Physical Therapist Assistant

Ms. Alina Adams, Program Director
256.352.8332
alina.adams@wallacestate.edu

Visit the PTA Program website at http://www.wallacestate.edu/PTA

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. The student should complete the first year of required general education courses 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 experiences 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 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 alina.adams@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. 

Admission Requirements

Admission to the final year of the PTA Program is made annually, with classes starting in the fall. 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, GPA for general education requirements, and 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. 

Applicant Information

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. Applications received after the deadline will be considered on a space-available basis. 
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. A minimum of 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.
8. Documentation of a minimum of 24 hours of observation at not less than 2 different facilities is required. This paper work must be signed by the Licensed Physical Therapist or Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant under whom this observation was completed. Additional hours will receive more points in the application process. This documentation must be uploaded to the online application. 
9. Applicants must possess a minimum of 3.0 or greater grade point average on a 4.0 scale with a “C” or better in all general required courses. GPA points calculated for program selection will be on the general education requirements only. Students who have successfully completed all of the general education requirements will be considered for admission first. Students who have not completed all general education requirements will be considered thereafter only if space is available and provided that submitted documentation reflects that the general education 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. Each time an applicant reapplies to the program the online application must be completed again. Retain copies of every item uploaded, as this information will not be released from submitted applications.

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 see the program application posted online to review the process and visit the PTA Program website for statistics for recently admitted classes. 
2. Applicants are ranked on the basis of a formula that weighs the grades in the general education required courses, observation hours and ACT score. 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. Additional points may also be added to the ranking for individuals who have completed PTA 120 at WSCC. 
3. In the event of a tie for program admission, the applicant with the highest numerical average in PTA 120 (first attempt) will be accepted. If this does not fully resolve the tie, the program will then consider highest GPA points followed by highest ACT composite score followed by highest ACT reading subscore. Written notification of the outcome will be emailed to each applicant at the email address provided on the application.
4. Program applications will be reviewed for completion of program admission requirements. Written notification of program acceptance status will be sent to each applicant via information supplied on the program application. 
5. Following acceptance into the program, students must respond confirming their intent to enroll by using the internet link provided on their letter, by the deadline indicated on the letter. A student who fails to respond by the deadline will forfeit his/her place in the class
6. 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), 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 Heart Association approved CPR for Healthcare Providers certification, 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 (CPR, 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. 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 for success in college. 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. 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. Consult the Alabama Transfers guide for further information. 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

The U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook, anticipates that positions for physical therapist assistants will increase much faster than average, growing by 26% in 2022-2032 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 $64,080 in May 2023, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $88,830. (Source: U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics)