Physical Therapist Assistant

The Physical Therapist Assistant program prepares you to become a physical therapist assistant (PTA) and 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. Upon graduation, you will be 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)

• Physical Therapist Assistant: 64-67 credit hours

For program course requirements, consult the Madisonville Advising Plan.

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 Career Services Listings.

Admission Requirements

PTA is a selective admission program accepting 16 students each year. The deadline for the application process is October 1 annually.

In addition to MCC’s general admission requirements, candidates to the program must meet the following minimum standards:

• Enrollment in and/or completion of the following courses with a grade of “C” or higher at the time of application: ENG 101, MAT 150, BIO 137, BIO 139, PSY 110, and AHS 105
• Documentation of a minimum of 8 hours of observation, volunteer or work experience in a physical therapy setting; 4 of the 8 hours must be completed in an acute care setting (hospital physical therapy department)
• Submission of a valid ACT/SAT score;
• Submission of official transcripts from all previously-attended colleges;
• Submission of an MCC Application (unless currently enrolled at the time of application);
• Verification of attendance at a Preadmission Conference (See a list of dates);
• Submission of a personal letter of application;
• Submission of 3 letters of recommendation (in the form of PTA Program Recommendation Surveys), 1 of which must be completed by a PT or PTA;
• Submission of a PTA Program Application Packet.

Preference may be given to applicants who:

• Have a cumulative (overall) Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher. Overall GPA is calculated based on all previous college coursework completed through the summer semester preceding the date of application. Mid-term grades for classes in which the applicant is enrolled during the semester of application will not be used in the calculation of an applicant’s overall GPA.
• Have a cumulative Key GPA of 3.0 or higher (includes grades in BIO 137: Human Anatomy and Physiology I, BIO 139: Human Anatomy and Physiology II, MAT 150: College Algebra, and AHS 105: Introduction to Allied Health Occupations). Mid-term grades will be used for key GPA calculation if enrolled in any of these courses at the time of application.
• Have an ACT (SAT equivalent) composite score of 19 or higher;
• Have completed 12 or more credit hours in higher education
• Are Kentucky residents
• Have documented 16 or more clock hours of volunteer/work experience
• Have documented volunteer and/or work experience in more than one clinical setting

Applicants will earn points based on certain levels of performance (see Point System for Admission). Applicants that meet the minimum standards for admission requirements will be considered qualified applicants. All qualified applicants will be required to participate in a formal interview with the PTA Program Admission Committee. The intent of the interview is to evaluate the applicant’s qualities such as communication abilities and professional demeanor.

The PTA Program at MCC uses an online application process. Students interested in applying for admission to the PTA Program should email the PTA Program (mweil0002@kctcs.edu) during the open enrollment period to request access to the PTA Program Admissions e-Community course in Blackboard. Open enrollment will last from January 1 – October 1 annually.

Length of Program

You can obtain an Associate in Applied Science degree in two years. Following the completion of required general education coursework, and successful admission to the program, you will complete the technical component of the curriculum after three consecutive semesters. The program admits one cohort of students each year. Once admitted to the program, the technical component of the curriculum begins in January.

For more information

For questions about the PTA program, please contact:

Stephanie Taylor 
(270) 824-1743
stephanie.taylor@kctcs.edu

Amanda Skeen
(270) 824-1746
amanda.skeen@kctcs.edu

Melinda Weil, Division Assistant
(270) 824-1805
mweil0002@kctcs.edu  

This information should not be considered a substitute for the KCTCS Catalog. You should always choose classes in cooperation with your faculty advisor to ensure that you meet all degree requirements.