General Program Description
The physical therapist assistant (PTA) is a skilled technical health care worker who, under the supervision of a physical therapist, carries out patient treatment programs. Duties of the assistant may include training patients in exercises and activities of daily living; conducting treatments using special equipment; assisting in performing tests, examinations, and complex interventions; and assessing and reporting the patient’s response to treatment. Assistants may work in a variety of health care settings, including hospitals, specialized clinics, extended care facilities and school systems. The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Ivy Tech, Sellersburg, is comprised of 69.5 credit hours, including 25 general education credit hours and 44.5 technical core credit hours. The program is five semesters in length and commences in the fall semester. Classes are conducted Monday through Friday.
Clinical Experiences
Students are required to successfully complete 14.5 credit hours in three clinical experiences. Each clinical is full-time (40 hours per week). The first clinical is three weeks during the spring semester of the first academic year. The last two clinicals are each seven weeks and are conducted during the spring semester of the second academic year.
Faculty
There are two full-time faculty members, two adjunct instructors, and two lab assistants. All faculty members and adjunct instructors are engaged in clinical practice. The full-time/adjunct faculty to student ratio is 1:12 in laboratory coursework.
Enrollment
Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana is a public, statewide, open-access, community-based technical college. Ivy Tech, Sellersburg, serves a seven-county area. Estimated regional enrollment for the academic year 2014-2015 is approximately 5200 students.
Admission
To apply to the PTA Program, students must complete high school or the equivalency, and be admitted to Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale to apply to the PTA Program. In addition, applicants must have successfully completed the prerequisite courses of Anatomy and Physiology I, Anatomy and Physiology II, Physical Science, English Composition, and Introduction to the Physical Therapist Assistant, along with the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) Exam, which is administered through the Ivy Tech Community College testing center. Students must complete an application form and submit the completed application materials by March 31st in order to be considered for enrollment in the fall class. Applications are available online at www.ivytech.edu and are also available to the student when enrolled in the prerequisite, Introduction to the Physical Therapist Assistant, course. Presently, up to 24 students are admitted in the fall semester of each year.
Outcomes
Formal outcome data not yet available; first graduating class May 2013.
Tuition, fees and financial aid
According to 2014-2015 academic year financial information, full program tuition is $8,767.43 for in-state tuition and $18,097.80 for out-of-state tuition for the five-semester program. Books, institution fees, supplies, clinical documentation activities, and licensure examination are estimated at $3500 over the course of the PTA program. The college reserves the right to revise fees at any time. Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana offers financial assistance to eligible students, coordinated through the office of Financial Aid at (812) 246-3301 ext. 4117. Types of aid include: Pell Grants, Supplemental Education Awards, Grants in Aid, work-study, and student loans. Regional scholarships are also available through the Ivy Tech Foundation.
Student life
The PTA Program is located at the Sellersburg campus of Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana. All students commute to the campus. All students are members of the PTA club whose mission is to promote, support, and facilitate activities that encourage awareness of the college and surrounding communities for physical fitness, health and wellness, and issues related to disabilities. Students participate in fundraising activities to support organizations working with individuals with disabilities, and service learning projects to promote health and wellness, disability awareness, and support for individuals with disabilities.