General Program Description
The program consists of 33 credit hours of non-technical coursework and 40 hours of technical courses in physical therapist assistant technology. The program is two years in length. The first year, starting in the Fall Semester, consists of the non-technical courses and one PTA course, Introduction to Physical Therapy. The technical courses begin in the Spring Semester and culminate in the following Spring Semester. Courses include PTA Procedures, Functional Anatomy and Kinesiology, Musculoskeletal Dysfunction, Principles and Applications of Therapeutic Exercise, Clinical Settings, Neurological Conditions in Physical Therapy, Physical Therapy and Special Populations, and Advanced Rehab Concepts in Physical Therapy. Further, there are three clinical affiliations where the student travels to physical therapy departments to practice the learned laboratory skills in the actual healthcare environment. The coursework culminates in the award of an Associate in Applied Science and the student is then eligible to take the National Board Exam. This is required for students to be able to work in the surrounding states of Ohio or West Virginia.
Clinical Experiences
The clinical education component of the program consists of three experiences: one 4-week, full-time, experience at the end of the second Fall Semester; one 6-week, full-time experience at the start of the second Spring Semester; one 8-week, full-time experience at the end of the Fall Semester. Students are required to have their own transportation to these facilities, located primarily within a 2-hour radius of the College. The clinical experience is made up of hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, rehabilitation hospitals, outpatient settings, and home care agencies.
Faculty
There are two full-time core faculty and one associated faculty member. The faculty to student ratio is 1:10.
Enrollment
The college enrolls approximately 1,500. The PTA program has an enrollment cap of 20 students who begin in the Fall Semester after acceptance into the program.
Admission
An information packet is available at http://www.wscc.edu/images/documents/health/PTA.pdf or upon request. The entering class is capped at an enrollment of 20 students. Admission is done on a selective basis. An admission committee evaluates all candidates who have met all the prerequisites and submitted all necessary materials, including 50 volunteer hours. The application deadline is generally around the termination of the Spring Semester, near the beginning of May. If the class is not full after the selection process is completed, QUALIFIED students meeting ALL the requirements will be admitted on a first come, first served basis. ALL students must have a minimum grade point average of 2.75, and an ACT score of 17, to be considered and must have passed high school level Chemistry, Biology, and Algebra with at least a grade of C. Students are also required to submit a brief essay. Once admitted, a student must maintain a grade point average of 2.5 to continue and must not receive a grade of D or lower. Further information is available upon request and is given to the students when accepted to the program.
Outcomes
94% of graduates have passed the National Physical Therapy Examination over the past three years. 86% of admitted students graduate from the program (3-year average). 92% of the eligible graduates are employed as a PTA (3-year average).
Tuition, fees and financial aid
Tuition and fees for the 2014-2015 academic year are $139.00 for instate students and students in seven adjoining counties of West Virginia, and $278.00 for out-of state students. There is a registration fee of $40.00 per semester, a technology fee of $3.00 per credit hour per semester, and a $10.00 graduation fee. In addition, there are lab fees that vary based upon the course. Other costs include a nametag, lab coat, books, transportation to and from clinical sites, and room and board for clinical assignments, if necessary. Financial assistance is available through state and federal agencies in the financial aid office. This office also has information on scholarships that may also be available to students. Further information regarding financial aid can be directed to the Financial Aid Department directly.
Student life
The Physical Therapist Assistant Program is equipped with the latest, state-of-the-art equipment and the department has a beautiful lab that simulates a clinical environment. The campus at Washington State Community College was built in 1991 and is very modern. The campus has experienced some recent growth and a new state-of-the-art library has opened. Marietta is a historic town with many historical sites and parks that can be enjoyed along with the Ohio and Muskingum Rivers.