General Program Description

The College is a member of the Missouri Health Professions Consortium. The PTA Program is housed in Jefferson City, Missouri, with expansion sites in Poplar Bluff, Missouri and Trenton, Missouri. Lecture classes feature videoconference delivery and lab instruction is face-to-face at each site. Classes are held Monday thru Thursday. The program utilizes a 1+1 model with general education courses in the first year and all technical courses in the last three semesters.

Clinical Experiences
Clinical education begins in the fourth semester and includes three separate clinical rotations. Clinical I (integrated) is 4 weeks, Clinical II is 6 weeks, and Clinical III is 6 weeks. Clinical education experiences total 632 hours and are provided in a variety of settings. These could include hospitals, rehabilitation centers, schools, home health, private practices, and long-term care facilities. The curriculum requires participation in both in-patient and out-patient clinical experiences. The student is responsible for all costs associated with clinical education experience including but limited to travel, housing, food, etc.

Faculty
The faculty consists of the Program Director, Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education, instructors and adjunct instructors. In addition, other PTs, PTAs and medical experts serve as lab assistants and guest lecturers. General education instruction is provided by college faculty at all consortium sites. All Linn State general education courses are available at the location in Jefferson City, Missouri.

Enrollment
Total enrollment at the college is approximately 1100 students. Each August, the physical therapist assistant program enrolls into the technical portion of the curriculum, 25 students at the Jefferson City location and 12-14 students at each expansion site.

Admission
A selection committee determines admission. Applicants must have a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 and minimum composite ACT score of 18. Applicants must submit the following: high school transcript and official transcripts of any previous college course work; 40 documented hours of volunteer, observation or work experience in the field of physical therapy (college forms); 3 recommendations (college forms); and a personal essay about qualities, characteristics and career goals. Transfer of credit is available upon submission of transcript(s) for qualifying course work. Applications and all required documentation must be submitted by February 15 prior to the year in which the applicant wishes to begin the technical courses. The PTA program begins a new class each fall. A physical examination and immunization report is required prior to enrollment. A criminal background check is required prior to clinical placement and a drug screen may be required. A National licensure exam must be passed in order to practice as a PTA.

Outcomes
Outcome data for matriculation, graduation, employment and licensure pass rates may be found on the LSTC website at: http://www.linnstate.edu/academic/pta/facts.php

Tuition, fees and financial aid
Tuition is $209 (in-state) per credit hour. Books, insurance, and costs associated with clinical education are additional. Students at expansion sites are required to travel to Jefferson City for testing at the end of each lab course. Students are responsible for associated costs. Comprehensive financial aid programs, including state and federal grants and loans, and work-study and scholarships, are available. Linn State Technical College participates in the following programs: Federal Pell Grant; Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant; Federal College Work Study; Federal Stafford Student Loan; Federal Parent Loan (PLUS); Private/Alternative Loan; Displaced Homemakers and Single Parents; Access Missouri Grant Program; Missouri A+ Schools Program; Missouri Higher Education Academic Scholarship Program (Bright Flight). Financial aid assistance may be obtained by calling the Financial Aid Office at 573/897-5143 or 573/897-5241 or 573/897-5145 or 800/743-8324.

Student life
Linn State Technical College is located in Linn, Missouri, approximately 20 miles east of the PTA Program location in Jefferson City, Missouri. The technical curriculum of the PTA program (2nd year courses) are also offered at Trenton, Missouri on the campus of North Central Missouri College and at Poplar Bluff, Missouri on the campus of Three Rivers College.