Objective:

To prepare students to work under the direction of physical therapists to carry out patient treatment plans in a variety of patient care settings.

Specific degree requirements:

The Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) curriculum is sequenced in two phases. The first phase consists of a minimum of 31 credit hours of general education curriculum that must be successfully completed before a student is eligible to apply for the PTA Program. Admission to the PTA Program is selective and competitive. Completion of the prerequisite curriculum does not guarantee admission to the PTA Program. Admission to the PTA Program begins the second phase, and consists of 27 credit hours of classroom and laboratory activities related to physical therapy, and 14 credit hours of clinical practice experiences under the direct supervision of a physical therapist participating in patient care. In order to complete the Associate of Applied Science in PTA, clinical PTA students must pass all program classes with a "C" or better while also maintaining a 2.500 per semester GPA.

After completion of the program PTA Program graduates will need to take and pass the National Physical Therapy Examination to be eligible to apply for a license to practice as a PTA in the state of Louisiana.

The PTA Program at BPCC is accredited by the Commission of Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education of the American Physical Therapy Association.

Application Process/Policy for Admission to the PTA Program:

For the general admissions procedure for all Allied Health Programs, students should refer to the section of the Catalog entitled Division of Science and Allied Health.

The selection process for the PTA Program begins each spring. Students are selected in the first few weeks of summer and should be available to begin class in July, on the first day of the "C Session" of the summer semester. Pre-PTA students must meet program specific criteria in the areas outlined below to be eligible for an interview.

• Cumulative GPA must be 2.00 or higher; application GPA (calculated using pre-PTA course grades and cumulative science course grades) must be 2.50 or higher; and students must earn a "C" or better in all pre-PTA courses.
• It is strongly advised that all prerequisite courses be completed by the end of the spring semester in the application year. In some situations, up to 3 credit hours may be completed in the first summer session, when available and with prior approval of the academic advisor.
• Application packet must be received by April 15 to be considered.
• WorkKeys Skills Assessment must be taken prior to the end of the spring semester and student must achieve an acceptable score for Physical Therapist Assistant.
• Students must complete a minimum of 40 observation hours in two different settings with two different licensed physical therapy providers.

Interview Process/Policy:

Interviews are conducted in early June of each year. The qualified applicants will be scheduled for an interview with the program Admissions Committee. Points will be computed from all eligibility requirements and added to the interview scores for final selection. Applicants will be notified by mail of their selection status.

Special Requirements and Considerations:

All qualified applicants who meet one of the following additional criteria will be given a point preference with the computing of their interview qualification score:

• Successful completion, with a grade of "C" or higher, fifteen hours of class credit at BPCC (minimum of eight credit hours in science)
• Previously earned bachelor's degree

The PTA Program has established "Essential Requirements," which identify occupational specific technical standards required of students in the program. A copy of these essential requirements is included in the application packet and should be reviewed by students when preparing to apply.

Students who are selected for the PTA Program must be available for daytime, evening , and occasional weekend classes. In addition, based upon clinical site availability, PTA students will be required to complete one or more clinical rotations (4-5 weeks in duration) at an out-of-town facility. Upon selection, each student will be required to submit the following documentation directly to the PTA Program office:

• Proof of testing for or immunization against MMR, TB, Tetanus, Hepatitis B, and Varicella-Zoster
• Health status statement signed by a physician
• Proof of current health insurance coverage (maintained throughout the Program)
• Proof of current CPR certification (maintained throughout the Program)

It is the responsibility of the student to become familiar with the Allied Health Student and Clinical Handbook and the rules outlined in the Code of Conduct of Bossier parish Community College. Failure to comply with the rules will result in dismissal from the PTA Program.

In addition to tuition, a clinical fee will be assessed each selected student for each clinical practice course each semester.

"PTA Program Frequently Asked Questions"