The Physical Therapist Assistant program is administered by the Chesapeake Area Consortium for Higher Education (CACHE) comprised of Anne Arundel Community College (AACC), Chesapeake College and the College of Southern Maryland (CSM).

Students complete the general education requirements at their home college. Physical therapist assistant classes are held at AACC. Clinical practice rotations are completed at local service areas when possible.

Students who complete the two-year, five-term program receive an Associate of Applied Science degree. Graduates are eligible to take the National Licensing Examination for Physical Therapist Assistants.

State-of-the-Art Equipment

Our laboratory includes state-of-the-art equipment. Students develop competencies in treatment techniques within the laboratory before attending clinical practice sessions in the community.

Statewide Program

This program of study may be designated a Health Manpower Shortage Tuition Reduction Program as of January 1, 2010. This means that some residents of Maryland enrolled in this program of study by the first day of the term may be eligible for in-county tuition rates for courses required for program completion. 

Career Opportunities

Employment of physical therapist assistants and aides is projected to grow 41 percent from 2012 to 2022, much faster than the average for all occupations. Demand for physical therapy services is expected to increase in response to the health care needs of an older population and growing rates of chronic conditions such as diabetes and obesity.

The physical therapist assistant, as defined by the APTA, is the only paraprofessional who assists the physical therapist in the provision of physical therapy interventions. The main goal of physical therapy is to rehabilitate patients to as much physical independence as possible after injury or illness. Fields of interest include neurology, orthopedics, pediatrics, sports injuries, geriatrics and acute care. Our program prepares you for entry-level employment in a variety of settings including hospitals, private practices, rehabilitation centers and nursing homes.

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Notice of Nondiscrimination
AACC is an equal opportunity, affirmative action, Title IX, ADA Title 504 compliant institution. Call Disability Support Services, 410-777-2306 or Maryland Relay 711, 72 hours in advance to request most accommodations. Requests for sign language interpreters, alternative format books or assistive technology require 30 days’ notice. For information on AACC’s compliance and complaints concerning sexual assault, sexual misconduct, discrimination or harassment, contact the federal compliance officer and Title IX coordinator at 410-777-1239, complianceofficer@aacc.edu or Maryland Relay 711.
Anne Arundel Community College Catalog 2018-2019

Equal Opportunity Statement
Chesapeake College is an equal opportunity institution, providing access to education, service, and employment regardless of race, color, religion, creed, age, national origin, ancestry, sex/gender, marital status, genetic information, disability, pregnancy, military status, sexual orientation, or any other class protected by law. Reasonable accommodations, auxiliary aids and services and other changes required by persons with disabilities to allow access to programs and services will be provided if the College receives sufficient notice and it is not an undue burden to do so. The College urges these requests to be made at least 14 days in advance.
Chesapeake College Catalog 2018-2019

Nondiscrimination Policy
The College of Southern Maryland does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion, or marital status in its programs or activities. The associate director of Disability Services—La Plata Campus, Learning Resource Center (LR Building), Room 123, 301-934-7614—has been designated to handle inquiries regarding discrimination on the basis of disabilities. The director of Student Affairs—La Plata Campus, Administration (AD) Building, Room 220A, 301-539-4746—should be contacted for student discrimination inquiries. Human Resources—La Plata Campus, Campus Center (CC Building), Room 212, 301-934-7700—should be contacted to handle all other discrimination inquiries.
Individuals with disabilities who require special accommodations in order to participate in the college’s instructional programs should notify the academic support/ADA coordinator at 301-934-7614 at least one month before the class begins. Requests made after this deadline will be considered on an individual basis and addressed whenever possible.
College of Southern Maryland Catalog 2018-2019