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Submitter's Information

Name

Shannon Davis

Title

Articulation Officer

Region

South Central Coast

College

Oxnard College

CTE Dean

CTE Dean's Name

Tim Fontenette

CTE Dean's Email

Log in to view CTE Dean's Email.

Program Details

Program Title

Rehabilitation Therapy Aide, Certificate of Achievement (COA)

Submission Type

New Program

TOPs Code

Physical Therapist Assistant (122200)

Projected Start Date

08/01/26

Catalog Description

The Rehabilitation Therapy Aide Certificate of Achievement prepares students for entry-level employment in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, skilled nursing facilities, outpatient clinics, and community health organizations. Students gain practical skills in applied anatomy and kinesiology, patient mobility and safety, basic therapeutic activity support, professional communication, and clinical workplace practices. This certificate serves as a direct-to-work credential while also providing a stackable pathway into Oxnard College’s Exercise Science Associate of Science and higher-level allied health programs such as Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA), Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA), Kinesiology, and Nursing.

Enrollment Completer Projections

15-20

Program Proposal Attributes

Program Award Type(s) (Check all that apply)
  • Certificate of Achievement: 16 or greater semester (or 24 or greater quarter) units (C)
Program Goal

The Rehabilitation Therapy Aide Certificate of Achievement is designed to prepare students for entry-level employment in rehabilitation and allied health settings while supporting the development of essential academic and professional skills. The program addresses workforce preparation, basic skills development, civic engagement, and lifelong learning.


The program will:

  1. Prepare students for workforce entry by developing applied competencies in rehabilitation support, therapeutic exercise assistance, functional movement, and professional practice aligned with employer expectations in physical therapy, occupational therapy, and related healthcare environments.
  2. Build essential basic skills, including communication, critical thinking, and quantitative reasoning, as applied to patient care, movement analysis, and workplace responsibilities.
  3. Promote civic engagement and community wellness by preparing students to support inclusive rehabilitation services and contribute to improved health outcomes for diverse populations.
  4. Foster lifelong learning and career mobility by encouraging evidence-based practice and providing a stackable pathway into Oxnard College’s Exercise Science Associate of Science and other allied health programs.

PSLOs:

Upon completion of this program a student will be able to: 

Apply basic concepts of anatomy, kinesiology, body mechanics, and planes of movement to support therapeutic activities and patient mobility in rehabilitation settings.

Differentiate the roles of rehabilitation aides, assistants, and therapists while demonstrating ethical conduct, effective communication, and basic medical office practices appropriate for entry-level rehabilitation support positions.

Recognize common rehabilitation modalities and apply safety principles and evidence-based practices to assist patients and support inclusive participation under the direction of licensed rehabilitation professionals.

Course Units and Hours

Total Certificate Units (Minimum and Maximum)

17

Units for Degree Major or Area of Emphasis (Minimum and Maximum)

n/a

Total Units for Degree (Minimum and Maximum)

n/a

Course Report

Program Requirements Narrative


Required Core Courses 

HED R117Health Careers Exploration 3
HED R120Medical Terminology3
KIN R101First Aid, CPR, and AED3
KIN R201Introduction to Exercise Physiology, Assessment, and Program Design3
KIN R202Introduction to Applied Kinesiology, Functional Anatomy, and Training Techniques3
KIN R200Intro. to Rehabilitative Therapy Aide 2

Total Units Required for Certificate17
Program Requirements
CourseTitleUnitsYear/Semester
(Y1 or S1)
HED R117Health Careers Exploration 3Y1/Fall 
KIN R101First Aid, CPR, and AED3Y1/Fall 
KIN R201Introduction to Exercise Physiology, Assessment, and Program Design3Y1/Fall 




HED R120Medical Terminology3YR/Spring
KIN R202Introduction to Applied Kinesiology, Functional Anatomy, and Training Techniques3Y1/Spring
KIN R200Intro. to Rehabilitative Therapy Aide2Y1/Spring

Supporting Documents

South Central Coast Regional Questions

Please upload any additional information/justifications for your program such as Advisory Committee Meeting Notes, Employer Surveys, Environmental Scans, etc. Shift-click to select multiple files when uploading.

Submission Details

Published at

03/18/26 - 06:09 PM

Status

Recommended

Return to Drafts

Please list the reason(s) for returning "Rehabilitation Therapy Aide, Certificate of Achievement (COA)". to Shannon Davis's drafts. This message will be sent to sdavis@vcccd.edu

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