General Program Description
The PTA Program is a 1+1 format requiring one year of prerequisite coursework (transfer credits are accepted) and one year of technical track coursework. Baker College is a “right to try” college which accepts students with high school diploma or equivalent. The PTA Program is “limited enrollment” and students must compete for seats into the technical track. There is no wait list. Students in the technical track average about 20 hours/week in class. The PTA courses are offered during the day and students must attend full-time. Classes are offered in a state of the art PTA lab and augmented by online resources.
Clinical Experiences
The PTA Program offers a wide variety of quality inpatient, outpatient and specialty practice settings for completion of the 600 total hours of clinical education. Students in the technical track complete two part-time rotations and two terminal, full-time rotations in different settings. Baker College contracts with all the local major hospitals and hundreds of clinical sites throughout Oakland, Macomb, Genesee and Wayne and Washtenaw counties.
Faculty
The PTA Program is taught by two full-time and 4 part-time faculty members who are active clinically. Various specialty and interdisciplinary guest lecturers are also on hand. The labs are assisted by PTA’s and PT’s to maintain a ratio of 1:8 faculty to students in all lab courses.
Enrollment
Enrollment in the technical track of the PTA program is limited to 24 students each fall. Technical coursework begins in the winter quarter and is completed by the following fall quarter. Upon graduation, students are eligible to sit for the licensure examination.
Admission
Students must submit applications for acceptance into the PTA Program no later than the 5th week of the Fall quarter, Friday at 5 p.m. Application packets are available to pick up in the Fall quarter. Students are selected based on limited enrollment criteria including completion of prerequisite coursework and the TEAS V entrance examination. Minimum requirements for application are: an overall GPA of 2.7 or better, a minimum 2.7 GPA in the required science and health-related courses, 20 hours of clinical observations, and three letters of recommendation. For more information regarding the admissions process, contact the Admissions Department at 248-276-8201.
Tuition, fees and financial aid
All students attending Baker College are advised to apply for Financial Aid. Tuition for most undergraduate courses is $230 per credit hour. The prerequisite coursework consists of 53 credits, while the technical track courses total 61 credits. There are no lab fees for the PTA courses.
Student life
Baker College is the largest, non-profit, career college in Michigan consisting of 11 campuses with PTA Programs offered in Allen Park, Flint, and Muskegon with the newest offering in Auburn Hills. Located in the heart of Oakland County near metro Detroit, Auburn Hills is home to many cultural and sporting events. Students at the Auburn Hills campus enjoy lifetime employment assistance, free tutoring, a variety of clubs and college sponsored activities, and access to a vast library and technical resources.