Technical Standards for Health Science Programs at Washtenaw Community College (WCC) for Physical Therapist Assist (APPTA)
The technical standards aim to inform students choosing to enter a Health Sciences Certificate and Degree Program at WCC with the bare minimal technical standard requirements, which must be met to complete all coursework objectives and student outcomes. The listed standards encompass what is minimally required to perform the tasks necessary, with a few associated examples provided. This list is not exhaustive and can be modified as the College deems necessary. Students enrolled in a Health Science program at WCC must provide safe and effective care. These technical standards apply to any student enrolling in any one of the health sciences programs. To meet program technical standards, the student must demonstrate sufficient cognitive, emotional, professional, motor (physical), sensory, and other abilities, with or without accommodation.
Students with documented disabilities or who believe that they may have a protected disability can request accommodations that may assist with meeting the technical standards for Health Science Programs at WCC. Please contact the WCC Learning Support LSS Office at 734-973-3342 or learningsupport@wccnet.edu to schedule an appointment with an LSS Counselor.
DISCLAIMER: EXAMPLES PROVIDED ARE NOT AN EXHAUSTIVE LIST OF ASSOCIATED TASKS TO MEET PROGRAM TECHNICAL STANDARDS.
| Requirements | Standard | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Critical Thinking, Emotional, and Cognitive Competencies | Sufficient critical thinking and cognitive abilities in classroom and clinical settings | Adhere precisely to course outlines, assignments, instructions, academic and clinical protocols, and any directives outlined by the dean, faculty, administration, or healthcare organization. Apply measurement, calculation, reasoning, analysis, and synthesis skills in the context of patient care. Recognize cause-and-effect relationships within various clinical scenarios and respond accordingly. Grasp and establish connections among specific ideas, concepts, and theories as they emerge and are discussed simultaneously. Formulate prompt, well-founded clinical judgments that prioritize safety. Employ the scientific method and adhere to current evidence-based practice (EBP) standards to strategize, prioritize, and execute patient care. Assess the efficacy of health-related interventions. Keep track of tasks and assignments for yourself and others, whether they are short-term or extended or longer durations. Show emotional resilience and exercise autonomous judgment and discretion to safeguard patient well-being. |
| Professionalism | Interpersonal skills sufficient for professional interaction with a diverse population of individuals, families, and groups | Cultivate effective, professional, and collaborative relationships with patients/clients, families, colleagues, and staff, acknowledging diverse socioeconomic, emotional, cultural, and intellectual backgrounds. Demonstrate the capability to adhere to all ethical and legal standards, encompassing those specific to the healthcare profession, accreditation and regulatory bodies, and the pertinent policies of the College and Clinical Placement Facilities. Uphold patient confidentiality while exercising ethical judgment. Exhibit professionalism through values and qualities such as integrity, honesty, responsibility, accountability, altruism, compassion, empathy, trust, tolerance, and unbiased attitudes. Embrace constructive criticism, identifying opportunities for professional development and lifelong learning within the dynamic healthcare landscape. Present a well-groomed, tidy appearance, and uphold standards of cleanliness and personal grooming consistent with close personal contact. |
| Communication | Communication sufficient for professional interactions | Exhibit proficient and respectful verbal and non-verbal communication skills with all stakeholders, encompassing patients/clients, family members, caregivers, practitioners, interprofessional team members, consumers, payers, and policymakers. Demonstrate sensitivity to patients'/clients' differences, values, and needs, including educating on the plan of care and securing informed consent. Accurately gather information from clients, family members/significant others, health team members, and/or faculty. Interpret and document health-related interventions and client responses accurately. Demonstrate proficiency in reading, writing, interpreting, comprehending, and legibly documenting in various formats using standard English. Communicate effectively and clearly in real-time interactions with patients, families, healthcare team members, peers, and faculty. Effectively educate all stakeholders using methods appropriate to meet the needs of the individual. |
| Mobility | Physical abilities sufficient for movement from room to room and in small spaces | Ensure adequate mobility within the patient's room, workspaces, and treatment areas. Rearrange objects, such as repositioning a hospital bed or chair, to create a safe environment for patient care. Demonstrate agility and swift adaptation to meet patient needs promptly, navigating small spaces with ease, particularly in urgent situations to ensure client safety, including safely assisting a patient to the floor. Execute physical tasks and functions for durations of up to 60 minutes, as well as tasks exceeding this timeframe. Engage in physical activities like bending, squatting, kneeling, and climbing stairs to proficiently carry out patient-related duties. |
| Motor Skills | Gross and fine motor abilities that are sufficiently effective and safe for providing Allied Health Care | Administer emergency procedures, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Demonstrate proficiency in calibrating and utilizing equipment for patient monitoring, data collection, and providing clear patient instructions on equipment usage. Execute entry-level manual therapy interventions following professional regulatory standards. Possess the physical strength necessary to perform patient care procedures, including assisting in turning, lifting, and transferring patients, and adapting to the diverse mobility levels of adult patients. Exhibit strength and manual dexterity for precise measurement of a patient's or client's movement while maintaining full control over the limb or extremity. Perform or assist in anticipated procedures, treatments, and patient management tasks using proper sterile or clean techniques, such as wound care. Demonstrate physical endurance adequate to fulfill all required tasks throughout the designated clinical practice period. |
| Sensory | Auditory and visual ability sufficient for observing, monitoring, and assessing health needs | Demonstrate proficiency in recognizing monitoring device alarms and responding to emergency signals effectively. Exhibit the capability to discern subtle sounds, including cries for help. Display keen observational skills to assess a patient's or client's condition and evaluate treatment responses. Collect information through attentive listening, keen observation, and utilizing senses like sight and smell, responding appropriately to gathered information. Detect and identify various sensory cues, including foul odors, smoke, changes in skin temperature, skin texture, edema, and other anatomical abnormalities, to assess the patient's needs accurately. Possess auditory acuity to effectively communicate with patient’s. |
| Observation | Ability to sufficiently make observations in a health care environment, consistent with program competencies | Effectively interpret data derived from digital, analog, and waveform diagnostic tools, such as blood pressure, oxygen saturation, and cardiac rhythms. Observe, systematically collect data, and interpret various indicators, including patient postures, movements, movement patterns, heart and lung sounds, integumentary changes, body language, wound/tissue color, drainage, urine, feces, expectoration, sensitivity to heat, cold, pain, pressure, light touch, and manifestations of disease, pain, and infection. Effectively evaluate a patient's condition. Promptly initiate appropriate emergency care protocols, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). |
| Tactile Sense | Tactile ability sufficient for physical assessment | Demonstrate proficiency in palpation during physical assessments and therapeutic interventions, including the ability to identify temperature changes, perceive vibrations (pulses), and discern variations in tissue textures. Detect both normal and abnormal tissue mobility with precision. Possess tactile and auditory acuity adequate for identifying and interpreting patient vital signs. |
Last revised: 8/6/25