General Program Description
The PTA program consists of 31 credit hours of general education course work and 40 credit hours of physical therapist assistant courses. The lecture components of each PTA course is offered only in the on-line format. Most of the on-line courses have weekly on-site laboratory sessions with required attendance. Upon acceptance to the PTA program, students enroll in courses directly associated with the practice and procedures of the physical therapy profession as well as general education courses. PTA coursework includes functional anatomy/kinesiology, patient care skills, clinical orthopedics, therapeutic modalities, clinical neurology, and therapeutic exercise. Most PTA courses include lecture and laboratory components. Students must maintain a GPA of 2.0 to progress through the the program. Upon completion of the didactic and clinical components of the programs, students are eligible to apply to take the state licensure exam in Ohio or in the state in which they plan to be employed. Graduates are expected to follow the guidelines established by the state’s regulatory board to obtain licensure as a physical therapist assistant. Most states, including Ohio, require the passage of the National Physical Therapy Examination as part of the process to obtain licensure in the state.
Clinical Experiences
Two part-time directed practices (clinical experience) are integrated with the theoretical coursework in the second year of the program. During the final spring semester, students are required to complete a 7-week full-time directed practice (clinical experience). All directed practices are completed under the supervision of a PT or PTA in a variety of clinical environments including hospitals, rehabilitation agencies, private practices, skilled nursing facilities, and home health agencies.
Faculty
Two full-time faculty oversee the usual operation of the program. Adjunct faculty are employed as needed. The current full-time faculty members are engaged in limited clinical practice. The faculty to student ratio is 1:25 for lecture, 1:10 for lab.
Enrollment
The college has a total enrollment of approximately 5600 students. The physical therapist assistant program admits up to a maximum of 36 students each September.
Admission
The PTA program is space-limited and admission is offered through a competitive process. Details are provided in the PTA Program Application Handbook that can be obtained from the Clark State website (www.clarkstate.edu) linked within information regarding the Physical Therapist Assistant Program, on the petitioning webpage at http://www.clarkstate.edu/petitioning_process, from the Admissions office, or the Health, Human and Public Services division office. Applicants apply for admission into the program once they complete all application requirements. These requirements include completion of chemistry, biology and physics, readiness for college level english and math, and a GPA of 2.5 in prerequisite (application) and curricular courses. Additionally, students are required to complete sixty hours of observation of physical therapy services under the supervision of a PT or PTA prior to application.
Outcomes
Information reported is from the December 2013 Annual Assessment Report to CAPTE and includes the graduating classes of 2011, 2012, and 2013. Additional information about graduation rates can be requested from the Program Coordinator. Graduation rate*: 74.83% *Graduation Rate as defined by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) is completion of the program within 150% of the length of the program. Licensure Pass Rate **: 97.3% **Program Ultimate Pass rate as reported by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy. Employment rate***: 97.7% ***Reflects employment rate of graduates who were eligible for and sought employment as a PTA within 6 months of graduation.
Tuition, fees and financial aid
Tuition and fees for the 2013-2014 academic year are $136.00 per credit hour for in-state students and $254.00 per credit hour for out-of-state students. Lab and certification fees range from $40.00 to $70.00 per semester in the 1st and 2nd year. Financial assistance is available to students who, without such 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 upon request from the financial aid office.
Student life
The PTA program is primarily housed in the Applied Science Center on the Leffel Lane Campust. Laboratory sessions are also offered in nearby Columbus, Ohio through an agreement with a large physical therapy provider. PTA courses are offered during the daytime hours on a regular basis and during the evening hours in both Springfield and Columbus as enrollment and staffing allow. General education courses are offered frequently in multiple formats (traditional, on-line, and hybrid). An on-campus wellness and fitness program, school nurse and physician, counseling and tutoring services, and disabled student services are available to students. Clark State has recently opened the Sara T. Landess Technology and Learning Center on the main Springfield campus, a satellite facility in Greene County in Beavercreek, Ohio, the new Hollenbeck Conference and Creative Arts Center in downtown Springfield, and a new Student Success Center is under construction. The intercollegiate athletic program offers men’s basketball and baseball and women’s basketball, volleyball, and softball. Tennis facilities are available on campus, and students and faculty have access to a pool at a nearby YMCA. Students are active in student government and clubs, including the physical therapist assistant club. Clark State Community College also has a large performing arts center that hosts local and national performing artists. There is access to hunting, fishing, water and snow sports. Larger cities, such as Dayton and Columbus, are within an hour drive.