General Program Description

The PTA curriculum is a two-year program of study that prepares a physical therapist assistant (PTA) to perform interventions under the supervision of physical therapists (PT) in a ethical, legal, safe and effective manner. PTA’s enhance the delivery of physical therapy services by providing delegated interventions, assisting the PT with data collection, communicating with other members of the health care delivery team, interacting with members of the patient’s family and caregivers, and working cooperatively with other heath care providers.

Clinical Experiences
Concurrent theoretical and clinical experiences enhance the relation of theory to practice. Clinical experience is provided in a variety of settings, including hospitals, rehabilitation agencies, private practices, and nursing homes.

Faculty
There are two full-time faculty members. The faculty-to-student ratio is 1:10.

Enrollment
Total enrollment at the college is 11,465. The physical therapist assistant program admits 20 students each fall.

Admission
Although Hinds Community College has an open door policy for general admission, allied health programs have specific admission criteria. To apply for the PTA program, applicants must submit an application and an official high school transcript or a GED score and/or college transcript as well as an American College Test (ACT) score composite of 15 if taken before 10/1/89 or 18 if taken after 10/1/89. Admission is done on a Point Selection Process based on ACT composite and subscores, GPA on pre-requisite courses and any additional degrees or military service.

Outcomes
80% of admitted students graduate from the program (3-year average); 92% of the graduates passed the licensure exam; and 100% of the program graduates who passed the licensure board are employed (3-year average).

Tuition, fees and financial aid
The average cost of tuition and fees for the 2013-2014 academic year is $1080 per semester for full-time, in-state students and $2,280 per semester for out-of-state students. Financial aid opportunities are offered to each student at Hinds Community College. Requested applications are submitted to the Financial Aid Office.

Student life
The PTA program is located in Jackson at the Nursing/Allied Health Center of Hinds Community College. Academic courses can be taken at any of the six locations of Hinds Community College. The technical courses, however, are offered only at the Nursing/Allied Health Center. This center offers students state-of-the-art equipment and labs. The students can become involved in student government and various campus organizations.