General Program Description
The PTA Program at Hocking College is a five semester program, consisting of two semesters of general education courses and three semesters of technical courses including clinical education. During the initial two semesters, students are required to complete courses in Anatomy & Physiology, English, Math, Psychology, Communication, Ethics, and Medical Terminology for a total of 32 semester credit hours. Once the student has completed these courses, 50 observation hours, and beginning in 2015, taken the TEAS test, they are eligible to apply for admission to the technical portion of the program. Students are admitted to the technical portion of the program in August of each year. These courses include advanced anatomy, kinesiology, patient care skills, therapeutic modalities, musculoskeletal conditions which includes principles of exercise, pathophysiology of disease, cardiopulmonary function, rehabiliation and a series of three clinical experiences. Upon completion of the didactic and clinical components of the program, students are eligible to apply for the state licensure exam in the state in which they plan to work. Students are expected to follow the guidelines established by the state’s regulatory body to obtain licensure as a physical therapist assistant.
Clinical Experiences
Two part-time clinical experiences of 2 days each week for 12 weeks duration are integrated with the theoretical coursework. In the final semester of the program, the students participate in two full-time clinical experiences. Every effort is made to provide each student with experience in acute care, rehabilitation or long-term care, and outpatient settings. Experiences may also include school settings and home health agencies.
Faculty
The core faculty include the Program Coordinator, an ACCE and two additional faculty members. The faculty to student class ratio is 1:30, and, at a minimum, the faculty to student lab ratio is 1:15.
Enrollment
The college enrolls students from Ohio as well as other states. Additionally, there is an international student population representing countries around the world. The PTA program admits 30 students each June.
Admission
An information packet is available upon request. All students accepted to the college may enroll in the first-year general courses. Complete all semester one and semester two course work with a grade of “C” or higher. Students may take a class no more than two times to earn the “C” or higher grade. If the student does not achieve the required grade in two attempts they are not eligible for the PTA program. Obtain an overall minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.5. This applies to courses completed at Hocking College as well as credits transferred from another institution. Apply to the Hocking College Physical Therapist Assistant program (admission to the first year – semesters one and two – of the PTA program). Submit an official high school transcript or GED. Complete 50 observation/volunteer hours. Twenty (20) hours must be completed in an acute care setting, and thirty (30) hours must be completed in a non-acute setting such as a clinic, rehab or long-term care center OR the equivalent in full-time or part-time employment in a physical therapy department. Observation hours must be performed no more than two years prior to the date of application to Hocking College. Completion of these hours must be submitted on the Hocking College observation log form found on the Hocking College website. Obtain two positive recommendations from the Physical Therapist (PT) or Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA), not related to the applicant, under whom you observed or were employed. Recommendations must be completed on the Hocking College PTA recommendation form found on the Hocking College website. Complete the TEAS V exam and submit the score. The test score must be dated within the past 18 months to be eligible for selection into the clinical year of the program. Information related to the TEAS exam schedule will be available June 2015. Once you have met all admission requirements you must submit a PTA Clinical Year Application. The Clinical Year Application deadline is January 1 of each year.
Outcomes
The three year pass rate from 2010, 2011, 2012 is 93.33%.
Tuition, fees and financial aid
Full-time tuition for the 2014-20152 academic year is $2195 per semester for in-state students and $4390 per semester for out-of-state students. Financial assistance is available to students who, without aid, would be unable to attend college. A comprehensive program of employment, grants, and scholarships is available through federal, state, and institutional funds. This information is available from the Financial Aid Office.
Student life
The PTA Program is housed in John Light Hall. General education courses are available, and students may obtain an Associate of Applied Science Degree as preparation to the university system. A fitness center, counseling services, tutoring, and services for students with disabilities are available. Dormitory housing is available. Cultural and social opportunities are offered and encouraged through the Office of Student Affairs. An active student government and club program exist on campus. Hocking College is located on 1,600 acres of wooded hills in southeastern Ohio. Hiking, hunting, fishing, horseback riding, swimming, and canoeing are available.