Physical Therapy Aide

The Physical Therapy Aide Certificate is designed to prepare students with the knowledge and skills and abilities required to competently work hand in hand with a Physical Therapist in a treatment plan. The program course work will prepare student to help with the treatment plan used to help individuals receiving treatment from injury and or physical disability/limitations. Students will develop the skillset and learn various therapeutic exercises, use of rehabilitation modalities, corrective exercise, basic anatomy and physiology in completion of the program.  

We anticipate 5 students to earn certificate annually.

We would like to offer our students a pathway to enter the Physical Therapy Aide in Los Angeles and provide them a foundation to successfully learn and apply the required skills for this lucrative and growing career path. The goals of the program include serving our student population with scientific rationale for instructing and safely developing the skill set to work at a physical therapy inpatient or outpatient facility not limited to physical rehabilitation centers and gain the knowledge in helping treatment plan with knowledge and competence in the field of rehabilitation. All coursework culminates in preparing the student to work as an Aide in Physical Therapy and in conjunction to pursuing a doctoral degree in Physical Therapy.  

Student Learning Outcomes 

1. Apply the education, training, and hands on experience needed to enter the Physical Therapy field in the workforce.  

2. Demonstrate competent skillset in preparing treatment areas, ordering devices and supplies, and transporting patients.  

3. Assist the Physical Therapist or Physical Therapy Assistant with administering treatment plans under direct supervision of the Physical Therapist and/or Physical Therapy Assistant.

4. Identify the key role of the physical therapy aide in a variety of settings including hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, home care agencies, outpatient clinics, community health centers, and sports medicine clinics. 

The Labor Market Assessment from the Center of Excellence (COE) states that the supply gap, living wages and education met all criteria for program development. Middle-skill occupation, such as Physical Therapy Aides, require only a high school diploma or equivalent and no license. However, students may use this program as a career path towards licensure and employment as a physical therapy aide.  

Supply gap criteria projects 723 jobs available annually over the next five years due to new job growth and placement. In the Los Angeles County 50% of annual job openings for the occupations of interest have entry wages above the self-sufficiency standard wage ($18.10/hour). In which 50% of annual job openings for physical therapy aides typically require an Associate degree. In the Los Angeles / Orange County region, the number of jobs for physical therapy aides is projected to increase by 21% through 2025. There will be more than 700 job openings per year through 2025 due to job growth placements. Additionally, over the past 12 months, there have been 1,995 online job postings for both Physical Therapy Assistants and Physical Therapy Aides, in which 772 job postings are from of interest.  

The projected career job growth for Physical Therapy Aides is in correlation to the growth of Physical Therapist and Physical Therapy Assistants in the rehabilitation field. Although only a high school diploma or equivalent is required to become a PTAide, the certificate will not only give the graduating student competence in helping with the treatment plan with the Physical Therapist but will also give the graduating student an educational path in pursuing a doctoral degree in Physical Therapy and obtain a license.  

Course	Title	Units	Year/Semester (Y1 or S1)
ANATOMY 001	Introduction to Human Anatomy	4	S1
KIN MAJ 116	Introduction to Exercise Physiology	3	S1
KIN MAJ 125	Introduction to Physical Therapy Aide	3	S1
HEALTH 055	Adult and Pediatric First Aide, CPR, and AED Skills certificate	.5	S1
KIN MAJ 150	Senior Fitness Assessment, Strength & Conditioning Programming	3	S2
KIN MAJ 217	Movement Screening and Analysis for the Fitness Professional	3	S2
KIN MAJ 218	Corrective Exercise Strategies for the Movement Professional	3	S2
KIN MAJ 131	Kinesiology Internship	3	S2

There are no inventory records that need adjustment. This program does not replace any existing programs. Currently, the college does not offer any related program.

Currently, ELAC offers Physical Therapy Aide program.

20 annual enrollment is projected.

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