General Program Description

Following a year of general education prerequisite courses (29 credit hours), the PTA program consists of three consecutive semesters (39 credit hours) beginning each year in the fall. Class hours can range from 8:00 am-3:00 pm Monday through Friday, although the current, typical schedule requires three days per week. However, during clinical rotations students should expect to spend approximately 40 hours per week at the assigned location. The current class is comprised of 36 students. The core faculty consists of four members. Graduation is in August each year. Students must pass a comprehensive exit examination in order to graduate. Upon completion, graduates receive an Associate in Applied Science degree and are eligible to sit for the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE), a requirement for state licensure.

Clinical Experiences
Four clinical experiences composed of one 2-week block in fall semester, one 3-week block in spring semester, and 9 total weeks (one 4-week block and one 5-week block) in summer semester, are interspersed throughout the curriculum for a total of 560 hours. Clinical settings include hospitals, outpatient, nursing homes, home health, and rehabilitation centers. Clinical experiences are presently located throughout the Alabama area and a variety of sites across the United States.

Faculty
The PTA Program at Wallace State Community College currently employs two full-time and three part-time faculty members. The faculty to student ratio is 1:12 in laboratory courses.

Enrollment
Program enrollment for 2014-15 is 36 students, selected from an applicant pool of 114 people. There is no waiting list. A new pool of applicants is considered each year.

Admission
Program applications are accepted from April 1 until June 1 of the year in which the student wishes to enroll. There is no waiting list – a new application is required for each application cycle . Applicants should hold a diploma issued by a regionally and/or state-accredited high school. A certificate of high school equivalency issued by Alabama or another state’s department of education is acceptable. Transfer students are required to furnish an official transcript from previously attended institutions. The following prerequisite courses are necessary for admission to the physical therapist assistant program: math, speech, medical terminology, anatomy/physiology, psychology, English composition and a Humanities elective. Students are required to have a minimum of 24 volunteer/observation hours under the direct supervision of a licensed physical therapist or physical therapist assistant in no less than 2 different facilities. In addition, students must have a minimum grade point average of 2.5 and score a minimum of 18 on the ACT test. This is a competitive admission process – meeting minimal requirements does not guarantee program admission. Please visit the program website for current statistics. A physical examination, background check, drug screening and personal health insurance are required upon admission to the program.

Outcomes
79% of students admitted to the Wallace State program graduated on time (3 year average); 99% of the graduates passed the licensure exam (3-year average); and 100% of those program graduates responding to surveys were employed within 6 months of graduation (3-year average).

Tuition, fees and financial aid
Tuition and fees for the 2014-15 academic year are $142 per credit hour for in-state students and $255 per credit hour for out-of-state students. Estimated tuition and fees for the 2014-15 academic program year are approximately $5,538 for in-state residents. Out-of-state tuition and fees are approximately $9,945 per academic program year. An additional $2,000 for books, physical exam and immunizations, drug and background screening, uniforms and other miscellaneous expenses can be expected. All tuition, fees and other expenses are subject to change. A wide range of assistance is offered to help students meet college expenses, including scholarships, federal and state grants, loans, and part-time employment. Scholarships are awarded to students based on criteria such as aptitude test scores, academic achievement, and musical, artistic, or athletic performance. Contact the Financial Aid Office at 256/352-8182.

Student life
Dormitories are available for men and women and are located within walking distance of the classrooms and all facilities. Housing information is obtained from the Housing Department which can be reached at 256/352-8156. The campus is composed of more than 200 acres of modern, well-equipped buildings. The health education students benefit from the Tom Bevill Health Education Building, an 8-story complex. It provides 70,000 square feet of classroom and laboratory space along with conference and audio-visual facilities. Wallace State offers a well-developed program of student activities, including intercollegiate athletics, intramural athletics, and a variety of clubs and organizations of special interest.