General Program Description
The mission of the physical therapist assistant program is to offer a comprehensive Physical Therapist Assistant Program that meets the educational and training needs of the service area. The program admits a class each January and is two years in length. Prior to admission you must have completed Anatomy and Physiology I with a “C” or better. The program includes 39 hours of physical therapist assistant technical coursework. In addition to physical therapist assistant coursework, the required general education courses and semester hours are: 8 hours of anatomy and physiology, 3 hours of English, 3 hours College Algebra, 3 hours oral communications, completion of a digital literacy test or 3 hour course, 6 hours of psychology (general and developmental), and 3 hours of heritage or humanities. A minimum of 65 credit hours in the approved curriculum is needed to graduate.
Clinical Experiences
There are three clinical practicum experiences. The first experience is a part-time rotation during the 2nd semester of the PTA program courses. Students complete an 4 week full-time assignment in the 3rd semester and two 5-week full-time assignments in the 4th or final fall semester of the program. Students graduate in December. Student clinical sites are located in Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, and Tennessee, the majority of which are within driving distance for the student.
Faculty
There are two full-time faculty members and one part time faculty member. The faculty to student ratio is 1:16.
Enrollment
Total enrollment for West Kentucky Community and Technical College is over 7,000 students. The physical therapist assistant program accepts 16 students from a pool of 30-60 applicants.
Admission
In order to be considered by the Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Admissions Committee for entrance into the PTA program in the spring semester, each applicant must present the following credentials by October 1st of the preceding year: Application for admission to the College; and official transcript of all post-secondary education. In addition, applicants must attend a Physical Therapist Assistant Pre-Admission Conference, or meet with the PTA Program Coordinator. Applicants must complete Anatomy and Physiology I, or the equivalent, with a C or better, prior to entering the Physical Therapist Assistant program. The Physical Therapist Assistant Program is a selective admission program. In the event more than 16 students apply for admission, a point system will be used to select students for admission to the PTA Program. Points will be awarded for the following: ACT Composite Score (additional points are given for ACT of 19 or higher); GPA for 10 to 12 college hours in the approved curriculum; Kentucky residency; completion of Anatomy and Physiology I or Math 150 with an A or B, and physical therapy experience or related health care experience or related coursework.
Outcomes
Outcomes for the program are found on the PTA Program websitehttp://www.westkentucky.kctcs.edu/Academics/Academic_Divisions/ahps/Physical_Therapist_Assistant.aspx for applicant numbers, numbers entering the program, licensure completion rates, and employment rates. Just click the blue link titled Graduation and Licensure Rates. For students entering the most recent graduating class in December of 2013 87.5% of entering students completed the program in the 2 year period. The licensure rate for the 2013 graduating class is 100%.
Tuition, fees and financial aid
Academic year 2014/2015 tuition for resident students is $147 per credit hour and for non resident students the tuition is $515 per credit hour. West Kentucky Community and Technical College does participate in a full range of federal and state financial aid programs. Applying for financial aid may be an overwhelming experience, but trained personnel are available to assist students and parents with this task. The financial aid portion of our website can be accessed at http://www.westkentucky.kctcs.edu/Costs_and_Financial_Aid.
Student life
West Kentucky Community and Technical College has been named to the Aspen Institutes top 10 schools for the past three cycles and provides exceptional educational instruction in a two year community college setting. West Kentucky Community and Technical College is located in Paducah, the largest city in the Purchase Area of Kentucky. Paducah has always been a true ‘river town,’ steeped in rich southern traditions with a dash of western pioneering spirit. The Land Between the Lakes recreation area is located between two large lakes and is run by the National Forest Service. Offering mountain bike and hiking trails as well as the full range of lake activities, it is only 20 miles from Paducah. The PTA program is housed in the Allied Health Building. The personal attention students receive from faculty and the excellence of academic instruction are hallmarks of the community college experience. Student organizations offer a variety of opportunities for each student. These organizations range from service clubs like Circle K to academic societies such as Phi Theta Kappa. Although no housing is located on campus a large selection of apartments are located within easy commuting distance of campus.