Physical Therapist Assistant
Program coordinator: Angie Moser
New Preadmission Process - Please Read
All applicants must attend a Pre-Admission Conference. During the Pre-Admission Conference an overview of the Physical Therapist Assistant curriculum, application and admissions process, and other relevant information will be provided. The conference will be offered via an on-campus meeting the second Friday in March, May, August, and November of each year from 10:30 am – 12:00 pm. The conferences will be held in the Physical Therapist Assistant Classroom (Academic Building Room 112). Alternatively, a recorded version of the Pre-Admission Conference is available online.
In addition, as of April 1, 2007, all applicants must meet with their MCC PTA faculty advisor or must schedule a face to face meeting with a PTA Program faculty member prior to the application deadline. Documentation of this meeting must be included on the Preadmission Conference Verification Form. A face-to-face meeting with a PTA Program faculty member may be scheduled by calling the PTA Program Office at (270) 824-1805.
Mission Statement
The mission of the Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Madisonville Community College is to provide an opportunity for students interested in the field of physical therapy to gain the skills, knowledge and experience necessary to obtain an Associate of Applied Science Degree as a Physical Therapist Assistant. The program is dedicated to providing its students with superior training in contemporary patient care practices and providing the quality and diversity of clinical education experiences necessary to become competent, caring clinicians. Furthermore, the program will be committed to the development of healthcare professionals who are dedicated to the safe, legal and ethical practice of physical therapy and the pledge to life-long learning.
Program Goals
- To identify, recruit, and educate individuals interested in the PTA Program.
- To maintain the highest level of professional education by maintaining compliance with the criteria established by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education.
- To maintain safe, state-of-the art physical therapy equipment and technology to adequately train students in current physical therapy practices.
- To provide a learning environment that promotes student success through the implementation of contemporary educational methodology.
- To graduate competent, caring professionals that are satisfactorily prepared to pass the national board exam.
- To increase the use of computer-based technology throughout the curriculum in order to meet the increasing demand for technological literacy required of healthcare practitioners in today’s society.
- To create an educational environment that facilitates the growth of listening, observation and teamwork skills critical for successful entry to professional practice.
Program Statistics
| Class of | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of applicants | 20 | 11 | 13 | 18 | 24 | 23 | 35 | 56 | 43 |
| Number admitted | 12 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 |
| Number enrolled | 11 | 8 | 12 | 10 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 |
| Number graduated | 8 | 8 | 11 | 5 | 7 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 13 |
| Pass rate on licensing exam | 100% | 71% | 64% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Employment rate of those passing exam | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
Licensure and Accreditation
The PTA Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, 1111 Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. Phone: (703) 706-3245.
Satisfactory completion of the degree requirements and clinical affiliation requirements qualifies the student to sit for the National Physical Therapist Assistant Licensing Examination. Licensure or registration is not required in all states for the physical therapist assistant to practice; however, licensure is required to practice in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Information about licensure or registration in the state in which one wishes to practice can be obtained from the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy.
Program Description
This program prepares the individual to become a physical therapist assistant (PTA) who is able to perform selected components of interventions and data collection under the direction and supervision of a physical therapist. The program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE*). The curriculum combines general education and physical therapy courses. Various facilities are utilized for clinical experiences. The graduate is eligible to sit for the national licensing examination for the physical therapist assistant. Enrollment in this program is limited; therefore, a selective admissions process is followed. Students enrolled in the Physical Therapist Assistant program must achieve a minimum grade of "C" in each required general education course; a minimum grade of “C” in each required PTA didactic course; and a grade of pass in each clinical practicum course to complete the program.
Available Credentials
Associate in Applied Science (AAS)
| Area | Hours to Complete |
Curriculum Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Therapist Assistant | 67-78 | Download (RTF) |
Employment Opportunities
The U.S. Department of Labor predicts that this field is expected to grow at a very fast pace (greater than 36%) through the year 2010 due to the rapid growth in the number of middle-aged and elderly individuals. Employment opportunities median annual earnings in 2006 $41,410, and the employment growth rate from 2006-2016 is 25%.
Physical Therapist Assistants are among the top 10 fastest growing jobs in the Commonwealth of Kentucky according to the Kentucky Department for Employment Services, Research and Statistics Branch. The projected employment growth rate from 1998-2008 is 47.5%.
Jobs in Physical Therapy and other fields can be found through Madisonville Community College's Job Services Listings.
Admission Requirements:
The following should be submitted to the PTA program coordinator for admission to this program:
- Application for admission
(154 K) - Application packet for admission to program (DOC / PDF)
- View Program Guide (107 K)
- View admission point system (68 K)
- View Program Guide
- Attend a pre-admission conference (March 14, May 9, August 8, or November 14; 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM) or view it online
- Document 8 hours of volunteer experience in the physical therapy setting. (A minimum of 4 hours must be in a hospital setting.) Download forms for documenting observation hours (168 K)
- High School transcript or GED
- ACT or SAT scores
- Transcripts of all previous college work
- Age verification (must be 16 years of age)
The following must be completed before being accepted into the program:
- Complete all prerequisite course work by the end of the Fall semester of the year of application
Preference may be given to applicants who:
- Have an ACT composite score of 19 or higher (or equivalent on the SAT)
- Have completed 12 or more credit hours in the approved curriculum with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher from any accredited college
- Are Kentucky residents
- Have completed a Physics Course
- Have completed a Medical Terminology Course
- Have completed 16 hours of observation and/or work experience in the physical therapy setting
The application deadline for this program is October 1.
Projected Program Cost
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Books and supplies | $700.00 |
| Tuition (approximate) | $8,500.00 |
| ID Badge | $5.00 |
| APTA Dues | $160.00 |
| Lab Coat | $30.00 |
| HIV / AIDS Course | $25.00 |
| Liability Insurance | $40.00 |
| Cap and Gown | $40.00 |
| CPR Certification | $35.00 |
| TB Skin Test | $6.00 |
| Drug Test / Background Checks | $50.00 |
| State License Application Fee | $170.00 |
| State License Exam | $350.00 |
| Total | $10,111.00 |
Length of Program
Students interested in the PTA Program can obtain their degree in 2 years. Following the completion of required general education coursework and successful admission to the program, the student will complete the technical component of the curriculum after 3 consecutive semesters.
Classes Needed
General Education Courses:
- ENG 101 Writing I *
- ENG 102 Writing II
- PSY 100 Introduction to Psychology *
or - PY 110 General Psychology *
- PSY 223 Developmental Psychology
- BIO 137 Human Anatomy and Physiology I *
- BIO 139 Human Anatomy and Physiology II *
- MT 150 College Algebra and Functions *
or - MT 110 Applied Mathematics *
- COM 181 Basic Public Speaking
or - COM 252 Introduction to Interpersonal Communications
- Computer literacy course
- Heritage / Humanities / Foreign Language course
* Must be completed prior to admission to the program
Program Courses (Require admission to the PTA Program):
- PTA 100 Orientation to Physical Therapy Practice
- PTA 150 Functional Anatomy and Kinesiology
- PTA 160 Medical Surgical Conditions
- PTA 170 Clinical Practicum I
- PTA 200 Modalities and Procedures in Physical Therapy
- PTA 220 Problems and Procedures in Physical Therapy
- PTA 240 Clinical Practicum II
- PTA 250 Neurological Rehab in Physical Therapy
- PTA 260 Seminar in Physical Therapy
- PTA 280 Clinical Practicum III
This curriculum guide is for informational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for the KCTCS Catalog. Students should always choose classes in cooperation with the academic advisor to ensure that all degree requirements are being met.
Clinical Information
The PTA Program at Madisonville Community College is affiliated with over 50 healthcare facilities located in Kentucky, Indiana, and Tennessee. While participating in clinical education experiences, students have the opportunity to care for patients in hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, and out-patient clinics and in specialty areas such as pediatrics, geriatrics, and sports medicine. During a clinical education experience, the students is assigned to work with a physical therapist or a physical therapist assistant who will serve as the student's clinical instructor. Students spend approximately 620 clock hours in the clinical setting during their PTA coursework. Students can expect to spend at least one clinical practicum in a rural setting (outside the Madisonville/Hopkins County area). Students are expected to incur all costs related to Clinical Practicums, including transportation, housing, and meals. Students will be expected to purchase appropriate uniform attire to be worn during Clinical Practicums