Physical Therapist Assistant

THE A.A.S. IN PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT (PTA) HAS A LIMITED NUMBER OF SEATS AVAILABLE FOR ADMISSION EACH SPRING SEMESTER. THE COURSES ARE OFFERED ONCE PER ACADEMIC YEAR.

ALL FIRST-TIME FRESHMAN AND TRANSFER STUDENTS ARE ENROLLED AS LIBERAL ARTS (A.A.) STUDENTS TAKING A SEQUENCE OF COURSES WHICH, ONCE SATISFACTORILY COMPLETED, COULD LEAD TO ENTRANCE INTO THE PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT MAJOR.

The mission of the Physical Therapist Assistant program at Kingsborough Community College is to: develop well qualified entry level physical therapist assistants who reflect the ethnic and cultural diversity of the community which the college serves and who function under the supervision of the physical therapist in a variety of physical therapy settings, capable of providing physical therapy treatments as outlined by the physical therapist to the satisfaction of the physical therapist. Further, the mission includes graduating clinicians who meet standards for licensure or registration as a physical therapist assistant in a variety of states. The mission also includes meeting the accreditation standards of the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) for Physical Therapist Assistant Programs.

Minimum Entrance Requirements

A maximum of 24 students are admitted each Spring term.

To be considered for the Physical Therapist Assistant Program, students must be English and Math proficient as determined by the CUNY Proficiency Index, unless otherwise exempt, or have successfully completed any required developmental course(s).

Students must apply for admission to the PTA Program by mid-November of the term preceding entry into the program. Applications for the program are available in the Program Director’s office, S-128.

Admission Requirements

Minimum overall grade point average of 2.80. Successful completion of the following prerequisite courses: ENG 1200 , PSY 1100 , MAT 2000 , and BIO 1100  for consideration for the program. Courses from other colleges to be applied toward program requirements must have grades submitted for them.

In addition to completing the prerequisite courses, students must complete a minimum of 25 hours of exposure to physical therapy services, provide a letter of recommendation from a physical therapist working in the exposure facility, and submit a writing sample on an assigned topic.

Top candidates are interviewed by a panel of faculty and complete the Health Occupations Aptitude Examination (HOAE).

The admissions process is a competitive process and not all applicants are granted admission to the program. Students interested in the program should contact the Director of the PTA Program, S-128.

Starting in the Fall 2020 semester and beyond, the Physical Therapist Assistant program will consider applicants for admission who are eligible for licensing in New York under the regulations of the New York State Education Department.  The regulations provide eligibility for citizens and non-citizens who are “not unlawfully present,” including those with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and those permanently residing in the United States under color of law (PRUCOL)

In order to advance into the program, students may demonstrate eligibility through documents that verify that they meet the required criteria.  Most common documents include:

1. Proof of U.S. Citizenship through a birth certificate, U.S. passport, naturalization certificate, or a certificate of citizenship
2. Proof of legal permanent resident status with what is known as a “Green Card”
3. Proof of various eligible categories, listed below, generally through an employment authorization document (EAD) or other satisfactory documents

Eligible immigration categories:

• International student with F-1 status
• Asylee
• Refugee
• Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
• Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
• Individuals paroled into the Unites States whose parole has not expired
• Persons residing in the U.S. pursuant to an Order of Supervision
• Persons granted a stay of deportation/removal
• Persons granted an indefinite voluntary departure 
• Persons on whose behalf an immediate relative petition has been approved
• Persons who have filed an application for adjustment of status to permanent resident
• Persons granted Deferred Action Status
• Persons who entered and have continuously residency in the U.S. before 01/01/1972
• Persons granted suspension of deportation or cancellation of removal
• Cuban/Haitian entrants
• Persons with a pending application for asylum, withholding of removal or deportation, protection under the Convention Against Torture (CAT), cancellation of removal, or TPS
• Persons in T or U non-immigrant status
• Self-petitioner under the Violence Against Women Act
• Other persons living in the U,S, who are not unlawfully present 

Retention Criteria

Criteria for retention in the Physical Therapist Assistant Program mandates that students:

1. within the program must earn a “C” or better in all PTA courses. In addition, students must earn a “C” or better on all comprehensive final practical and written examinations in PTA courses.
2. receiving less than “C” in any PTA course will be prohibited from progressing in the program. The student may apply for readmission the following academic year. Upon readmission the student must repeat the course. A course may only be repeated once. No more than two required PTA courses can be repeated because of an unsatisfactory initial grade.
3. repeating a course must register for it the next time that course is offered and must demonstrate competency in all prior coursework before progressing in the program.

Practicum Courses

Following the successful completion of the first two terms of the program students will enroll in Practicum courses and will participate as physical therapist assistant students in various physical therapy settings. During the Practicum courses, students will be required to attend the clinic full-time including days, nights and weekend hours, as directed by the facility.

Practicum Requirements

Course Completion:

The student must complete and achieve a grade of “C” in the following courses prior to placement in the first Practicum:

PTA 100 , PTA 1000 , PTA 200 , PTA 2000 , PTA 300 , PTA 400 , PTA 500 , BIO 1100  and BIO 1200 .

Health Clearance – Malpractice Insurance – CPR Certification

Prior to registration for the first Practicum, students in the Physical Therapist Assistant Program are required to obtain health clearance. The program will supply each student with a standard medical form. Students must submit physician signed evidence of compliance with health requirements regarding annual physical examination, immunization, tuberculosis testing by the second week of the fall session.

All PTA students are required to maintain liability insurance during clinical Practicums. Students must provide valid documentation of this to the Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education (ACCE) in the PTA program prior to registration. Students must also obtain CPR (BLS) certification and provide documentation to the ACCE prior to registration in the first Practicum.

Notes

1. Students incur the expenses of purchasing a lab coat and scrubs and may opt to purchase individual protective goggles.
2. The academic requirements in the Physical Therapist Assistant curriculum are demanding and students are cautioned to plan their work schedules and extra-curricular activities with this in mind.

Licensure

Following completion of all academic requirements graduates must successfully complete the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) for Physical Therapist Assistants.