General Program Description
The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Jefferson State Community College is an associate-level program that results in the awarding of the Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree. The degree is awarded after one year of prerequisite coursework and one year of professional coursework. Once the student has completed the program and graduates, they are qualified to sit for the National Board Exam for professional state licensure. The program is designed to prepare competent, ethical, entry level physical therapist assistants in occupational responsibilities, academic knowledge and in the clinical skills necessary to serve the physical therapy health care needs of the public.
The PTA program at Jefferson State Community College is a pre-admit program and requires a specific application process for admission into the professional phase of the program. Once admitted, a student will have the option to follow an On-Campus program or a hybrid Online track program. The Online program cannot be completed entirely online; students are required to be at the Shelby-Hoover Campus for all laboratory sessions. Online lecture courses may also require students to visit instructional sites for various requirements or to complete exams, quizzes, and/or clinicals.
Clinical Experiences
Each student is required to complete a total of 720 hours of clinical experience with at least one clinical practicum completed in an inpatient setting. Clinical practica are sequenced throughout the curriculum and are designed to allow the student to synthesize and apply current and/or previous course work. Additionally, field trips and visits to specialty clinics related to concurrent course work are incorporated into the curriculum.
Faculty
Faculty includes three full-time members, adjunct faculty members and guest lecturers. The faculty to student ratio is 1:12 or less in laboratory experiences.
Enrollment
Jefferson State Community College (JSCC) is a public 2-year college with enrollment of approximately 10,000 students. The PTA program admits approximately 30 students.
Admission
Eligibility requirements for admission include: Completion of nine (9) prerequisite courses: BIO 201, BIO 202, ENG 101, PSY 200, PSY 210, MTH 100 or higher level math elective, SPH elective, HUM elective and Medical Terminology by the application deadline; all applicants must have a GPA of 2.50 or above (4.00 scale) on all college credit attempted, including Jefferson State credit. In addition, all students must provide proof that they have credit for all required prerequisite/general education courses with a grade of C or better and a GPA of 2.50 or above. Official college transcripts from all institutions must be on file with Jefferson State Community College’s Enrollment Services by the application deadline; all applicants must achieve an ACT composite score of 21 or greater and it must be completed within 3 years of the application deadline and on file with the institution by the application deadline; all applicants must provide signed documentation from a licensed PT or PTA of exposure to 75 hours of observation, work or volunteer experiences in a physical therapy setting. At least 25 hours must involve exposure to an acute care (hospital-based), inpatient rehabilitation, or skilled nursing facility setting. These hours must be achieved within 1 year of the application deadline; grades that are on file at the time of the application deadline for coursework in BIO 201, BIO 202, and MTH Elective are evaluated; the program may choose to offer optional points for specific items as publicized on the JSCC PTA Program website. The application deadline is set to January 15th 4:00 pm central every year. The application deadline may be reviewed for an extension should January 15th land on a holiday or weekend. Students will be informed of an application deadline extension via the JSCC PTA Website. The professional phase of the program begins in the summer semester of each year (for 3 consecutive semesters).
Please visit the Jefferson State Community College Website for detailed information regarding admissions and eligibility.
Outcomes
Graduation Rate:
(Students enrolled in the program who completed the professional program within 150% of the normally expected time) Class of 2012: Traditional/On-Campus Program 73%, Internet/Online Program 85% Class of 2011: Traditional/On-Campus Program 82%, Internet/Online Program 63% Class of 2010: Traditional/On-Campus Program 62%, Internet/Online Program 63% Licensure exam pass rates
(%first attempt,% ultimate pass rate of candidates in graduation class who took the NPTE and passed)
Class of 2012: 100% on first attempt, 100% ultimate pass rate
Class of 2011: 100% on first attempt, 100% ultimate pass rate
Class of 2010: 94.44% on first attempt, 100% ultimate pass rate
Employment Rate:
(% of PTAs employed within 6 months of passing the licensure exam)
Class of 2012: 100%
Class of 2011: 100%
Class of 2010: 100%
Tuition, fees and financial aid
Tuition and fees are $142 per credit hour for in-state students and $253 per credit hour for out-of-state students. These fees are subject to change by the State Board of Education. Other costs students may incur include fees for: textbooks, liability insurance, health insurance, medical examinations/immunizations, screenings, uniform/name badge fees, and other incidentals. PTA students are responsible for fees associated with transportation and lodging for clinical rotations. Many PTA students receive financial assistance that is coordinated through the Financial Aid Office in Enrollment Services.
Student life
Jefferson State Community College does not have on-campus housing, but many students live in apartments nearby. Birmingham is a large metropolitan area with numerous athletic, cultural, and other activities available.