Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Program

The program consists of courses in the sciences, as well as requiring coursework in communication and general psychology. PTA technical courses include both theory and supervised laboratory practice. The program also includes clinical experience that is sequenced throughout the two years, thus providing adequate time for the student to practice the skills, knowledge, and attitudes learned in the coursework.

Upon successful completion of the program, the graduate is awarded an "Associate of Applied Science" degree.

Curriculum

Once enrolled in the program, courses must be taken in the identified sequence with the exception of the following: ++ Medical Terminology or PTA Terminology must be completed prior to Term III.  (It is noted that during Term III, only Medical Terminology would be available); Introduction to Psychology must be completed prior to Term IV.  Humanities elective may be taken anytime prior to Term V.

*Courses which may be taken prior to entering the program, but prerequisites may need to be taken.  Anatomy and Physiology must be taken within five years of beginning the program.  Kinesiology must be taken within three years of starting the program. Students must earn a "C" or better in BIO-206 Anatomy and Physiology I prior to taking a Kinesiology.

All clinical courses (PTA-300, PTA-301, PTA-302, PTA-400, PTA-401) will be assigned a pass/fail grade and will not be calculated in the student's GPA.

**These clinical courses extend outside the standard weeks of the term.  See individual course descriptions.

Instructor Profile:

Carol Patnode, M.A., P.T.A.
I earned my associate degree as a PTA from St. Mary's College in Minneapolis, MN in 1984 and my MA in Psychology from St. Mary's University of Minnesota in 1995.  I worked as a PTA for 13 years at various facilities throughout the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.  My experience has focused more on working with the elderly and neurological/orthopedic issues with adults.  I have been teaching at NIACC since 1996, and also serve the program by coordinating the clinical component of the student's education and as the Program Leader.

Susan Callanan, D.P.T.
I earned my doctorate of physical therapy degree from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska in 1998 and my bachelors of science degree from Iowa State University in 1995.  My clinical experience has been primarily working in home health and inpatient acute care settings in the area of orthopedics.  I joined the faculty at NIACC in August of 2000.

Program Strengths:

• The class size is limited to 18 students, which allows for more individualized instruction and less sharing of equipment during labs.
  
• The clinical component is woven throughout the two years so that the student is provided with an opportunity to practice skills learned during each semester. There is a total of 19 weeks of clinical experience over the course of the program.
  
• With the guidance and support of the faculty, a structured format is provided in which each student is assisted in the development of professional behaviors.

Degree Earned/Licensure:
In order for the graduate to practice physical therapy, a license is required in most states. The NIACC PTA Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, and therefore graduates of the program are eligible to sit for the national licensure examination. The NIACC licensure pass rate average for the past three year period is 97 percent.

Program Entrance Requirements:
The applicant must have a high school diploma or equivalent, and meet two of the three following criteria: 1) Be in the upper half of their graduating class; 2) Have a minimum of a 3.0 high school GPA; 3) Have an ACT composite score of 20 or higher. Applicants who do not meet the above requirements or those with a poor academic history, may meet entrance requirements by successfully completing approved college courses. This needs to be discussed with a NIACC counselor.  The applicant must provide documentation of 12 hours of observation in a P.T. Clinic.

Prerequisites for the Program:
The following courses must be completed with a grade of "C" or better prior to entrance into the program:

1. Four semesters of high school/college preparatory math or two semesters of college equivalent math
   
2. Two semesters of high school/college preparatory biology or one semester of college biology
   
3. Two semesters of high school/college preparatory chemistry or physics or one semester of college chemistry or physics
   

Program Costs:
As of the 2009-2010 academic year, tuition fees and and textbook costs for the five semesters totals $11,741. Additional costs may be incurred.

Applying for the Program:
Application packets are available in the Student Services Office, and may be submitted at any time. All applicants who meet the entrance requirements will be accepted in order of the date on their application.

PTAs Are Employed At:
PTAs are employed at a variety of settings including, but not limited to, the following: hospitals, private practice clinics, rehabilitation centers, home health agencies, sports injury clinics, long-term care facilities, industrial settings, and schools.

Salaries/Career Outlook:
According to the United States Department of Labor, the annual mean wage salary of the physical therapist assistant was $46,410 in 2008, and employment of the physical therapist assistant is expected to increase by 29 percent through the year 2016.

The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at NIACC is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). Contact Information for CAPTE is:

The Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education
Department of Accreditation
American Physical Therapy Association
111 North Fairfax Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
Telephone: 703-706-3245
Website: www.apta.org/CAPTE

Financial Aid Information

E-mail and Phone Numbers:

Carol Patnode, PTA Faculty/Program Leader,  phone: 641-422-4339,e-mail:  patnocar@niacc.edu

Susan Callanan, D.P.T., PTA Faculty, phone: 641- 422-4166, e-mail: callasus@niacc.edu

Donna Orton, Division Chairperson,  phone: 641-422-4216, email: ortondon@niacc.edu

Student Services, phone: 1-888-GO NIACC, extension: 4207

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