The Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) is a technically educated health provider who assists the Physical Therapist in the provision of physical therapy and may perform physical therapy interventions selected by the supervising Physical Therapist. The Physical Therapist Assistant works under the direction and supervision of the Physical Therapist, helping manage conditions such as back and neck injuries, sprains/strains, and fractures, arthritis, burns, amputations, stroke, multiple sclerosis, birth defects, injuries related to work and sports, and others (American Physical Therapy Association).

Overview of the Physical Therapist Assistant Program

The South College Physical Therapist Assistant program is a 24-month program leading to an Associate of Science degree. PTA major courses must be completed in the designated order. Classes are taught in the morning and afternoons, Mondays through Fridays. Class schedules may change at the discretion of the institution. Students should be committed to considerable out of classroom preparation and study. Certain methods classes require off-campus site attendance. Clinical education internships are required and administered by South College and take place in a variety of health care delivery facilities in the Knoxville metropolitan area and beyond. Students are responsible for their own transportation to and from these off campus educational sites. Students are responsible for costs associated with any emergency services needed while participating in off-site educational activities.

Students applying to the Physical Therapist Assistant program must accept the following:

1. A felony conviction may affect ability to attain state licensure

2. Failure to produce proof of the following may severely limit clinical placement (possibly increasing the overall length of the program) and future employment options:

a. Negative TB test
b. Hepatitis B vaccination or waiver
c. CPR training
d. Drug screening (increasingly required by internship sites)
e. Health Insurance (increasingly required by internship sites)

3. Commit to full attendance and participation in a rigorous educational
progam, significant out of class preparation time, and clinical assignments
off campus.

Prospective students transferring credit into the PTA program should consult with the Executive Vice President and PTA Department Chair regarding transferability of credit. This decision is final. There is no guarantee that transfer credit will be given for major curriculum courses. Students may not take major curriculum classes until official transcripts have been received to verify pre-requisites have been completed.

Mission/Purpose

The mission of the South College PTA program is to develop knowledgeable, motivated, competent professionals who have the skills necessary to meet the career demands of an entry-level physical therapist assistant and, thereby, serve the diverse needs of their communities. A comprehensive curriculum is maintained, which includes verifying the competence and professionalism of students. To promote an optimal educational experience for all students, diversity in teaching methodology is also practiced. As role models, those involved with the program strive to exhibit the professional attributes expected in the physical therapy profession.

Program Goals

1. The South College PTA program seeks to produce graduates who:

• behave in a professional manner.
• collect and interpret necessary information and adjust treatment accordingly within the plan of care.
• perform expected competencies in a safe and responsible manner.
• educate others effectively in all aspects of physical therapy.
• produce documentation that meets the designated guidelines.

2. The South College PTA program seeks to maintain a comprehensive curriculum developed and taught by qualified faculty in accordance with accreditation standards.

Physical Therapist Assistant Licensure

Passing the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy is a requirement for professional practice in the state of Tennessee. Specific information regarding application for licensure will be available to students during their last term of enrollment. Licensure or registration is not required in every state for the physical therapist assistant to practice. Complete information on practice acts and regulationscan be obtained from individual state licensing boards.

Accreditation

The Physical Therapist Assistant program at South College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA).

The Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education

Department of Accreditation

American Physical Therapy Association

1111 North Fairfax Street

Alexandria, VA 22314

Telephone: 703-706-3245

Website: www.apta.org/CAPTE

Admission Requirements

General admission to South College does not guarantee admission to the Asso­ciate of Science degree program in Physical Therapist Assistant. Applicants inter­ested in this program are required to visit the college and meet individually with an admissions representative and program faculty to ascertain if their goals can be met by the college. Prospective students declaring PTA as their major must be gen­erally admitted to South College and meet the following requirements in order to be considered for full admission to the program:

1. Meet minimum score requirements on the college entrance examination, OR present documentation of a score of 19 or higher on the ACT Assess­ment examination, OR present documentation of a 900 combined score or higher on the SAT I examination, OR meet the South College require­ments for admission as a transfer student.
2. Complete and submit the South College PTA Program Application.
3. Successfully complete an interview cycle that includes two interviews, both with an oral and written portion, with a score of 75% or better on each.* The interview cycle must be completed at least 6 weeks prior to starting the first quarter of PTA classes. Exceptions to this deadline may be allowed only with department chair approval.
4. Submit three (3) letters of reference (none of them family members) uti­lizing the program’s reference form. These reference forms will be scored and must average 75% or better.*
5. Submit proof of at least 25 observation or work hours in a physical ther­apy setting using the form provided by the program.*
6. Complete all required general education core courses with a “C” or higher.*
7. Complete BIO 1110 Anatomy & Physiology I, BIO 1120 Anatomy & Physiology I Lab, BIO 1130 Anatomy & Physiology II, and BIO 1140 Anatomy & Physiology II Lab with at least a 2.50 grade point average. The necessary grades must be achieved on the first or second attempt (all postsecondary attempts counted) unless approved by department chair.*
8. Complete PTA 1010 Introduction to PTA, PTA 1030 Pathophysiology, and PTA 1040 Kinesiology for the PTA with a grade of “C” or better earned on the first or second attempt only.* In PTA 1010 and PTA 1040 a grade of “C” is equivalent to 75%.
9. Obtain a physician’s certification that student is in good generalhealth and able to participate in clinical internships; provide proof of immunizations such as MMR; and undergo a criminal background check while taking PTA 1010.

Transfer credit for Kinesiology or Pathophysiology classes to the South College PTA program from another institution will be considered on an individual basis. For a PTA class to be considered for transfer into the South College PTA program, the class must have been comparable in hours and content, must have been taken within the last five years, and a grade of “B” or higher must have been received for the class. For final transfer approval, a course description or syllabus may be required.

*Each of these areas is used to rank applicants for full program admission. If minimum standards are met by more applying students than clinical seats, these rankings determine program admission.

Applicant must also demonstrate functional capacities. Please see the South College catalog for more information regarding these capacities.

Program Data

*1 graduate has not taken licensure exam by choice ** 5 have not taken the licensure exam yet *** 3 not working as PTA by choice

^ Data as of 01-12-09

Academic Progression and Retention in the PTA Major

Students are required to earn a minimum of a 75 numeric average in all PTA classes except PTA 1030 in order to progress in the program. Students earning less than a “C” average in any course after being accepted into the program will not be allowed to continue in the current rotation of courses, must apply for reinstatement to the program in a later rotation, and must repeat the course and earn a minimum grade of “B.” No guarantee of reinstatement is made.

Program Termination

Grounds for termination from the PTA Program:

1. Insufficient academic progress
2. Nonpayment of costs
3. Failure to comply with rules and/or Code of Conduct
4. Falsification of application to the college
5. Unsafe or unethical clinical behavior

Failure to meet the minimum grade required for any course will cause disrup­tion in the program rotation, thus causing dismissal from the program. Any student wishing to reapply to the program must contact the Department Chair. The Depart­ment Chair will then initiate a reinstatement process. This process includes sub­mission of a written assignment which follows a required outline and one or more hearings with the program Reinstatement Committee. Following this process, a determination will be made as to whether the student will remain dismissed from the program or be allowed to re-enter during the next rotation. If the student wishes to delay reinstatement, he/she may do so for a maximum of one year. Students repeating courses will be required to earn a higher minimum grade than that expected during the first attempt. Only under severe mitigating circumstances will a student be reinstated into the program more than one time.

Voluntary Withdrawal

If a student voluntarily withdraws, there will be no guarantee that he/she will be re-admitted. Re-admission will be based on results of the reinstatement process if withdrawal occurred during a quarter and grades were earned, scheduling, and space availability. Before withdrawing from any class, the PTA student should see the PTA Department Chair to determine the best course of action, since withdrawing may interrupt or stop continued education in the PTA program.