General Program Description

The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Jefferson Community and Technical College is designed to prepare the student to be a skilled health care provider working effectively under the supervision of the physical therapist. The Associate of Applied Science Degree is awarded upon successful completion of this program and the graduate is eligible for application to the national licensing examination for physical therapist assistants. The program curriculum consists of a combination of general education, program-specific coursework, and clinical learning experiences that are reflective of contemporary physical therapy practice. PTA coursework expands over four 16-week semesters and allows for the integration of general education coursework during the first year of the program. The curriculum consists of approximately 26 credit hours of general education courses coupled with 40 credit hours of PTA core courses. Enrollment in the program is limited; therefore, a selective admissions process is followed.

Clinical Experiences
The college uses both local and regional clinical affiliation sites for clinical education experiences, the majority of which are located in Kentucky. Clinical coursework begins during the second semester of program coursework with eight full-day rotations to various clinical sites. The final two semesters of program coursework includes a total of 14 full-time weeks in three different clinical settings. Students are responsible for any transportation/lodging expenses associated with clinical assignment.

Faculty
There are three full-time faculty membersand one-part-time Laboratory Instructor in the PTA Program at Jefferson. The faculty to student ratio is 1:11.

Enrollment
Total enrollment for Jefferson Community and Technical College is approximately 15,000. The physical therapist assistant program accepts up to 22 students once each year (Program begins in the Fall Semester).

Admission
Acceptance into the Physical Therapist Assistant Program is a selective admissions process. In order to be considered for admission, applicants must comply with college and program application requirements. Up to 22 students are admitted each academic year in the fall semester. The application deadline for fall admission is April 1. Preference may be given to applicants who demonstrate above average standing in college, high school, or on the General Education Development Examination (GED), applicants with an ACT composite score of 19 or higher, applicants who have completed 12 or more credit hours in the approved curriculum with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher from any accredited college, and applicants who have demonstrated above average in their first human anatomy and physiology course. Preference may also be given to Kentucky residents and applicants from the community and technical college service area, applicants with prior health care experience, to veterans, active duty personnel and their spouses, or to displaced workers per the Trade Adjustment Act. The president of the college selects students for the PTA program after considering the recommendations of an Admissions committee. The number of qualified applicants has exceeded the number of candidates offered admission for the past several years. In 2014, 20% of applicants were offered admission to the program. Applications, curriculum guides, and further information may be obtained by contacting the Program Coordinator.

Outcomes
An average of 86% of students admitted to the PTA Program at Jefferson go on to graduate from the program. For those students who graduated from the PTA Program (May 2012 thru May 1014) and who took the National Physical Therapy Licensing Examination for Physical Therapist Assistants, 98% of those students passed the licensing examination. All students who responded to recent Graduate Surveys report employment within a very short time after graduation.

Tuition, fees and financial aid
The approximate total cost of the program for students scheduled to graduate in 2015 is $14,000 for students living in-district; $39,000 for students living outside-of-district and out-of-state. Current tuition cost per credit hour is $147 for in-state, $515 for out-of-state (Tuition cost effective 8/01/14.) Low tuition rates and a full range of financial aid programs make quality education an exceptional value. Questions concerning financial aid should be directed to the Financial Aid Officer at the college.

Student life
Jefferson Community and Technical College is the largest college in the Kentucky Community and Technical College System, with seven campuses serving the Louisville metropolitan areaa dn surrounding counties. The PTA program is located on the Downtown Campus, which is adjacent to the Downtown Medical Center campus housing the largest hospital/medical complex in the state. Jefferson Community and Technical College is known for its commitment to students. The Louisville-Metropolitan area offers a wide variety of cultural and recreational opportunities.