Physical Therapist Assistant

Anyone desiring entrance into this major must first gain admission to Penn College. Acceptance into this selective admission major is based upon additional requirements beyond College admission. Details are available on the Selective Admission Criteria and Process webpage.

Child abuse clearance and criminal background checks are required by agencies involved in clinical education experiences.  Agencies can bar students from their sites if a criminal record exists or a positive drug test is noted.  By virtue of contract for Penn College students to be at clinical sites, drug testing is required for admission and students will be subject to random drug testing while in the Physical Therapy Assistant Program.  The Pennsylvania State Board of Education and Licensure and APTA advise that a drug-related conviction and/or conviction of a felonious act may result in denial and/or revocation of a license to practice physical therapy.  Inability to gain clinical education experiences results in inability to meet program objectives and outcomes, and will have a negative impact on a student's ability to progress through the curriculum.  For additional clarification, students should speak with their program director.Penn College complies with the federal Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act Amendments of 1989. Pursuant to this Act, all forms of marijuana, including medical marijuana, are classified as prohibited controlled substances. Additionally, alcohol, illegal drugs, and legal drugs obtained without a prescription or which may impair a student’s ability to perform his/her educational responsibilities are strictly prohibited. Students are subject to drug screening at various phases of the program. Please note that a positive drug screening for marijuana will be deemed a positive test and will result in a student being dismissed from the program, even if the student has been lawfully certified to use medical marijuana and/or possesses a valid medical marijuana identification card issued in accordance with applicable state law.

Students enrolled in the Physical Therapist Assistant major must earn at least a “C” (2.0) in an applicable math course (MTH123 or higher), ENL111, MTR100, BIO115, PSY111, and all PTA courses. The following grading system is applied to all PTA courses (there is no rounding of grades):A = 90-100 B = 80-89.99 C = 75-79.99 F = 74.99 and below

Students will be required to purchase a PTA tool kit and designated Penn College polo shirts at the College Store. Refer to the Tools, Uniforms and Supplies sheet for a complete list of expenses. Laptop Computer Required  Windows 10 or higher (recommended). Intel Core i5 or i7 (generation 10 or higher) processor (recommended). 8+ GB RAM (recommended).  250+ GB Solid State Disk (SSD) drive (recommended). Laptop must include a webcam and microphone (required). Laptop must include a wireless network card (required). Broadband Internet connection when working off campus (required). Additional plug-ins may be required (Information Technology Services Service Desk available for assistance). Chromebooks and other devices running Chrome OS are prohibited.

This major is subject to the transfer standards established by the College (see http://www.pct.edu/catalog/TransferringCredits).International health credentials/licensure, science courses, and most math courses will not be accepted to satisfy requirements of this major.  Please see additional information for international students applying to Health Science majors.

• Students must meet Essential Functions for the Physical Therapist Assistant as established by the Physical Therapist Assistant Program, as well as health and safety requirements including, but not limited to, immunizations (MMR, hepatitis B, varicella, tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, annual influenza vaccination, PPD), medical examination, 10 panel drug screen, CPR certification, and background clearances as established by clinical affiliation agreements.
• Clinical Observation Form
• Complaints from the public
• Program Review Executive Summary

Alternative Credit refers to academic credits earned through means other than traditional college course completion, including: credit by exam, articulation, proof of competency gained in high school, work/life experience, and advanced placement.

Visit the Alternative Credit Options page for requirements and procedures and for information on credit through Advanced Placement.

Students who have earned an associate’s degree from Penn College in physical therapist assistant are eligible to pursue a bachelor’s degree in healthcare leadership & administration. Students may work with their advisor to declare this major as dual degree, taking both physical therapist assistant courses and healthcare leadership & administration courses simultaneously.

The physical therapist assistant program at Pennsylvania College of Technology has determined that its curriculum meets the state educational requirements for licensure or certification in all states, the District of Colombia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands secondary to its accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, based on the following: CAPTE accreditation of a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant program satisfies state educational requirements in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Thus, students graduating from CAPTE-accredited physical therapist and physical therapist assistant education programs are eligible to take the National Physical Therapy Examination and apply for licensure in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. For more information regarding state qualifications and licensure requirements, refer to the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy website at fsbpt.org.

Physical Therapist Assistant program goals, objectives and outcomes