3.9 Physical Therapist Assistant Program

3.9.1 System Guidelines

Enrollment in the Physical Therapist Assistant Program may be limited
because of available faculty, financial and clinical resources at the college.

• Technical Standards
  • The physical therapist assistant works in a hands-on situation under the
    supervision of a physical therapist in providing patient services for the
    prevention and alleviation of physical impairment and the restoration of
    function. Therefore, in order to work successfully with patients, all applicants should possess sufficient:
    1. visual acuity, such as observation necessary for administering patient care and reading equipment gauges and settings used in treatments;
    2. auditory perception to receive verbal communication and to execute patient care through the use of monitoring devices;
    3. strength and the gross and fine motor skills necessary for balance, coordination, and agility when responding to patient needs such as positioning, lifting, manipulating equipment, assisting with mobility, and safely executing the plan of care;
    4. communication skills (speech, reading, writing) to interact with individuals and to communicate their needs promptly and effectively, as may be necessary in the patient's interest; and
    5. intellectual, cognitive, and emotional functions for analyzing, problem-solving, and providing sound judgement to respond immediately, appropriately, and safely while implementing the plan of care.
• Admission to the Program
  • Selection of students for the physical therapist assistant program will be made by the president of the college or the president’s designee after considering the recommendations of an Admissions committee. Membership for this committee shall include:
    • Physical Therapist Assistant Program
    • Coordinator Physical Therapist Assistant
    • Faculty Member
    • Physical Therapy Clinician (voluntary faculty member)
    • Admissions Officer or Counselor
    • General Education Faculty Member
  • In order to be considered by the Admissions committee, each applicant for the fall semester must submit the following credentials by April 1, and for spring semester class, if applicable, by October 1.
    1. application for admission a KCTCS institution;
    2. official transcripts of all post-secondary education, excluding KCTCS institutions;
    3. ACT or SAT Score report; and
    4. proof of attendance at a pre-admission conference and /or meeting with the coordinator and/or the coordinator’s designee.
• Additional Requirements Prior to Program Admission
  • Applicants admitted into the Physical Therapist Assistant program must have completed, prior to entering the program:
    1. BIO137, Anatomy and Physiology I, or its equivalent with a “C” or higher; and
    2. a program-approved CPR course.
• Possible Additional Requirements
  • An individual college may employ a selective interview process.
• Preference may be given to:
  1. applicants who demonstrate above average standing in high school or on the General Education Development Examination (GED);
  2. applicants with an ACT composite score of 19 or higher or the equivalent on the SAT; and/or ACT section scores; and/or a program approved admissions test. Compass is not an approved admissions test;
  3. applicants who have completed 12 or more credit hours in the approved curriculum with a cumulative GPA or 3.0 or higher from any accredited college;
  4. Kentucky residents and applicants from the college service area; and
  5. applicants who present verifiable documentation of employment as a physical therapy aide or technician, related healthcare experience, or related healthcare education.
• Readmission
  1. In order to be considered for readmission by the Physical Therapist Assistant Admissions Committee, the applicant must submit a written request to the Physical Therapist Assistant Coordinator, meet current admission guidelines, and may be required to have a Physical Therapist Assistant faculty member submit a letter of recommendation.
  2. A student may be readmitted to the Physical Therapist Assistant program once. Students readmitted may be required to furnish evidence of remedial study, additional preparation, or resolution of factors contributing to previous unsuccessful completion.
  3. The student may be readmitted a second time only if recommended by the Physical Therapist Assistant Admissions Committee and if the student furnishes sufficient evidence of remedial study, additional preparation or resolution of factors contributing to previous unsuccessful completion. Under no circumstances will a student be readmitted a third time.
  4. If more than 3 years have elapsed since first enrolled in any Physical Therapist Assistant program, an applicant must repeat all Physical Therapist Assistant program courses.
  5. Readmission will be considered only if a vacancy exists in the class in which the student wishes to re-enroll.
• Transfer
  1. Applicants who wish to transfer from one KCTCS Physical Therapist Assistant program to another or from a Physical Therapy or Physical Therapist Assistant program outside of KCTCS:
     1. must meet all admission requirements of the receiving institution;
     2. must submit a written request stating anticipated entry date and reason for transfer to the Physical Therapist Assistant Program Coordinator of the receiving institution;
     3. must have a faculty member from the program previously attended submit a letter of recommendation to the receiving institution;
     4. may be awarded transfer credit if the sequence and course content parallel those courses offered by the receiving institution; and
     5. may be required to meet re-admission standards if deemed necessary by the admissions committee.
  2. If more than 3 years have elapsed since first enrolled in a Physical Therapy or Physical Therapist Assistant program, the applicant must repeat all Physical Therapist Assistant program courses.
  3. Applicants wishing to transfer from a Physical Therapy or Physical Therapist Assistant program:
     1. should apply at least two months prior to the beginning of the semester in which they wish to enroll;
     2. may be awarded transfer credit if the sequence and course content parallel those courses required in the KCTCS Physical Therapist Assistant curriculum; determination to be made by the Program Coordinator of the receiving institution
     3. may be awarded transfer credit if the sequence and course content do not parallel those courses required in the Physical Therapist Assistant program under the following condition(s):
        1. only after careful evaluation of transcripts and course syllabi by the Physical Therapist Assistant Program Coordinator, Registrar, and Admissions Committee;
        2. after successful completion of a special examination or additional course(s) deemed necessary by the admissions committee in order to enter or complete the program.
     4. will be considered for admission only if a vacancy exists in the class in which they wish to enroll.

3.9.2 College Guidelines

• 3.9.2.1 Madisonville Community College
  • The System Guidelines will be followed with the following additional requirements:
    1. Applicants must have successfully completed the following courses prior to admission with a grade of “C” or better: MAT 150 or equivalent; ENG 101; PSY 110; BIO 137; BIO 139; and AHS 105.
    2. Each applicant must submit a personal letter of application and 3 completed recommendations, 1 of which must be from a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant.
• 3.9.2.2 West Kentucky Community and Technical College
  • The System Guidelines will be followed except that preference may be given to:
    1. Qualified applicants residing in areas underserved by the physical therapy profession; and
    2. Applicants who have completed BIO 137, BIO 139 and/or MAT 150 or higher.
• 3.9.2.3 Somerset Community College
  1. The System Guidelines will be followed except that preference may be given to applicants who submit a letter of recommendation from a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant.
  2. The System Guidelines will be followed except that preference may be given to qualified applicants residing in areas underserved by the physical therapy profession and/or regions where no PTA Program exists.
• 3.9.2.4 Hazard Community and Technical College and Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College
  • The System Guidelines will be followed except that the presidents of both colleges, or their designees, will work together to select students for the program after considering the recommendations of a joint admissions committee based upon the membership stated in the Rules.
• 3.9.2.5 Jefferson Community and Technical College
  1. The System Guidelines will be followed except that preference may be given to applicants who demonstrate above average performance in BIO 137 or its equivalent.
  2. The System Guidelines will be followed except that preference may be given to applicants who are veterans, active duty personnel, their spouses and also displaced workers who qualify under the Trade Adjustment Act.
• 3.9.2.6 Maysville Community and Technical College
  • The System Guidelines will be followed with the following additional requirements:
    
    1. Applicants must attain a TEAS minimum score of 60.
    2. Applicants must have successfully completed the following course prior to admission with a grade of “C” or better: MAT 150 or equivalent; ENG 101; BIO 137.
       1. Preference may be given to students who have additionally completed with a “C” or better prior to admissions: BIO 139 and PSY 110.
    3. Applicants must complete 40 hours of observation with PT or PTA and submit signed observation hour form from at least two different locations.
    4. Applicants may be interviewed as part of the selective admission process.