Home > SHCJ > Physical Therapist Assistant > Technical Standards

Technical Standards

Technical standards are the physical, cognitive, and psychological attributes essential for achieving student learning outcomes for SUNY Canton’s Physical Therapist Assistant program. It is important that every student who is admitted to the program be able to meet the technical standards listed below, with or without accommodations. The program is committed to providing an inclusive and supportive environment for all students. We encourage students to seek accommodations if they believe they are needed to meet the technical standards.

Students who wish to seek accommodation should contact our Student Accessibility Services department at (315) 386-7392 to begin the process. The Program is not able to grant accommodations that alter the educational standards of the curriculum or that impose an undue burden. Given the clinical nature of the Program, additional time may be needed to implement accommodations, therefore, timely requests are essential and encouraged.

Psychomotor (Physical) Standards

• Demonstrate ability to lift, push, pull, carry 1/3 of body weight (i.e. transfers, hoyer lift, CPR procedures, manual resistance)
• Balance self and provide support to patients during various mobility activities (i.e. gait training, bed mobility, transfers)
• Assume and maintain a variety of positions (i.e. sitting, standing, bending, squatting, reaching)
• Perform fine motor skills (i.e. manipulate dials, ultrasound, manual therapy, palpation, written or computerized documentation)
• Possess adequate vision to read written and computerized information; observe and interpret patient posture and movement, nonverbal communication, and signs of disease and dysfunction; and to identify safety hazards.
• Possess adequate hearing to detect high and low frequency sounds including, but not limited to, alarms, bells, emergency signals, timers.
• Ability to move efficiently and effectively to meet the time restraints of the clinical environment

Cognitive (Intellectual) Standards

• Ability to effectively communicate with other students, faculty, patients and their family members and care givers, and other health care providers.
• Ability to produce written communication that is clear, concise, and accurate to document patient care
• Ability to follow written or verbal directions to perform tasks or procedures.
• Demonstrate ability to make sound clinical decisions in an efficient manner in order to provide safe and effective patient care.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment and think logically in the performance of one’s duties.
• Master content in technical and clinical courses at the level deemed appropriate for the safe and effective practice of physical therapy.

Affective (Psychological) Standards

• Ability to function effectively under stress and to adapt to an environment which may change rapidly without warning and/or in unpredictable ways.
• Ability to remain calm, rational, and decisive, at all times, especially during emergency situations.
• Exhibit social skills appropriate to professional interactions.
• Ability to plan, prioritize and organize one’s work
• Ability to maintain patient confidentiality and exercise ethical judgment, integrity, honesty, dependability, and accountability in the performance of one’s professional responsibilities.