Dept. UHS-Binghamton General Hospital 20-42 Mitchell Avenue Binghamton, NY 13903 |
Jamie Greco, PTA Coding and Compliance Educator/Auditor-UHS 4433 Vestal Parkway East Vestal, NY 13850 |
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Maureen Mallory Broome Tioga BOCES New Visions Health Academy Coordinator Metro Center, Suite 240 A 49 Court St. Binghamton, NY 13901 |
Amy TerBoss MPS, PT Office for People with Developmental Disabilities 249 Glenwood Rd. Binghamton, NY 13905 |
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Michael Buck PT, PhD, ATC, Cert MDT, CSCS Founding Director and Associate Professor, Physical Therapy Program Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences |
Danielle Britton SUNY Broome Community College Director of Training, Education and Workforce Development 907 Upper Front St. Binghamton, NY 13905 |
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Jackie LaMont, PTA HCA 18 Broad St Johnson City, NY 13790 |
Kristin Kotsubka, PTA Guthrie Lourdes Home Care 4102 Vestal Rd Vestal, NY 13850 |
NC-SARA
Effective July 1, 2024, federal regulation requires institutions of higher education to make a determination whether a Title IV eligible academic program that leads to professional licensure or certification meets the educational requirements for licensure/certification in the U.S. State where the institution is located and the U.S. States where “distance education” students are located at the time of initial enrollment in the program, as well as U.S. States where the program is advertised as meeting such requirements, and if applicable, the U.S. State where students attest they intend to be licensed/certified. The Physical Therapist Assistant A.A.S. program at SUNY Broome Community College is registered by the New York State Education Department and thus meets the educational requirements for licensure/certification for New York State. Through a good faith effort, and for the purpose of complying with the federal regulation, we have determined that the Physical Therapist Assistant A.A.S. program at SUNY Broome Community College meets the educational requirements for licensure/certification in the following U.S. States: NY; however, it is important to note that SUNY Broome Community College is not the licensure/certification authority in these U.S. States and cannot assess whether an individual candidate will be issued a license/certificate in these U.S. States and instead it is incumbent on each individual candidate to contact the licensure/certification authority in the applicable U.S. State for any further guidance on the requirements for licensure/certification requirements and application processes.Learning Outcomes
Communication
- Utilize proper verbal, non-verbal and written communication.
Individual and Cultural Differences
- Adjust behavior appropriately out of respect for individual and cultural differences with each patient/client and health care provider in an effective, appropriate and capable manner.
Behavior and Conduct
- Display professional and ethical behavior.
Plan of Care/Intervention
- Provide basic, safe, patient care and comfort.
- Integrate knowledge and skills gained in biology, anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, psychology, physics, pathology, and pathophysiology and apply them to PT interventions.
- Perform Physical Therapy Interventions and data collection, with excellence, according to the Scope of practice of the Physical Therapist Assistant, as directed in the plan of care, under the supervision of a licensed Physical Therapist.
Education
- Demonstrate teaching and learning in physical therapy practice.
Administration
- Participate in administration activities including: professional interaction with the health care team members; provision of accurate and timely documentation for billing and reimbursement; participate in quality assurance activities; and discuss organizational planning and operation of the PT department.
Social Responsibility
- Discuss the Psychosocial Aspects of Health Care.
Career Development
- Recognize that life-long learning is a continuum and identify life-long learning opportunities.
Outcomes measurement
- Through observation, data collection, communication and problem solving, participate in determining patient/client progress toward a specific outcome as established in the plan of care by the Physical Therapist.
Critical Thinking/Clinical Problem Solving
- Select appropriate patient/client interventions within the plan of care established by the Physical Therapist.
Contact Information
Admissions Office
607-778-5001
admissions@sunybroome.edu
- Julie Martin
- Decker Health Science Center, Room 317
- 607-778-5329
- martinje@sunybroome.edu