Physical Therapist Assistant

Prospective students should consider the physical challenge of the program to help determine if he or she can successfully complete job duties required of a PTA. All students enrolled in the program must be able to complete these standards with or without reasonable accommodations.

• Put on and remove clothing and equipment correctly without assistance (i.e. surgery suit, shoe covers, etc.).
• Lift 50 pounds from the floor, carry and place on a surface 36 inches in height.
• Stand from a seated position and walk 300 feet without any impairment.
• Lift or transfer a patient from a bed, stretcher or wheelchair safely.
• Go from a standing position to a squatting or tall kneeling position and vice versa.
• Extend legs forward and backward while maintaining good balance to provide safe patient support as needed.
• Demonstrate proper body mechanics during lifting and patient care tasks.
• Safely manage invasive lines during patient care interventions.
• Transport or push a patient in a wheelchair, bed or stretcher without assistance.
• Walk up and down several flights of stairs.
• Perform a pivoting movement.
• Follow oral and written instructions.
• Detect both visual and audible alarms.
• Correctly read aloud written instructions.
• Demonstrate fine motor skills in manipulating small objects.

All students enrolled in the program are required to complete an integrated and terminal clinical affiliation. The first clinical affiliation is completed during the first 7 weeks of Fall II semester in addition to an advanced professional preparation course. The terminal affiliation is completed the final 7 weeks of Fall II semester. Students are required to complete one inpatient and one outpatient clinical experience with one of the two being in an area where rural healthcare is provided. Clinical education composes 14 weeks of the PTA program. Students are exposed to supervised clinical experiences where they treat real patients from different socioeconomic backgrounds with a wide array of diagnoses. Students will treat patients from any age group while gaining experience with interprofessional collaborative care through engagement with various health care professionals. They will also participate in intraprofessional care by working in PT/PTA teams. While on clinical, students are required to work the schedule of their Clinical Instructors, which may vary among facilities.

The PTA program has contracts with clinical facilities across the State of South Carolina. The Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education is responsible for placing students at clinical sites that meet program requirements and upon which active agreements exist between the College and clinical site. Multiple factors are considered when making clinical assignments. Examples include:

• A student’s prior experiences before entering the program and strengths/weaknesses identified during coursework and previous clinical rotations
• Program policy to place each student in one institutional dwelling and one community dwelling facility with one being in a rural area
• Location of the clinical facility
• Communication and learning style of the student
• Environment and teaching style of the facility/clinical instructor(s)
• Educational and personal goals of the student
• Consideration of student requests
• Proximity to OCtech

On-campus classes begin at 8:00 am and end between 12:00 and 3:00 Monday – Thursday each semester, except the final fall semester. During this semester, students complete two 7-week clinical affiliations with an online advanced professional preparation course.

During on-campus classes, students typically stay outside of regularly scheduled time to practice lab skills and prepare for practicals and projects. This is called open lab time where students have access to equipment, study aids, and faculty for additional help as needed.

Lecture classes are engaging with group activities, role play, simulation, debate, presentations, gaming, and many other instructional methods appropriate for adult learning. Lab classes are where students gain hands-on experiences practicing the necessary skills to become a PTA. All courses are taken simultaneously with other students enrolled in the PTA program. Therefore, it is common for strong bonds and friendships to be made as you learn together with others pursuing a career in physical therapy.

Program faculty are very active in the learning process and are readily available to assist students with needs. We work diligently to provide a stimulating and engaging environment for students to feel comfortable while practicing skills.

Due to the rigor of the program and time requirement to learn material and complete assignments, it is not recommended that students work while enrolled in the program. While some students have been able to manage a light work schedule, others have found the need to devote their time to the program for success. We recommend speaking to counselors in the financial aid department to discuss financial assistance while enrolled in the PTA program if needed.

• Small class size of 22 students
• Low faculty-to-student ratio (2:11)
• 4 semesters once enrolled into Phase II (Fall start with graduation the following Fall)
• Low financial obligation for the pending salary post-graduation
• State of the art equipment
• Variety of clinical sites across the State of South Carolina
• Engagement with students in other Health Science, PT, and PTA programs
• Involvement with advocacy and community service learning
• Dedicated and highly involved faculty
• 100% employment rates – most students have jobs prior to graduating
• Our students exceed the national average score on the NPTE
• Ranked #1 in the nation for first time licensure pass rates at 100%

Mission
The mission of the Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College is to provide an engaging curriculum that fosters a welcoming environment that includes fairness and equal opportunities to graduate self-reliant PTAs capable of progressing movement in rural healthcare through the delivery of professional, ethical, and evidenced-based services.

Philosophy
The philosophy of the Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Program at OCtech aligns with the College’s mission. The faculty are committed to upholding high standards of ethics, professionalism, and clinical expertise by fostering a stimulating, challenging, and inclusive educational environment. Students will benefit from a curriculum that is fair, flexible, comprehensive, and engaging, offering diverse opportunities to support their growth and success. Faculty will invest in ongoing professional development to nurture the unique strengths of each student and provide robust support for their academic and personal achievements.

The program emphasizes continuous curriculum assessment and revision to address student needs, ensuring equal access and maintaining excellence in education. Through innovative and contemporary teaching practices, faculty will employ diverse assessment methods tailored to various learning styles, ensuring students achieve entry-level competence and are well-prepared for a range of career opportunities upon graduation.

The PTA Program values the culturally diverse population served by the College’s rural community and is dedicated to fostering mutual respect among faculty, students, and the broader community. Recognizing the diversity of age, cultural backgrounds, and value systems, the program equips students with the tools needed to deliver care that honors human dignity and considers the unique needs of each patient. These services will be provided without discrimination based on age, sex, gender, race, creed, social or economic status, disability, personal attributes, or the nature of the health problem. Faculty are committed to graduating professionals who exemplify respect, ethics, and dedication to personal growth while advancing healthcare in rural communities.

Students are expected to be active participants in their education, critically examining and reflecting on concepts in a safe, ethical, efficient, and competent manner to restore optimal function for the patients they serve. The collaborative engagement of both faculty and students is essential for fostering self-reliance and transformation into competent professionals. This collective effort will ultimately make a meaningful impact on the citizens of rural communities served by graduates of the program.

See estimated expense sheet.

The PTA Program welcomes all feedback from students, faculty, clinical educators, employers, and the public. Whether you have a concern, suggestion, or compliment, your input helps us improve and maintain the highest standards of education and professionalism. You can reach out to the program coordinator at fralixlw@octech.edu with any feedback you would like to provide.