Physical Therapist Assistant (9365)

Physical therapist assistants (PTAs) provide physical therapist services under the direction and supervision of a physical therapist. PTAs implement components of patient care, obtain data related to the treatments provided, and collaborate with the physical therapist. PTAs assist the physical therapist in the treatment of individuals of all ages, from newborns to people at the end of life. PTAs provide interventions designed to maximize a patient's movement potential, whether for rehabilitation from injury or illness, improving function for those with chronic movement limitations, or promoting healthy behaviors to prevent future problems.

PTAs work in a variety of settings which include hospitals, nursing homes, school systems, outpatient centers, private practices of physical therapists, and inpatient rehabilitation facilities.

Lakeland's Physical Therapist Assistant degree program prepares students to be competent entry-level PTAs.  Upon satisfactory completion of the program requirements, graduates are eligible to take the National Physical Therapy Licensure Examination (NPTE) for PTAs, which is necessary for state licensure.  Students convicted of any felony or misdemeanor may be prohibited from applying for the NPTE.

Students must be admitted to the Physical Therapist Assistant program to enroll in PTAS courses.  The Physical Therapist Assistant program consists of five semesters, the first of which consists of prerequisites which students must complete before being admitted into the program.  Other general education courses may be taken prior to admission to the program. Students may submit the application to the PTA program during the semester in which they are enrolled in prerequisite courses, and will be granted conditional acceptance if all other requirements are met. Full acceptance will be granted once all prerequisite courses are completed with the required grades.  

All students enrolled in a nursing or allied health program/certificate must complete a criminal background check.  In accordance with clinical site requirements, students with a criminal record may be ineligible to participate in a clinical education experience course. Delays, for any reason, in obtaining background results may cause an interruption in the clinical rotation sequence or inability to complete program requirements.  Additional background screening may be required by individual facilities. Instructions on completing the background check and drug screen will be provided once the student begins the program. No action is required prior to acceptance.

Drug testing may be requested in accordance with clinical affiliation requirements and/or for patient/ student health and safety.

A minimum GPA of 2.0 and a "C" grade or higher is required in all physical therapist assistant and general education courses as listed in the curriculum guide for the Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in Physical Therapist Assisting. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grades may not be used to fulfill health program requirements.

PTA PROGRAM ACCREDITATION STATEMENT

The Physical Therapist Assistant program at Lakeland Community College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: http://www.capteonline.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 440-525-7470 or email ldaigle1@lakelandcc.edu.

Admission Procedures

Students must meet specific admission requirements for this program. Students must have completed or be enrolled in the prerequisite courses in order to submit a valid application. Conditional acceptance will be offered to students who are currently enrolled in any prerequisite courses, and full acceptance will be granted upon completion of the course(s) with the required grade(s). Listed below are requirements for admission to the Physical Therapist Assistant program:

This option is for current high school seniors or high school graduates who apply to the program within two years of high school graduation.

• Complete college application(s).
• Composite score of 21 or higher on the American College Test (ACT) or combined score of 940 on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT).
• Place into MATH 1330 Statistics for the Health Sciences or higher or pass MATH 0850 Beginning Algebra
• Complete high school algebra, chemistry, and biology with a "C" grade or higher.
• An overall high school GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale or equivalent.
• Meet with a counselor to review program prerequisites and requirements.

Applicants must have completed BIOL 2210 Anatomy and Physiology I and HLTH 1215 Medical Terminology for Health Professions with a combined GPA of 2.5 or higher.  Students must also complete the following courses with a “C” grade or higher:

• BIOL 2210 Anatomy and Physiology I
• ENGL 1110 English Composition I (A) or ENGL 1111 English Composition I (B)
• FYEX 1000 First Year Experience
• HLTH 1215 Medical Terminology for Health Professions
• PSYC 1500 Introduction to Psychology

Upon successful completion of the above criteria, the applicant will be admitted into the program.

This option is for students who do not qualify for admission under Option 1.

• Complete college application(s).
• Submit high school transcript as well as any college transcript(s).
• Complete the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) with a minimum combined score of 62. Two attempts are permitted.
• Meet with a counselor to review program prerequisites and requirements.

Applicants must have completed BIOL 2210 Anatomy and Physiology I and HLTH 1215 Medical Terminology for Health Professions with a combined GPA of 2.5 or higher.  Students must also complete the following courses with a “C” grade or higher:

• BIOL 2210 Anatomy and Physiology I
• ENGL 1110 English Composition I (A) or ENGL 1111 English Composition I (B)
• FYEX 1000 First Year Experience
• HLTH 1215 Medical Terminology for Health Professions
• PSYC 1500 Introduction to Psychology

NOTE:  Students must meet one of these requirements to take BIOL 2210 Anatomy and Physiology I with a "C" or higher:

• High school biology within last five years and high school chemistry.
• High school biology within last five years and CHEM 1100 Elementary Chemistry I: Intro to Inorganic Chemistry
• BIOL 1200 Fundamentals of Biology for the Health Technologies

Students are required to take the Math Placement Test and be placed into MATH 1330 Statistics for the Health Sciences or higher or complete MATH 0850 Beginning Algebra with a "C" grade or higher.

Students pursuing this option must have an Associate of Applied Science degree in Nursing or Allied Health, an Associate of Science degree, or a bachelor’s degree. Preadmission TEAS testing is waived for applicants who qualify for Option 3.  All other Option 2 requirements apply.

NOTE:  The technical courses must be taken at Lakeland Community College and may not be transferred to Lakeland.