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Fall Semester 1
Prefix	Number	Title	Class	Lab	Clinical	Credit
BIO	168	Anatomy and Physiology I	3	3	0	4
ENG	111	Writing & Inquiry	3	0	0	3
PHY	125	Health Science Physics	3	2	0	4
PTA	110	Introduction to Physical Therapy	2	3	0	3
PTA	130	Physical Therapy Procedure I	1	6	0	3
		Totals	12	14	0	17
Spring Semester 1
BIO	169	Anatomy and Physiology II	3	3	0	4
ENG	114	Professional Research and Reporting	3	0	0	3
PTA	120	Functional Anatomy	1	6	0	3
PTA	140	Therapeutic Exercise	2	6	0	4
PTA	150	Physical Therapy Procedure II	1	6	0	3
		Totals	10	21	0	17
Summer Semester 1
PTA	160	Physical Therapy Procedure III	2	3	0	3
PTA	170	Pathophysiology	3	0	0	3
PTA	180	PTA Clinical Education Introduction	0	0	9	3
PTA	212	Health Care/Resources	2	0	0	2
		Totals	7	3	9	11
Fall Semester 2
HUM	115	Critical Thinking	3	0	0	3
PSY	150	General Psychology	3	0	0	3
PTA	182	PTA Clinical Ed I	0	0	6	2
PTA	222	Professional Interactions	2	0	0	2
PTA	240	Physical Therapy Procedure IV	3	6	0	5
PTA	254	Pediatrics for the PTA	0	3	0	1
PTA	280	PTA Issues I	1	0	0	1
PTA	282	PTA Issues II	0	3	0	1
		Totals	12	12	6	18
Spring Semester 2
PTA	260	Advanced PTA Clinical Education	0	0	30	10
PTA	270	PTA Topics	1	0	0	1
PTA	252	Geriatrics for the PTA	2	0	0	2
		Totals	3	0	30	13

ADMISSIONS CRITERIA

Suggested preparatory courses for individuals desiring a career as a physical therapist assistant would include biology, medical terminology, or other courses recommended by the program advisor. Other specific recommendations may be made through individual advising with a program advisor.

The program has a limited enrollment and only admits a class in the fall of each year. Applications and supporting documents must be completed and submitted by February 15 of the year in which the student wishes to enroll in the program. If all slots have not been filled after the above deadline, there may be extensions to the deadline. Please check with the Admissions Office about the status of the program.
 
PHASE I - To be completed by March 1
The applicant must:

1. If you are not currently enrolled at SCC complete an application to the college. Designate Physical Therapy Assistant AAS Degree (A45620) as the program of interest. If you are a current student, see Admissions if you are not registered as a pre-physical therapist student.
2. Be a high school graduate or have earned a high school equivalency diploma (GED).  Exception: current high school students
3. Submit official copies of all transcripts (high school and college). Transcripts must be sent directly from the institution. It is the responsibility of the applicant to assure that all necessary records are sent to the Admissions Office. 
4. Have a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 or higher on a 4.0 scale on the most recent academic transcript for the last 10 hours of college credits.If you do not have college credits, your cumulative grade point average will be taken from your high school transcript. 
5. Meet the Southwestern Community College Placement Test requirement. This may be met by one of the following:
   1. High school GPA of 2.8 or higher within the past 10 years
   2. High school GPA of 2.2-2.79 within the past 10 years: student will be eligible for admission after successful completion of ENG 111 and the corresponding corequisite. This is a required corequisite for the program.
   3. High school GPA of below 2.2 within the past 10 years: student will be eligible for admission after completion of required transition English and math courses.
   4. High school graduation prior to the past 10 years: student will be eligible for Phase II of the selective admission process after successful completion of the RISE placement test or the required transition English and math courses.
6. Must take ATI TEAS-Allied Health exam. Details for testing dates and times can be secured from the advisor. It is used to measure your potential to be successful in the program. You may take the test one time per annual application period. A minimal score of 60 is required. For more information, visit https://www.southwesterncc.edu/testing-center/teas-v-nursing-test-essential-academic-skills
7. Complete ACA 111 or equivalent course with a grade of "C" or better if you do not have at least 10 hours of college credits.
8. Contact the program coordinator to schedule an advising session. During the advising session, the point scale and observation hours requirements for applicants will be reviewed. 

PHASE II
All components from Phase I must be completed to allow a candidate to progress to Phase II. A point scale is utilized to determine the numerical top 40 candidates from Phase I who qualify. The Phase I point scale is available by request from the program faculty.  Program Standards 

PHASE III
Selected applicants will be notified by the Admissions Office of provisional acceptance to the program. Once an applicant returns the signed Acknowledgement of Acceptance form to the Admissions Office.

Those individuals who are notified of acceptance status, will also be provided with SCC health forms to be completed by the appropriate medical personnel. The completed medical forms must indicate that the candidate is capable of meeting the physical requirements for the program. All conditionally accepted candidates must return the health forms at a scheduled required informational session prior to the beginning of the fall semester I. As part of this session, candidates must successfully complete a physical demands activity which includes essential abilities for the field of physical therapy. PTA Physical Demands

Notes:

1. Applicants are responsible for submitting all the necessary records to the Admissions Office.
2. Applications must be updated annually by applicants who were not accepted the previous year.
3. Applicants may take non-Physical Therapist Assistant, general education and related coursework prior to being accepted into the program.
4. Contact your advisor for detailed information about the objective selection process.
5. All students admitted into a health science program may be required to submit to a criminal background check and drug testing a minimum of once each academic year. Additional testing may be required by facilities in which the students are completing clinical coursework. The results of these tests could affect the student’s ability to progress in the program.
6. All students completing a health science program may be required, by an external testing agency, to submit to a criminal background check and/ or drug test prior to a state or national licensing/certification board approving the graduate to sit for licensure/certification exams.
7. A student who presents problems of physical or emotional health at any time throughout the program and has not responded to appropriate treatment within a reasonable period of time will be required to withdraw from the program. Any student whose behavior conflicts with safety may also be required to withdraw from the program.

 

CLINICAL EDUCATION

Clinical education will be provided at cooperating health care facilities and other related settings. Many of these sites may require the student to relocate or travel extensively for this part of the program. All expenses are the student’s responsibility.

PROGRAM REVIEW
Program Graduates, Licensure Passage, and Employment Rates