Mar 28, 2024  
2021-2022 SLCC General Catalog 
    
2021-2022 SLCC General Catalog [**** ATTENTION: YOU ARE VIEWING AN ARCHIVED CATALOG ****]

Physical Therapist Assistant: AAS (CTE)


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Associate of Applied Science | 74 credits including prerequisites

Health Professions Division
Jordan Campus
JHS 059
Program Information 801-957-6200
Health Sciences Admissions 801-957-6253
Program Website
Academic and Career Advising

Program Faculty
Professor and Program Coordinator - Kenneth Freeman

Program Description
The Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Program provides both general and technical education. The Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).

The Program consists of four semesters of physical therapist assistant coursework and skill-based instruction in addition to several selected prerequisite courses. Upon successful completion, graduates are awarded an associate of applied science degree. Graduates are able to sit for the National Examination for Physical Therapy Education (NPTE), which allows the individual to be eligible for licensure. To practice as a physical therapist assistant in Utah, licensure is required.

Career Opportunities
The physical therapist assistant is a health care provider working with individuals and their families under the supervision of a physical therapist in providing patient/client care by applying a variety of therapy treatments in a variety of health care settings. Treatment techniques include therapeutic exercises, and physical agent and mechanical modalities. Health care settings include hospitals, extended care facilities, rehabilitation centers, out-patient clinics, sports medicine clinics, workplaces, schools and homes. The physical therapist assistant will be involved in the modification of treatment programs, client/family education and discharge planning under the direction and general supervision of a physical therapist.

Estimated Cost for Students
Current tuition and student fees: http://www.slcc.edu/student/financial/tuition-fees.aspx
Books: $1,686.00
Supplies: $0.00
Course Fees: $625.00
Immunizations/Screens: $332.00
APTA Membership: $85.00
Total Costs: $2,728.00

Estimated Time to Completion
For students who follow the suggested semester schedule, time to completion for the entire Program is five semesters.


Program Entry Requirements

GENERAL ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS

  • Be admitted to SLCC as a matriculated student. See http://www.slcc.edu/apply/index.aspx and declare your major as Pre-Medical and Health Sciences
  • High School Graduate or equivalent
  • For transfer credit, submit OFFICIAL, SEALED transcripts for ALL colleges and universities where prerequisite course work has been completed.
    Send to:
    SLCC Office of the Registrar and Academic Records
    4600 South Redwood Road
    P.O. Box 30808
    Salt Lake City, UT 84130-0808
  • Also, a request to have an OFFICIAL evaluation of student’s transcript(s) must be submitted to the SLCC Transfer Evaluation Office. The form is located at: http://www.slcc.edu/transcriptevaluation/. This process may take 4-6 weeks and must be completed before a student’s application will be considered
  • Complete SLCC placement process, or submit current SAT/ACT test scores, if MATH and ENGL course work have not been transferred to SLCC (required before you are able to register for classes that have MATH and ENGL courses as prerequisites). See: www.slcc.edu/testing

PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT PROGRAM SELECTIVE ADMISSONS APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

NOTE All prerequisite courses must be completed prior to the application deadline for the Physical Therapist Assistant Program. It is the student’s responsibility to examine each course description for details of other prerequisite classes. Those prerequisites must be satisfied before the designated Program prerequisite course may be taken.

  • See the Physical Therapist Assistant webpage for essential information regarding completion of application and additional requirements at www.slcc.edu/ptassistant/admissions.aspx. Application submission does not guarantee admission to the Program. Students should see the Physical Therapist Assistant academic advisor for further information.
  • HESI Pre-admission exam - A minimum score of 75% is required for consideration for admission to the Program; however, this does not guarantee admission into the Program. Please see the Physical Therapist Assistant Program academic advisor with questions.
  • Proctored Essay – See the Physical Therapist Assistant Program webpage for essential information regarding the essay requirements. www.slcc.edu/ptassistant/admissions.aspx.
  • Must be at least 18 years of age at time of entry in the Program.

PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT PROGRAM ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTSOnce admitted into the program, students may be required to complete the following to receive a full offer toward matriculation.
1. Immunizations
2. Background Check
3. Drug Screening
4. American Heart Association BLS Provider CPR certification
 
*Please note: Additional conditions may need to be met depending on program, please see program website for details.

It is the responsibility of the student to contact the Utah State Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing (DOPL) to seek advice regarding eligibility for licensure and requirements needed to progress in this profession if the criminal background check discloses issues of concern.


Specialized Accreditation
The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Salt Lake Community College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education,1111 North Fairfax Street
Alexandria, VA 22314-1488, telephone:  703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: www.capteonline.org.

Licensure Information
Graduation from the Physical Therapist Assistant program does not guarantee the ability to obtain a Utah state license to practice as a Physical Therapist Assistant.  Licensure is the exclusive right and responsibility of each state.  In order to practice as a Physical Therapist Assistant, students must satisfy individual state requirements, independent of SLCC graduation requirements.  It is highly recommended that students consult in advance with the Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing (DOPL), or similar agencies in other states, to find out more about eligibility for licensure.  DOPL can be reached at 801-530-6628 or at their website.

For students who plan to work as a Physical Therapist Assistant in another state, here is one suggested website for researching state licensure requirements: License Finder sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor. If you have difficulty finding the licensure requirements for your state, please contact your academic advisor or SLCC’s state authorization coordinator for help. 

Program Student Learning Outcomes Related College-Wide Student Learning Outcomes
  1 - Acquire substantive knowledge
2 - Communicate effectively
3 - Develop quantitative literacies
4 - Think critically & creatively
5 - Become a community engaged learner
6 - Work in professional & constructive manner
7 - Develop computer & information literacy

Program graduates demonstrate technological skills appropriate for entry-level employment as a physical therapist assistant.

1, 4, 7

Program graduates demonstrate research skills appropriate to an entry-level physical therapist assistant.

3, 4

Program graduates demonstrate professionalism through behaviors consistent with the APTA Code of Ethics and state licensure regulations for physical therapist assistants.

1, 5

Program graduates demonstrate skills in the use of current equipment consistent with the field of physical therapy.

1, 5

Program graduates communicate clearly with physical therapy stakeholders in verbally and written formats.

2

General Education Requirements


Core Skills


Composition (EN) 1 course


Quantitative Studies (QS) 1 course


Communication (CM)


The Physical Therapist Assistant Program contains communication as a curriculum thread. Courses integrate communication into content presented in the classroom and clinical settings. Students learn basic communication skills in the beginning level courses. Additional content is added with each course, including group dynamics, group communication, therapeutic and non-therapeutic patterns of communication.

Human Relations (HR)


Human relations training is embedded within the physical therapist assistant curriculum. Human needs and interpersonal relationships are constant with each patient/physical therapist assistant relationship and are threaded throughout the physical therapy curriculum.

Advising Notes


The Physical Therapist Assistant program accepts up to 24 students every Fall semester. Classes are typically taught M-TH from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., except when students are in clinical settings during the first half of Summer semester and the last Fall semester. All prerequisite courses must be completed prior to submitting application to the program. The program consists of theory, skill-based and clinical courses. The curriculum is offered during the day only and students are required to be enrolled full time. Students must complete the technical curriculum in the order outlined by the program and maintain a C grade (77%) or better in each required course.

Graduates are eligible to sit for the National Physical Therapist Assistant exam through the Federation of State Boards in Physical Therapy (www.fsbpt.org). Licensure is required in the State of Utah.

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