Montco Community College Adds Physical Therapy Program

Blue Bell, PA -- Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) will introduce a new Physical Therapist Assistant program starting summer 2017. The 70-credit Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) program will prepare graduates for employment as entry-level physical therapist assistant, the school announced in a press release.

The program will integrate classroom and laboratory instruction with full-time practical clinical experiences. Graduates will be prepared to take the Physical Therapist Assistant National Physical Therapy Examination for state certification and licensure, MCCC said.

According to Robert Cullen, Physical Therapist Assistant program director, the program is composed of two distinct phases. During the Pre-Technical Phase, students complete their general education and foundational requirements at their own pace. Students who successfully complete the first phase may then apply for admission into the highly specialized and competitive full-time Technical/Clinical Phase.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics lists physical therapist assistant third among the 20 fastest growing occupations nationwide, and employment of physical therapist assistants is projected to grow 41 percent through 2024. Locally, physical therapist assistant is identified as a High Priority Occupation for Montgomery County and the surrounding four-county region, the school said.

Physical therapist assistants work under the direction and supervision of licensed physical therapists in a variety of settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, home health agencies, rehabilitation centers, school systems, sports medicine facilities and private practice, according to the release.

The Physical Therapist Assistant degree program will be offered at MCCC’s Central Campus in Blue Bell in the new Health Sciences Center, an integrated and active learning environment. Slated for completion in January 2017, the expansion will add 91,000 square feet to the existing 69,000 square-foot Physical Education Center, the release states.