Associate of Applied Science
PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT

OVERVIEW OF THE PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT PROGRAM

The South College-Asheville Physical Therapist Assistant program is an eight (8) quarter program leading to an Associate of Applied Science degree. Classes may be taught throughout the day and evening, Monday through Friday and Saturday, with additional open lab and library services available on Fridays. Class schedules may change at the discretion of the institution. Students must be committed to considerable out of classroom preparation and study. Certain methods classes require off-campus site attendance. During each of the last two terms, the student is required to successfully complete all clinical internships.

PTA Licensure
Passing a state licensing examination administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy is a requirement for the professional practice in the state of North Carolina. Specific information regarding application for licensure will be available to students during their last term of enrollment. Licensure or registration is not required in every state for the physical therapist assistant to practice. Complete information on practice acts and regulations can be obtained from individual state licensing boards.

Clinical education internships are required and are administrated by South College-Asheville and take place in a variety of health care delivery facilities in the Asheville metropolitan area and beyond. Students are responsible for their own transportation to and from these off campus educational sites. The Physical Therapist Assistant program provides a comprehensive curriculum that includes verifying the competence and professionalism of its students. To promote an optimal educational experience for all students, diversity in teaching methodology is also practiced. As role models, those involved with the program professional. The mission of the program is to develop knowledgeable, motivated, and competent professionals who have the skills necessary to meet the career demands of an entry-level physical therapist assistant.

Mission
The mission of the Physical Therapist Assistant Program is to develop knowledgeable, motivated, and competent professionals who have entry-level skills necessary to meet the demands for a career in the profession of physical therapy, as a physical therapist assistant. South College-Asheville is committed to creating a supportive educational environment as evidenced by the academic and technical experience of the faculty, by the resources made available to students, and by the breadth of the clinical opportunities. The college strives to recruit and retain a student body that is representative of the diversity found in the Asheville community. The primary objective of the PTA Program is to graduate skilled and dedicated

professionals who will assist the health care community in meeting the physical therapy needs of the citizens of Western North Carolina and surrounding regions.

Program Goals

1. Provide an effective comprehensive instructional curriculum that is well rounded in all fundamental concepts and theories as they apply to physical therapy modalities and rehabilitation procedures.
2. Graduate Physical Therapist Assistants who will reflect the highest standards of legal, ethical, and moral conduct.
3. Provide Physical Therapist Assistants whose skills and knowledge are commensurate with the expanding need for physical therapy services in the state of North Carolina, United States, and international community.
4. Work closely with the local physical therapy community in improving the quality of physical therapy services delivery.
5. Maintain excellence in didactic and clinical areas that are pertinent to the faculty's area of instruction.
6. Provide students with opportunities for exposure to a variety of professional experiences including acute care, rehabilitation, extended care and assisted living, outpatient orthopedic, sports medicine, home health and pediatric.

Role of the PTA in Health Care Delivery
Physical therapy is the promotion of optimal human health and function through the application of scientific principles to prevent, identify, correct or alleviate acute or chronic movement dysfunction of anatomical or physiologic origin. A physical therapist assistant is an educated health care provider who works under the supervision of a physical therapist. Their duties include assisting the physical

therapist in exercises and activities of daily living, conducting treatments using special equipment, administering modalities and other treatment procedures, and reporting to the physical therapist on the patient's responses (American Physical Therapy Association).

PTA Admissions Requirements
Prospective students applying for admission to the Physical Therapist Assistant program must meet the following requirements:

1. Meet minimum score requirements on the college entrance examination; or submit documentation of a score of 17 or higher on the ACT Assessment examination; or submit documentation of a 900 combined score or higher on the SAT I examination; or transfer from an accredited collegiate institution with 15 quarter/12 semester earned credit hours of college level academic courses with a cumulative grade point average of not less than 3.0
2. Complete and submit the South College-Asheville PTA Program Application.
3. Successfully complete the interview process that includes two (2) interviews, both with an oral and written portion, and achieve a score of seventy-five (75) percent or better on each interview.
4. Submit three (3) letters of reference (no family members) utilizing the program's reference form. These reference forms will be scored and must average seventy-five (75) percent or better.
5. Submit proof of at least twenty-four (24) hours of observation and/or work hours in a physical therapy setting using the form provided by the PTA program.
6. Complete all required general education core courses and earn the minimum grade required by the PTA Program of "C" or better.
7. Commit to full-time attendance and participation in a rigorous educational program, significant out of class preparation time, and internship assignments off campus.

Students applying to the Physical Therapist Assistant program MUST accept the following:

1. A felony conviction may affect ability to attain state licensure.
2. Failure to produce proof of the following may severely limit fieldwork placement (possibly increasing the overall length of the program) and future employment options:
• Negative TB test
• Hepatitis B vaccination or waiver
• Health release to participate in clinical internships. A physician's certification that a student is in good general health
• Other immunizations, such as MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella)
• A current CPR certification
• Criminal background check, including fingerprinting (increasingly required by internship sites and required for employment in North Carolina)

Prospective students transferring credit into the PTA program should consult with the Dean of Academic Affairs regarding transferability of credit, whose decision is final. There is no guarantee that transfer credit will be given for major curriculum courses. The applicant must demonstrate the functional capacities described in the following chart. Any students who believe that they are unable to meet these requirements without special accommodation should contact the PTA Department Chair immediately. A determination regarding whether or not to grant a special accommodation will be made based on the particular circumstances of the case in question. Under no circumstances will the college make accommodations that will endanger patients or other students.

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