Physical Therapist Assistant
Program Summary
A program that prepares individuals, under the supervision of a physical therapist, to implement physical therapy treatment care plans, train patients, conduct treatment interventions, use equipment, and observe and record patient progress. Includes instruction in applied anatomy and physiology, applied kinesiology, principles and procedures of physical therapy, basic neurology and orthopedics, physical therapy modalities, documentation skills, psychosocial aspects of health care, wound and injury care, electrotherapy, working with orthotics and prostheses, and personal and professional ethics.
Discover More About a Degree in Physical Therapist Assistant

Recent Questions
What Does a Physical Therapist Assistant Do?
The role of physical therapist assistant (PTA) is to aid physical therapists in the care and treatment of patients. Individuals working as physical therapist assistants will work to provide clerical and physical aid to to qualified physical therapists under their direct supervision, the assistant will help exercise, stimulate, instruct, massage and assist patients, and are also responsible for recording and reporting the results of treatments to the physical therapist. PTAs also help in the daily operations of a practice, provide standard care, as well as educate patients in regiments and exercises.
Educational Requirements
Most states require a physical therapist assistant to have a minimum of an associate's degree through a nationally accredited program in order to work in a professional setting. Nationally accredited programs typically last 2 years and provide students with a variety of courses and skills necessary to perform their functions and tasks ably. Students of such a program will be exposed to various sciences that related to the human body, and be educated in the types of ailments that may affect individuals in recovery. Programs contain both academic and clinical coursework in order to develop one's practical experience and allow them to apply classroom knowledge to real world settings.
Academic coursework will include
- Algebra
- English
- Anatomy
- Physiology
- Psychology
Clinical settings allow students to understand how treatments are applied and under what conditions. Exposure to individuals and situations will allow students to develop proper bedside manner, learn to develop patient confidence, and to apply treatments and offer assistance as outlined by one's instructor or physical therapist. The amount of clinical work will depend on the program of study.
Clinical coursework will include:
- Certifications in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
- Experience in Treatment Centers
- First Aid
Employment Opportunities
Physical therapist assistants can find work in outpatient clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, schools, fitness centers, and other locations that offer physical therapy. Most patients will either be elderly or in recovery from accident or surgery. The role of a physical therapist assistant is to provide service to patients as guided by a physical therapist, often conducting routine work under the guidance or supervision of a physical therapist. The various work environments will all require a physical therapist for an assistant to work under, and the amount of responsibilities, supervised and unsupervised, are generally dictated by the state.
Job Growth, Salary and Related Fields
Job growth for physical therapist assistants is expected nearly double over the next decade as the demand for physical therapy increases due to an aging population. The need for physical therapists due to the various conditions associated with ageing will result in the need for more assistants in order to reduce treatments costs, as once a plan for treatment has been put together by the therapist an assistant may provide a majority of the treatment.
The Average wage of a physical therapist assistant is approximately $46,000 per year, with $28,000 being the average starting wage. Experienced assistants may earn more over time, though overall physical therapist assistant is a limited growth field, and it is important to note that almost no classes overlap with those of a physical therapy program which makes advancement into physical therapy difficult as.
Related programs and degrees include occupational therapy, health aide, and massage therapy.
Top Schools That Offer a Physical Therapist Assistant Degree or Program
4-Year Colleges and Universities
| Arkansas State University | |
- Jonesboro, AR
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| Arkansas Tech University | |
- Russellville, AR
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| Baker College of Flint | |
- Flint, MI
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| Bay State College | |
- Boston, MA
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| Broward College | |
- Fort Lauderdale, FL
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| California University of Pennsylvania | |
- California, PA
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| Central Penn College | |
- Summerdale, PA
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| Clarkson College | |
- Omaha, NE
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| College of Central Florida | |
- Ocala, FL
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| College of Southern Nevada | |
- Las Vegas, NV
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| College of St Catherine | |
- Saint Paul, MN
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| Daytona State College | |
- Daytona Beach, FL
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| Ecpi College of Technology | |
- Virginia Beach, VA
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| Edison State Community College | |
- Piqua, OH
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| Finlandia University | |
- Hancock, MI
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| Florida State College at Jacksonville | |
- Jacksonville, FL
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| Gulf Coast Community College | |
- Panama City, FL
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| Hesser College | |
- Manchester, NH
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| Idaho State University | |
- Pocatello, ID
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| Indian River State College | |
- Fort Pierce, FL
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| Jefferson College of Health Sciences | |
- Roanoke, VA
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| Keiser University - Ft. Lauderdale | |
- Fort Lauderdale, FL
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| Lake Washington Institute of Technology | |
- Kirkland, WA
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| Loma Linda University | |
- Loma Linda, CA
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| Louisiana College | |
- Pineville, LA
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| Mercy College of Health Sciences | |
- Des Moines, IA
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| Mercyhurst College | |
- Erie, PA
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| Miami Dade College | |
- Miami, FL
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| Missouri Western State University | |
- Saint Joseph, MO
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| Mount Aloysius College | |
- Cresson, PA
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| Mountain State University | |
- Beckley, WV
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| Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health | |
- Omaha, NE
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| New England Institute of Technology | |
- Warwick, RI
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| New York University | |
- New York, NY
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| Olympic College | |
- Bremerton, WA
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| Our Lady of the Lake College | |
- Baton Rouge, LA
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| Pensacola State College | |
- Pensacola, FL
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| Pima Medical Institute-Tucson | |
- Tucson, AZ
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| Polk State College | |
- Winter Haven, FL
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| Seminole State College of Florida | |
- Sanford, FL
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| Shawnee State University | |
- Portsmouth, OH
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| Siena Heights University | |
- Adrian, MI
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| South College | |
- Knoxville, TN
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| South College - Asheville | |
- Asheville, NC
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| South Texas College | |
- McAllen, TX
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| South University - Savannah (Online) | |
- Savannah, GA
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| Southern Illinois University Carbondale | |
- Carbondale, IL
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| Southwestern Oklahoma State University | |
- Weatherford, OK
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| St Petersburg College | |
- Largo, FL
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| State College of Florida Manatee-Sarasota | |
- Bradenton, FL
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| Suny College of Technology at Canton | |
- Canton, NY
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| Touro College | |
- New York, NY
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| University of Evansville | |
- Evansville, IN
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| University of Indianapolis | |
- Indianapolis, IN
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| University of Michigan - Flint | |
- Flint, MI
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| University of Saint Francis - Ft Wayne | |
- Fort Wayne, IN
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| Villa Maria College | |
- Buffalo, NY
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| Vincennes University | |
- Vincennes, IN
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| Washburn University | |
- Topeka, KS
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Community Colleges
| Anoka - Ramsey Community College | |
- Coon Rapids, MN
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| Austin Community College District | |
- Austin, TX
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| Black Hawk College | |
- Moline, IL
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| Broome Community College | |
- Binghamton, NY
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| Central Piedmont Community College | |
- Charlotte, NC
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| Cerritos College | |
- Norwalk, CA
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| Clark State Community College | |
- Springfield, OH
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| Colby Community College | |
- Colby, KS
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| College of Dupage | |
- Glen Ellyn, IL
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| Community College of the Air Force | |
- Montgomery, AL
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| Cuny Laguardia Community College | |
- Long Island City, NY
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| Del Mar College | |
- Corpus Christi, TX
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| Gateway Community College | |
- Phoenix, AZ
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| Genesee Community College | |
- Batavia, NY
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| Green River Community College | |
- Auburn, WA
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| Greenville Technical College | |
- Greenville, SC
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| Horry - Georgetown Technical College | |
- Conway, SC
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| Houston Community College System | |
- Houston, TX
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| Indian Hills Community College | |
- Ottumwa, IA
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| Jackson State Community College | |
- Jackson, TN
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| James a Rhodes State College | |
- Lima, OH
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| Kansas City Kansas Community College | |
- Kansas City, KS
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| Kellogg Community College | |
- Battle Creek, MI
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| Lehigh Carbon Community College | |
- Schnecksville, PA
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| Macomb Community College | |
- Warren, MI
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| Morgan Community College | |
- Fort Morgan, CO
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| Nassau Community College | |
- Garden City, NY
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| North Central State College | |
- Mansfield, OH
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| North Shore Community College | |
- Danvers, MA
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| Northeast Wisconsin Technical College | |
- Green Bay, WI
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| Northern Virginia Community College | |
- Annandale, VA
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| Oakton Community College | |
- Des Plaines, IL
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| Owens Community College | |
- Perrysburg, OH
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| Ozarks Technical Community College | |
- Springfield, MO
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| Pueblo Community College | |
- Pueblo, CO
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| Sacramento City College | |
- Sacramento, CA
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| Saint Louis Community College - Forest Park | |
- Saint Louis, MO
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| San Juan College | |
- Farmington, NM
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| Sinclair Community College | |
- Dayton, OH
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| Suffolk County Community College | |
- Selden, NY
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| Tidewater Community College | |
- Norfolk, VA
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| Trident Technical College | |
- Charleston, SC
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| Tulsa Community College | |
- Tulsa, OK
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| Union County College | |
- Cranford, NJ
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| Volunteer State Community College | |
- Gallatin, TN
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| Wallace State Community College - Hanceville | |
- Hanceville, AL
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| Western Iowa Tech Community College | |
- Sioux City, IA
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| Whatcom Community College | |
- Bellingham, WA
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| Wytheville Community College | |
- Wytheville, VA
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Technical Colleges
| Tulsa Technology Center - Lemley Campus | |
- Tulsa, OK
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Career Colleges
| Academy for Practical Nursing and Health Occupations | |
- West Palm Beach, FL
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| American College of Healthcare | |
- Riverside, CA
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| Capstone College | |
- Van Nuys, CA
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| Carrington College-Mesa | |
- Mesa, AZ
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| Carrington College-Phoenix Westside | |
- Phoenix, AZ
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| Carrington College-Tucson | |
- Tucson, AZ
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| Chisholm Trail Technology Center | |
- Omega, OK
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| Concorde Career College-Aurora | |
- Aurora, CO
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| Concorde Career College-Garden Grove | |
- Garden Grove, CA
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| Concorde Career College-Memphis | |
- Memphis, TN
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| Concorde Career College-North Hollywood | |
- North Hollywood, CA
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| Concorde Career College-San Diego | |
- San Diego, CA
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| Concorde Career Colleges | |
- Kansas City, MO
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| Concorde Career Institute-Jacksonville | |
- Jacksonville, FL
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| Fox College Inc | |
- Bedford Park, IL
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| Harcum College | |
- Bryn Mawr, PA
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| ICDC College | |
- Los Angeles, CA
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| Pima Medical Institute-Albuquerque | |
- Albuquerque, NM
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| Pima Medical Institute-Denver | |
- Denver, CO
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| Pima Medical Institute-Mesa | |
- Mesa, AZ
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| Pima Medical Institute-Seattle | |
- Seattle, WA
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| Professional Skills Institute | |
- Toledo, OH
| Tuition and Fees
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| Provo College-Provo | |
- Provo, UT
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| Southern California Health Institute | |
- North Hollywood, CA
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| Texas Health School | |
- Houston, TX
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| Unitech Training Academy - Houma | |
- Houma, LA
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| Unitech Training Academy - West Monroe Campus | |
- West Monroe, LA
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| Unitech Training Academy-Alexandria | |
- Alexandria, LA
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| Unitech Training Academy-Lafayette | |
- Lafayette, LA
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| Unitech Training Academy-Lake Charles | |
- Lake Charles, LA
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| Ventura Adult and Continuing Education | |
- Ventura, CA
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| Western Technical College | |
- El Paso, TX
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