Acceptance of physical therapist assistant course work by programs preparing physical therapists

Area of Science:

• Physical Therapy Education
• Allied Health Professions

Background:

• The American Physical Therapy Association supports upward mobility in the physical therapy field.
• Physical therapist assistant (PTA) programs offer an associate degree pathway.
• Entry-level physical therapy programs have varying credit transfer policies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the extent to which coursework from associate degree physical therapist assistant programs is credited toward higher physical therapy degrees or certificates.
• To identify which types of courses (basic science vs. technical) are more likely to receive transfer credit.

Main Methods:

• A questionnaire was developed and distributed to directors of entry-level physical therapy programs.
• 86 questionnaires were sent, and 45 were returned for analysis.

Main Results:

• Basic science courses are more frequently credited (up to 50% of respondents) than technical courses.
• A significant majority (79%) of respondents reported that technical PTA courses are not granted transfer credit.
• When technical courses are credited, they are typically accepted as elective hours.

Conclusions:

• While upward mobility is an educational ideal, PTA students face challenges in transferring technical credits to entry-level physical therapy programs.
• Students considering a PTA associate degree as a stepping stone to a higher physical therapy degree should be aware of potential credit transfer limitations.
• The findings highlight a discrepancy between the philosophy of upward mobility and the practical application of credit transfer in physical therapy education.