Physical Therapist Assistant
Physical Therapist Assistant
Ms. Alina Adams, Program Director
256-352-8332
alina.adams@wallacestate.edu
Associate in Applied Science Degree
(5 semesters): 2 prerequisite semesters + 3 program semesters
Career Cluster: Health Science
At a Glance
The Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) is a skilled technical health care worker who assists the physical therapist in providing services that help improve mobility, relieve pain, and prevent or limit permanent physical disabilities of patients suffering from injuries or disease. Patients include accident victims and individuals with disabling conditions such as low back pain, arthritis, heart disease, fractures, head injuries, and cerebral palsy. Duties of the physical therapist assistant are varied but include rehabilitation of orthopedic, neurological, pediatric, and sports related problems. Physical therapist assistants are employed in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, skilled nursing facilities, home health care agencies, private practices, and other specialized health care settings. Once a patient is evaluated and a treatment plan is designed by the physical therapist, the physical therapist assistant can provide many aspects of treatment. Components of treatment procedures performed by these workers involve exercise, massage, electrical stimulation, paraffin baths, hot and cold packs, traction, and ultrasound. The physical therapist assistant is responsible for reporting patient responses and treatment outcomes to the physical therapist.
Program Description
The Physical Therapist Assistant Program is a two-year course of study. The student should complete the first year of general education course prerequisites before being eligible to apply to the PTA Program. Three semesters are necessary to complete the final year of the program. The second-year classes include technical and clinical experience in a variety of health-care settings where the student performs selected clinical procedures under the supervision of a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant.
The Physical Therapist Assistant Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) [1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA 22314; 703-706-3245, www.apta.org/CAPTE). Only graduates of CAPTE accredited schools will be eligible to apply to sit for the National Licensing Examination for the Physical Therapist Assistant, administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy. After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be a licensed physical therapist assistant.
Admission Requirements
Student admissions for the PTA Program are made annually. Enrollment is limited but there is not a waiting list; all eligible applicants are considered for admission. Students are selected on the basis of completion of program application requirements; prerequisite GPA and ACT test scores. Applications will be accepted from April 1 until June 1 for classes that begin each fall term. Applications received after the deadline will be considered on a space available basis.
Applicants Must:
1. Meet all the general requirements of WSCC.
2. Submit an application packet to the PTA Program, which includes the following:
a. PTA program application.
b. Documentation of 24 hours of observation at not less than 2 different facilities; this paper work must be signed by the Registered Physical Therapist or Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant under whom this observation was completed.
c. Copies of transcripts from all schools previously attended, including WSCC transcript.
d. Copy of ACT score.
3. Submit the following to the Director of Admissions:
- WSCC application for admission, declaring PTA as your major.
- Official transcripts from all schools previously attended. Applicants must possess a minimum of 2.5 or greater grade point average on a 4.0 scale with a "C" or better in all general required courses. GPA calculated for program selection will be on the general required prerequisite courses only. Students who have successfully completed all of the prerequisite courses will be considered for admission first. Students who have not completed all prerequisites will be considered thereafter only if space is available and provided that submitted documentation reflects that prerequisites will be successfully completed prior to the program start date.
- Documentation of an ACT composite test score of not less than 18.
It is the responsibility of each applicant to ensure that the application is complete and that all information is on file in the appropriate offices. All information must be included for the application to be complete. Any piece of missing documentation will result in the application not being considered for admission. Each time an applicant reapplies to the program this packet must be completed again. Retain copies of every item submitted, as this information will not be released from previous application packets.
Selection and Notification
1. The PTA Program admits students in the fall semester of each year. Admission to the program is competitive, and the number of students admitted is limited by faculty and clinical availability. Meeting minimal requirements does not guarantee acceptance. Please visit the PTA Program website for statistics for recently admitted classes.
2. Program applications will be reviewed for completion of program admission requirements.
3. Applicants are ranked on the basis of a formula that weighs the GPA in prerequisite courses, observation hours and ACT score. All applicants who meet the minimum requirements are considered; however, the higher an applicant’s prerequisite GPA, observation hours and ACT score, the better his/her chances for admission. Bonus points will also be added to the ranking for individuals who have completed or are currently enrolled in PTA 120. In the event of a tie between two applicants the individual who has completed PTA 120 will be accepted over one who has not. Written notification of the outcome will be mailed to each applicant at the address provided on the application.
4. Students selected for program admission must respond, confirming their intent to enroll, within ten (10) days of the postmarked date of the acceptance letter. A student who fails to respond will forfeit their position in the class.
Program Expectations
Students admitted into the Physical Therapist Assistant program are expected to comply with the Health Science Program Regulations and Expectations as published in the Programs of Study section of the Wallace State College
Catalog and on the college website.
Required Competencies:
1. Clinical Competencies (patient care/coordination/interaction, fundamental therapy procedures, therapeutic intervention techniques)
2. General Competencies (professional communication, legal and ethical concepts, patient/family/caregiver instruction)
Upon Admission:
Following official acceptance into the program students will be required to submit a physical examination form (current within one year), which includes documentation of immunizations along with evidence of having begun the Hepatitis B vaccinations. Additionally, students must be able to meet all Performance Standards/Essential Functions as published on the program website. Students will also be required to successfully complete a background check and drug screening. PTA students must carry liability insurance and accident insurance, which are available through the College. Do not complete any of these (physical exam, background check or drug screening) until instructed to do so by the program director.
Progression
Students selected for admission to the PTA Program must maintain a minimum grade of 75% or higher in major required courses. Failure to do so, or withdrawal from a PTA major required course, will result in dismissal from the program.
Students are required to pass the PTA Exit Exam in PTA 201. Failure to pass the exit exam will result in a failing grade for PTA 201, regardless of other grades or competencies achieved. See the PTA Program Student Handbook or PTA 201 syllabus for further information.
Readmission to Program
Applicants who have been previously dismissed or have withdrawn from the program may be readmitted one time only. A new application must be submitted to be considered for the next class. No preferential consideration is given to prior students for readmission.
Career Path
The high school student interested in a career in physical therapy should pursue advanced math and science courses to prepare themselves. Upon completion of the PTA Program, graduates are eligible to sit for the National Physical Therapy Examination for the Physical Therapist Assistant, achieving licensure and therefore employability throughout the United States. Due to the diversity of patients seen and the variety of clinical settings available, PTAs can specialize in the care of one patient group or experience a variety of employment options. A PTA can also advance their clinical skills through professional continuing education workshops.
The U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook anticipates that positions for physical therapist assistants will increase much faster than average, growing by 35% in 2008-2018 and that long-term demand will continue to rise, in accordance with the increasing number of individuals with disabilities or limited function. The growing elderly population is particularly vulnerable to chronic and debilitating conditions that require therapeutic services, making the role of the PT/PTA team vital. In addition, future medical developments should permit an increased percentage of trauma victims to survive, creating added demand for therapy services. Physical therapists are expected to increasingly utilize assistants to reduce the cost of physical therapy services.
Median annual earnings of physical therapist assistants were $46,140 in May 2008, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $63,830. (Source: U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics)
PTAs interested in administrative positions can continue their education by pursuing a Health Science degree or a degree in Health Care Management from a university, many of whom will recognize the PTA Program year as elective credit. Consult the STARS transfer guide for further information. The individual who wishes to become a physical therapist will pursue either a Master’s Degree or Doctorate in Physical Therapy and should take bachelor’s or master’s level course work appropriate to the program to which they plan to apply. Further information about PTA and PT education is available through the American Physical Therapy Association website at www.apta.org
Completion Requirements
GENERAL REQUIRED COURSES (Prerequisites)
ORI 101* Orientation to College ...................................... 1
ENG 101 English Composition ........................................... 3
SPH 106 Fundamentals of Oral Communications .................. 3
HUM** Humanities Elective ............................................ 3
MTH 100 Intermediate College Algebra .............................. 3
BIO 201, 202*** Human Anatomy and Physiology I & II ....... 8
PSY 200 General Psychology ........................................... 3
PSY 210 Human Growth and Development ......................... 3
HIT 110 Medical Terminology ..................................... 3
29-30
*See ORI 101 information on p. 20.
** Ethics (particularly Ethics & the Health Sciences) or Spanish is recommended. Other Code A courses can be taken.
*** BIO 103 (or the Biology Placement Test) is a prerequisite class for BIO 201 & 202.
RECOMMENDED COURSE
PTA 120**** Introduction to Kinesiology. . . . . . . . . 3
*****Admission to the Physical Therapist Assistant Program is not required to enroll in this course. Bonus points will be added to an applicant’s overall admission ranking based on the grade achieved in this course, or a limited bonus amount for enrollment in this course at the time of program application.
MAJOR REQUIRED COURSES
PTA 200 PT Issues and Trends ........................................ 2
PTA 201 PTA Seminar .................................................... 2
PTA 202 PTA Communications Skills .................................. 2
PTA 220 Functional Anatomy & Kinesiology ........................ 3
PTA 222 Functional Anatomy & Kinesiology Lab ................... 2
PTA 230 Neuroscience ................................................... 2
PTA 231 Rehabilitation Techniques ................................... 2
PTA 232 Orthopedics for the PTA ..................................... 2
PTA 240 Physical Disabilities I ......................................... 2
PTA 241 Physical Disabilities II ........................................ 2
PTA 250 Therapeutic Procedures I ................................... 4
PTA 251 Therapeutic Procedures II .................................. 4
PTA 258 Intro to the Clinical Environment .......................... 1
PTA 260 Clinical Education I ............................................ 1
PTA 266 Clinical Fieldwork I ............................................ 2
PTA 268 Clinical Practicum .............................................. 5
PTA 290 Therapeutic Exercise ....................................... 1
39
TOTAL HOURS 68-69
NOTE: All courses with the PTA prefix must be completed at WSCC.
