Physical Therapist Assistant

Dr. Annie Kennedy, Program Director
256.352.8332
annie.kennedy@wallacestate.edu

Associate in Applied Science Degree (5 semesters)

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 disabilities in patients following  injuries or disease. Patients include individuals who have been in accidents or individuals with potentially disabling conditions such as low back pain, arthritis, heart disease, fractures, head injuries, and cerebral palsy. 

The 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, manual therapy, massage, electrical stimulation, 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 with the first year consisting of the required general education courses that must be completed before begining the PTA Program. The second-year includes three semsesters of technical and clinical experiences in a variety of health-care settings. 

The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Wallace State Community College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Ste 100, Alexandria, VA 22305-3085; Telephone: 703-706-3245; E-mail: accreditation@apta.org; Website: http://www.capteonline.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 256-352-8332 or email annie.kennedy@wallacestate.edu. Only graduates of CAPTE accredited schools will be eligible to apply 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 can be a licensed physical therapist assistant. 

Applicant Information

The PTA Program admits annually with classes starting in the fall. Students are selected on the basis of completion of program application requirements, GPA for general education requirements, ACT test scores. Applications will be accepted from March 1 until June 1 for classes that begin each fall term. Applications received after the deadline will be considered on a space-available basis. No application will be received or considered after the start of the fall semester. See the program application, available through the program website, for additional information. 

Admission Requirements

1. Unconditional admission to the college required – college application must be submitted prior to the program application deadline.
2. Student must be in good standing with the college.
3. A complete PTA program application must be received between March 1 and June 1 for fall entry.
4. The PTA program online application is available annually from March 1 to June 1 & is located on program’s webpage at www.wallacestate.edu - see online application instructions under the PTA Program Application tab. All applicants are required to upload all required documentation to be eligible for program admission consideration.
5. Official transcripts from each college attended must be provided to the Admissions Office and an unofficial copy of all transcripts must be uploaded as part of the online program application.
6. Student must meet the essential functions and technical standards required for the program as documented on the required WSCC physical form at www.wallacestate.edu -see Physical Form Essential Functions on the Health Division page.
7. 20 ACT composite score (National, Residual or Superscore) is required for admission consideration. Proof of score must be uploaded to the online program application. Higher scores will receive more points in the application process. ALL applicants must submit an ACT composite score regardless of prior degrees or previous college coursework.
8. Documentation of a minimum of 24 hours of observation at not less than 2 different facilities is required. These hours do not have an expiration date. This paper work must be signed by the Licensed Physical Therapist or Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant under whom this observation was completed. Additional hours (maximum of 100 hours) will receive more points in the application process. This documentation must be uploaded to the online application.
9. 3.0 or greater grade point average on a 4.0 scale with a grade of "C" or better in all PTA program prerequisite courses see- PTA Program Prerequistes. GPA points calculated for program selection will be on the program prerequisite course requirements only. Students who have successfully completed all the program prerequisite course requirements will be considered for admission first. Students who have not completed all PTA program prerequisite courses may still apply to the program if these courses are in progress, and will be considered only if space is available. Documentation should be submitted to reflect that the program prerequisite course requirements will be successfully completed prior to the program start date. 

It is the responsibility of each applicant to ensure that the application submitted is complete and that all required information is submitted to the appropriate offices. Any piece of missing documentation will result in the application submission not being considered. 

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. Program applications will be reviewed for completion of program admission requirements.
2. Applicants are ranked on the basis of a formula that weighs the grades in the general education required courses, observation hours, ACT score, and other factors. See the posted General Education Worksheet for scoring information. All applicants who meet the minimum requirements are considered; however, the higher an applicant’s GPA on the general education requirements, observation hours and ACT score, the better his/her chances for admission. Notification of the outcome will be emailed to each applicant at the email address provided on the application.  
3. In the event of a tie for program admission, the program will then consider highest GPA points followed by highest ACT composite score followed by observation hours.
4. Following acceptance into the program, students must respond confirming their intent to enroll by following the instructions provided on their email, by the deadline indicated. A student who fails to respond by the deadline will forfeit his/her place in the class
5. Students who are accepted into the program and are not eligible to register for classes by the day of program orientation due to failing to meet the financial aid deadline must make alternate payment arrangements or forfeit their place in the class. The WSCC financial aid deadline for fall is usually June 1 each year - refer to the financial aid website for details. This deadline includes the FAFSA and all required paperwork. 

Program Expectations

Students admitted into the Physical Therapist Assistant program are expected to comply with the Health Science Programs regulations and expectations as published in the Programs of Study section of the Wallace State College Catalog and on the college website.

Upon Admission

Following official acceptance into the program students will be required to submit a physical examination form (current within one year and valid through September of the following year), which includes documentation of immunizations along with evidence of having begun the Hepatitis B vaccinations. Also upon acceptance, students will be required to document successful completion of American Red Cross or American Heart Association approved Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR certification, which must be completed in person, and valid through September of the following year. 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. While in the program, PTA students must carry liability insurance and accident insurance, which are available through the College, as well as personal health insurance. Do not complete any of these (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. No preferential consideration is given to prior students for readmission.

Career Path 

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. 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 may recognize the PTA Program year as elective credit. The PTA program is not usually a direct pathway to becoming a physical therapist, although a limited number of programs do exist that link the two. The individual who wishes to become a physical therapist will pursue a Doctorate in Physical Therapy and should take bachelor or master level course work appropriate to the program to which they plan to apply. Further information about PTA and PTA education is available through the American Physical Therapy Association website at www.apta.org

Physical therapists are expected to increasingly utilize assistants to reduce the cost of physical therapy services. Median annual earnings of physical therapist assistants were $65,510 in May 2024, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $88,830. (Source: U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics)