Physical Therapist Assistant 6400, A.S.

A Two-Year Restricted Admission Program Leading to the A.S. Degree

The Physical Therapist Assistant Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). Upon successful completion of this program, graduates are eligible to take the National PTA Exam to become certified physical therapist assistants. The aim of the program is to prepare graduates to work under the supervision of licensed physical therapists in a variety of settings, including: hospitals, rehabilitation centers, sports medicine clinics, nursing homes, extended care units, home health agencies, and school systems. Transportation, housing and meals during clinical affiliations are the students’ responsibility.

The history, philosophy and procedures of physical therapist assisting are interwoven with study in general education and the basic physical and social sciences. The specialized curriculum includes theory and clinical experience in the technical skills related to the practice of physical therapist assisting. Applicants are accepted to the program during the fall semester only. Information regarding fees and tuition may be obtained on the Vincennes University website at www.vinu.edu.

Program Goals

Upon completion of the educational program the graduate will:

1. Be able to safely and competently function as a Physical Therapist Assistant, under the direction of a Physical Therapist, abiding by ethical standards as established by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA).
2. Effectively convert the knowledge and skills gained within the PTA program to successful completion of the appropriate state licensure examination and to employment  situations.
3. Seek out opportunities to continue professional and personal development for ongoing improvement of skills related to the delivery of Physical Therapy services.

Selection Process

The selection process for Vincennes University’s Physical Therapist Assistant Program is based on the premise that student selection is vital to the development and maintenance of a strong program. The standards of selection will also contribute to the quality of care administered by graduates of this program. The Physical Therapist Assistant Program leads to an Associate of Science degree in Physical Therapist Assisting. In order to successfully complete this program, students must be highly motivated and have an academic background sufficient to cope with the curriculum. Due to the high number of applicants for this program, selection is competitive in nature and involves review by the Program’s Admission Committee. All applicants are required to apply for admission to the Physical Therapist Assistant Program through the University Admissions Office. Applicants will be notified by letter regarding their status in the program. All applicants will be evaluated on an individual basis.

Preference is given to applicants with two or more years of life science courses and who receive a grade of B or higher in Anatomy and Physiology I and II. Only Anatomy and Physiology I, Anatomy and Physiology II, and Medical Terminology for Allied Health taken less than five years prior to admission to the PTA program will be considered for credit. Students seeking credit for Anatomy and Physiology I, Anatomy and Physiology II, and/or Medical Terminology for Allied Health that was taken longer than five years prior to admission to the program may elect to enroll in the course and seek early completion. Compliance with all criteria does not guarantee acceptance.

Admission Requirements

Prior to being admitted to the program, students must:

1. Meet admission requirements of the University.
2. Possess physical and mental health acceptable for performance in the occupation as evidenced by examination by a licensed physician.
3. Participate in volunteer/work hours in at least three different Physical Therapy settings prior to acceptance to the program (for example, one experience in an outpatient setting, one experience in an inpatient setting or in a rehabilitation setting). Applicants must complete a minimum of 8 hours in each setting for a total of 24 hours. Forms for volunteer hours must be completed prior to acceptance to the program. Volunteer hour’s forms will be sent to applicants that meet the minimum admission requirements of the Physical Therapist Assistant Program.
4. Release criminal background information to the Physical Therapist Assistant Program prior to admission. The background check will be at the applicant’s expense. A prior conviction or prior criminal activity will not automatically bar the applicant from admission to the Physical Therapist Assistant Program. The applicant should provide a detailed explanation of the offenses or convictions. The Admissions Committee will review the case and make a determination as to whether the prior criminal activity makes the applicant unsuitable for practice or unlikely to be licensed at the completion of the applicant’s education.
5. Meet all requirements in one of the following admission categories:
   1. Admission requirements for applicants with less than 12 college credit hours:
      1. Qualify for placement into MATH 102  or higher as determined by the Vincennes University Placement Test (Accuplacer).
      2. Qualify for exemption from READ 011  as determined by placement test scores (e.g. SAT, ACT, or other standardized placement tests as accepted by Vincennes University.)
      3. Qualify for placement into ENGL 101  as determined by placement tests (e.g. SAT, ACT, or other standardized placement tests as accepted by Vincennes University.
      4. Graduate from an accredited high school. General Education Development (GED) will be acceptable if ranking is above the seventieth percentile.
      5. Possess a minimum High School GPA of 2.7 on a 4.0 scale.
   2. Admission requirements for applicants with 12 college credit hours or more:
      1. Supply Registrar’s Office with official transcript.
      2. Possess a minimum GPA of 2.7 with no grades less than C in courses that are within the PTA curriculum.

Notes:

• Applicants who do not meet the above requirements will be advised into the pre-physical therapist assistant curriculum and must complete twelve hours of college credit (100 level or above) with a 2.7 grade point average in order to qualify for admission consideration. Upon completion of these courses, students are required to reapply through the Admissions Office in order to be reviewed for admission into the PTA program. Completion of these courses does not guarantee acceptance into the program.
• Applicants may repeat an academic course one time only in order to raise the grade to a C or better and maintain a minimum GPA of 2.7

Registering for Physical Therapist Assistant Coursework

Prior to beginning Physical Therapist Assistant coursework, students must:

1. Possess current certification in Basic Life Support (American Red Cross, CPR Professional Rescue or American Heart Association Healthcare Provider level).
2. Possess current immunizations and annual TB (PPD) test, and provide verification of Hepatitis B inoculation or refusal thereof.
3. File a medical/physical form, immunization records form, and the Hepatitis B vaccination form with the University Health Service Office. In some cases, drug screening may be required by the clinical affiliation site at the student’s expense.

Notes:

• A fee for liability insurance will be charged through the University Bursar’s Office.
• Students are strongly urged to maintain health insurance coverage. Any costs for necessary health care will be the responsibility of the student.

Standards for Progression and Graduation

In order to progress through the program to graduation, students must:

1. Successfully complete all required science courses sequentially as outlined on the curriculum page.
2. Successfully complete Anatomy and Physiology I, Anatomy and Physiology II, and Medical Terminology for Allied Health by the end of Semester II.
3. Successfully complete all other non-PTA courses required in the curriculum prior to the end of Semester IV.
4. Achieve a minimum grade of C in all required courses and maintain a grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 each semester.

Note:

• Failure to meet the above requirements will result in withdrawal from the program.

Policy and Procedures for Readmission

1. Students receiving a course grade less than a “C” in any PTA course or support course must withdraw from the program.
2. Students receiving a grade of “F” in any PTA course are not eligible to reapply for the program.
3. Students meeting requirements may be readmitted one time only to the PTA Program. If a student withdraws or is unsuccessful in the second attempt, the student is not eligible for readmission to the PTA Program.
4. Students that fail a PTA required competency three times will be withdrawn from the program and arenot eligible to apply for readmission.
5. Students dismissed from the program due to attendance, behavior, or any other reason deemed by faculty, are not eligible to apply for readmission.
6. Students seeking readmission must apply through the Vincennes University Admissions Office. Applicants must meet all criteria and will be considered in relationship with all other qualified PTA applicants;therefore, readmission applicants are not given preference over other qualified applicants.
7. Students readmitted to the PTA Program must begin the Program at the PTAS 110  level. No credit is given for previous PTA courses completed, regardless of the grade received for that course.
8. Students granted readmission must meet the PTA Program Standards for Progression and Graduation throughout the second admission.