Physical Therapist Assistant Program Norwalk Community College 188 Richards Avenue Norwalk, CT 06854 If you are eligible for, or have taken BIO 211 (Anatomy and Physiology I), your advisors are*: Jennifer Bresnick, PT, DPT Director (203) 857-7198 jbresnick@norwalk.edu OR L. Roger Silva, PT, DPT Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education (203) 857-7199 lsilva@norwalk.edu If you are not yet eligible for BIO 211 (Anatomy and Physiology I), you must be advised by the Allied Health Advisor, Counseling Center or the Student Success Center*: Student Success Center (203) 857-7234 Counseling Center (203) 857-7033 Allied Health Advisor Wendy Fitzgerald (203) 857-7137 or wfitzgerald@norwalk.edu *Please be sure to thoroughly read through this packet of information before contacting counselors, advisors or faculty. This information is subject to change at any time. Please consult the program s administration for the latest updates. April 2014 Notice: As of April 19, 2011, Norwalk Community College has been granted Full Accreditation status by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education of the American Physical Therapy Association (1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA 22314; phone: (703) 706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org).
BEFORE you apply to the PTA program: Check List for PTA Program Application 1. Fill out NCC application. Obtain from the Admissions Office or online. Your Banner (student) ID will be different for NCC. You may not use the same ID number from a different CT community college. 2. Have transcripts evaluated by Counseling Center (203-857-7033) if you think any of your previous college courses will count toward the PTA degree. Remember: the PTA faculty cannot make the determination about whether courses from other schools will transfer. Only the Counseling Center can do this. We can better serve you if you complete this step first. 3. Complete Math requirement Placement test results recommending MAT 172 or higher.* If you place in at a developmental Math level, you must complete the developmental courses prior to applying to the program. OR Transfer in Math credits from another school (see #2 above) OR Otherwise be eligible to take MAT 172 or higher (i.e., SAT scores; see admissions office for details) 4. Complete English requirement Placement test results recommending ENG 101 or higher.* If you place in at a developmental English level, you must complete the developmental courses prior to applying to the program. OR Transfer in English credits from another school (see #2 above) OR Otherwise be eligible to take ENG 101 or higher (i.e., SAT scores; see admissions office for details) 5. Complete Anatomy & Physiology I (BIO 211 or equivalent) requirement Complete prerequisite for BIO 211 at NCC, which is eligibility for ENG 101, high school chemistry within the last 2 years or CHE 111 or BIO 105 or permission of Science Department Chair (Michele Barber (203) 857-7275). Other schools may have different prerequisites for Anatomy and Physiology. AND ***NEW*** Complete BIO 211 and earn a C+ or better at NCC (a C is acceptable if the course was taken prior to fall 2013, when this rule changed). You may apply to the PTA program while enrolled in BIO 211 in the spring semester; however entrance to the program is contingent on proof of an appropriate grade. OR Take Anatomy & Physiology I with lab (BIO 211 or equivalent) and earn a C+ or better at another school and follow their prerequisites. Remember: the PTA faculty can not make the determination about whether courses from other schools will transfer. Only the Counseling Center can do this. If you want to know whether an A&P course from another school will transfer to NCC, you must contact the Counseling Center (see #2 above). 6. Complete physical therapy observation requirement Arrange your own volunteer/observation or paid hours with a physical therapy clinic, hospital or skilled nursing facility that provides physical therapy services. The minimum is 40 hours to receive points on the application. If you complete the Physical Therapy Aide Certificate course at NCC, you must also complete at least 20 hours of volunteer/observation or paid hours in an environment where physical therapy services are provided. Please contact Extended Studies (203-857-7080) for information about the PT Aide Certificate. 7. Complete the TEAS admissions test prior to applying. Information about taking the test is found at www.atitesting.com. If the student takes the test at a location other than NCC, there is a fee to send the score to NCC. The cut off score for admission to the PTA program is 50%. For this PTA program, the TEAS test expires after 3 years. For information about future TEAS testing dates contact Joe Dervil (203-857-7135 or jdervil@norwalk.edu). 8. Complete PTA program application. These applications are available at the PTA program offices (W003) after February 1st each year. The applications are due each June 1 st for admission in the fall semester. * The NCC website has information about the placement exams: http://norwalk.edu/dept/testingcenter/default.asp.
Frequently Asked Questions What is a Physical Therapist Assistant? Physical therapist assistants (PTAs) provide physical therapy services under the direction and supervision of a physical therapist. PTAs help people of all ages who have medical problems, or other health-related conditions that limit their ability to move and perform functional activities in their daily lives. Care provided by a PTA may include teaching patients/clients exercise for mobility, strength and coordination, training for activities such as walking with crutches, canes, or walkers, manual therapy, and the use of physical agents and electrotherapy such as ultrasound and electrical stimulation. What do Physical Therapist Assistants Earn? The national median income for a physical therapist assistant is $37,000 depending on position, years of experience, degree of education, geographic location, and practice setting. In Fairfield County, PTAs earn a median salary of $52,747 according to salary.com. Where do Physical Therapist Assistants work? Today, PTAs provide health care services to patients of all ages and health conditions in a variety of settings, including: Outpatient clinics or offices Education or research centers Hospitals and inpatient rehabilitation Industrial, workplace, or other facilities Skilled nursing, extended care, or subacute facilities Homes, schools and hospices occupational environments Fitness centers and sports training facilities What are the licensure requirements for becoming a PTA? More than 40 states require physical therapist assistants to be licensed, registered, or certified. The state of Connecticut requires PTAs to be licensed after passing a national exam. Check with the state you plan to work in to find out specific requirements. What is the employment outlook for Physical Therapy? According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, PTAs are one of the top ten fastest growing occupations. Employment of physical therapist assistants is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2018. What type of degree will I receive? Upon completion of the program, graduates receive an Associate of Science in Physical Therapist Assistant. With your degree, you are eligible to sit for the national licensure exam. Is this a part time or full time program? Both. Although it is preferable to complete the program in a two-year span, it is sometimes difficult to fit a full time class schedule into an already busy life. You may choose to complete all general education requirements on a part-time basis in the first two years and then progress part-time through the technical education (PTA) classes the next two years, for a total of four years. Once a student begins the technical education portion of the curriculum (PTA courses), he or she has three years to complete the two-year program. What is the difference between a PTA and a physical therapist (PT)? To become a PT, in general you must earn a bachelor s degree, then a Masters or Doctorate in Physical Therapy from an accredited institution (more than 90% of all PT schools offer only the doctorate), which typically takes 7 to 8 years to complete. PTs perform patient/client examinations and evaluations, which leads to a diagnosis, prognosis and plan of care. The PTA follows the plan of care working under the direction and supervision of a PT. Certain clinical skills are considered PT only. Courses from an associate level PTA degree do not typically transfer to a graduate level PT program, however, general education courses, such as math and English will count toward the bachelor s degree required for admission to a PT program. For more information please visit the website of the American Physical Therapy Association: www.apta.org.
Admissions Requirements Advisors/counselors are available to guide applicants through the admissions process (see front cover of this document). You may also contact the PTA administrators for assistance at any time during the application process. A high school diploma or GED equivalent, and college degree (if applicable) must be validated with an official transcript by the admissions office. Please send all official transcripts to the admissions office. Regardless of when you graduated from high school, your high school transcripts must be on file with the admissions office in order for you to graduate. o Transcripts must show an overall GPA of a 2.5 or better from all previous schools (high school and college). High school GPAs will be evaluated separately from college GPAs. GPAs from all college transcripts will be averaged using total college credits/quality points regardless of the number of institutions attended. A grade of C or better must be achieved for all general education courses during the program (CSA 105, ENG 101, ENG 102, MAT elective (172 or 201), PSY 111, IDS elective and COM 173) except BIO 211 and BIO 212. Students must earn a C+ or better in BIO 211 and BIO 212. General education courses must be satisfactorily completed before or during the semester in which they are scheduled in the curriculum. Students who fail to successfully complete required general education courses as delineated will not be able to progress in the program. Successful completion of college level Anatomy and Physiology I with lab (BIO 211 or equivalent) with a grade of C+ or better within the last five years of application for program entry. A grade of C is acceptable if the course was taken prior to the fall 2013 semester, when this rule was changed. Applicants may apply for admission to the PTA program while enrolled in BIO 211 during the spring semester preceding the fall admission (e.g., for admission to the PTA program in the Fall 2014, applicants must be registered for BIO 211 during the Spring 2014 semester). However, entry into the program is contingent upon documentation of successful completion. Complete a minimum of forty (40) hours of documented volunteer/observation or paid experience in a physical therapy setting. Applicants are encouraged to exceed forty (40) hours to further their understanding of a career in physical therapy and receive the maximum number of points on the application. If you complete the Physical Therapy Aide Certificate through Extended Studies at NCC, you must also complete at least 20 hours of volunteer/observation or paid hours in an environment where physical therapy services are provided. Please contact Extended Studies with any questions about the PT Aide Certificate (203-857-7080). Applicants should keep track of these hours and will be required to submit written documentation at the time of application. Students should be prepared to address and show proof of their commitment to social responsibility. A history of community service activities is highly desirable in the application process. Community service is time volunteered that benefits your community, not simply money donated to an organization. The PTA program is committed to enrolling and graduating individuals that meet PTA Program Goal #6, which states that our students and graduates will, display compassion, caring, altruism and social responsibility, not only as a PTA, but as citizens of both Fairfield County and the larger community. This time is separate from the admissions requirement that involves volunteer (or paid) experience in a physical therapy environment. Community service activities include unpaid volunteering for organizations that benefit the community such as Meals on Wheels or Habitat for Humanity. Other community service activities may involve your place of worship, mentoring, school programs, youth organizations, police and/or fire department, and the elderly. If you have any
questions about community service, please ask for clarification from a member of the PTA administration. Three current Letter of Recommendation Forms (provided with application for the program) that address the applicant s professional and/or academic abilities. Possible sources may include past or present professors, supervisors or managers and/or a representative from a community service experience. At least one reference form must be from a credible source in the physical therapy profession. Family and friends may not serve as references. DEADLINE: Submission of a completed PTA program application is required by June 1 st (or the first business day thereafter) each year for admission in the fall semester. Applications will be available on or about February 1 st (or the first business day thereafter) each year. Note: PTA students start in the fall semester only, as the first semester courses are only offered in the fall. Special Requirements and Information: Students are required to access, understand, and abide by the policies and procedures of the NCC College Catalog. It is available online (http://www.ncc.commnet.edu/catalog.asp). Students are required to access, understand, and abide by the policies and procedures of the NCC Student Handbook. It is available online (http://www.ncc.commnet.edu/pdf/handbook.pdf). Students may declare Pre-Physical Therapist Assistant as their major in the Records Office. Fill out a Change of Program form and indicate General Studies/Pre-PTA cohort (D_PREPTA). Only those students accepted into the program may declare the PTA major code (DB94). Students must earn a C or better in all technical education/pta courses. If the student earns a C- or below in a PTA course, that course must be repeated. Once you enroll in the first PTA program semester, you have three years to complete the two-year program. A grade of C or better must be achieved for all general education courses during the program (CSA 105, ENG 101, ENG 102, MAT elective (172 or 201), PSY 111, IDS elective and COM 173) except BIO 211 and BIO 212. Students must earn a C+ or better in BIO 211 and BIO 212, if the course is taken in the fall 2013 semester or later (a grade of C is acceptable if the course was completed prior to the fall 2013 semester). General education courses must be satisfactorily completed before or during the semester in which they are scheduled in the curriculum. Students who fail to successfully complete required general education courses as delineated will not be able to progress in the program. *** In order to progress to the second semester of the program, you must complete BIO 212. Therefore, it is highly recommended that if you have not yet completed BIO 212 (Anatomy & Physiology II) prior to applying to the program, that you attempt to register for this course for the summer semester prior to joining the program, or the first semester of the program (fall). Registration for the fall normally begins in April and BIO 212 fills up quickly.*** Many students find that completing all general education courses (non-pta courses) prior to enrolling in the program is helpful if they have commitments, such as work or family, outside of the program. Courses taken at the Connecticut Center for Massage Therapy (i.e., anatomy, kinesiology) do not transfer to NCC because CCMT is not accredited by a regional accrediting body (i.e., NEASC) recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For more information about this, please contact the Counseling Center at NCC (203-857-7133) or CCMT. Graduation from NCC with an Associate of Science (major in PTA) does not guarantee licensure to practice as a PTA. You must meet all requirements of the state you plan to practice in prior to licensure. The state of Connecticut requires successful completion of the National Physical Therapy Examination for PTAs administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (www.fsbpt.org) prior to application for licensure.
Student membership with the American Physical Therapy Association (www.apta.org) is required during the first year of the program. Currently, annual dues are $90. Certain clinical rotations may require background checks, drug testing, physical examinations, uniforms, and or other related equipment. This must be provided at the expense of the student and is not the responsibility of the college. All PTA students are required to be covered by Professional Liability Insurance while enrolled in internship courses (PTA 261, PTA 262 & PTA 265). This insurance must be in force for the duration of any and all internships and proof must be on file with the ACCE. NCC will provide liability insurance for all students. Students are encouraged to obtain their own private liability insurance in addition to the school policy. The college requires that students show proof of immunization against measles and rubella to comply with state law. The PTA program requires that all students have a physical examination and show proof of additional vaccines (such as Hepatitis B) or tests (such as tuberculosis) prior to the start of the second year. Costs associated with these tests and medical examinations are the responsibility of the student. The PTA program uses Certified Background to monitor student health records, at a cost to the student. The clinical internship schedule is at the discretion of the program coordinator and the supervising PT/PTA at the clinical education site and may include evenings and weekends. The third (Fall II) semester of the program includes a one day per week internship. The final semester of the program is two full time internships. Students are expected to arrange work and personal priorities around the internship schedule. In addition to college tuition, lab fees, and textbooks, students may be required to arrange and pay for parking at and transportation to clinical internships, as well as required uniforms/attire. Every attempt will be made to place students in an area that is within a reasonable driving distance from Norwalk, or the student s home, however students may be required to attend clinical internships or learning experiences outside those areas. The PTA program admits students in the fall semester only. Given the intense workload associated with the program, students are strongly advised to consider reducing work and personal schedules to a manageable level prior to beginning the program. In some cases, it is advantageous to complete all general education courses before applying to the PTA program. The student can expect to commit to spending a minimum of 2 hours of study time/academic preparation for every hour spent in class. Some of these hours will need to be spent on campus, in the PTA laboratory to facilitate familiarity with various learning models and equipment. Students should be aware that the PTA laboratory is only accessible during day time hours on weekdays, some weekday evenings, and possibly Saturdays. It is important to plan your schedule to maximize the ability to study in the PTA lab as needed. o For the first and second semesters, the study time commitment equates to 18 hours per week of study time; for the third semester the expectation is 30 hours per week. During the final semester, when the student is participating in full time internships and completing an online, 2-credit capstone course (PTA 258), there will again be an expectation that the student will spend time outside of the internship hours researching/studying clinical concepts, or other obligations as assigned by the clinical instructor. These recommendations are made to ensure the success of the student. Students should be aware that a mandatory, two-day Nursing and Allied Health Division orientation takes place each year during the second half of August. Students who are not able to attend this orientation will forfeit their spot in the program.
Helpful Resources The program s website has other helpful information and is available by starting at the NCC home page: www. ncc.commnet.edu. Click on Academics at the top then Academic Departments then Nursing and Allied Health. American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) www.apta.org. For information about PTA licensure in the state of Connecticut: www.ct.gov/dph For information about the National Physical Therapist Assistant Examination: www.fsbpt.org Online PTA program eportfolios: http://norwalk.digication.com/pta and http://norwalk.digication.com/ptclub Admissions Point System All PTA program applicants are ranked according to the admissions point system. The point system is as follows: Category Requirement Points Professionalism Applicant filled out application 10 correctly Applicant submitted all required 20 application documents on time Endorsement from the Community Three letter of recommendation forms 1 Maximum of 28 points from each form (total: 84) Academic Ability TEAS exam 2 % score on exam (Maximum score is 100) Overall GPA 3 Quality points multiplied by 10 (Maximum of 40) Community Community service activities 4 Maximum of 20 points Service Insight into Volunteer or paid experience in Maximum of 40 points Profession physical therapy environment 0 points if less than 40 hours documented 20 points for minimum of 40 hours documented 40 points for exceeding 40 hours Total Points Total : 314 The students with the top scores will be offered enrollment into the PTA program. In the event of a tie, the PTA program advisory board will be given the candidates information excluding their names and hold a vote to break the tie. The remaining candidates will be placed on a waiting list in ranked order. If accepted candidates decide not to enroll in the program, then candidates on the waiting list are notified of the opening starting with the highest ranked candidate. Explanation of Points Categories 1 Letter of Recommendation Forms At least one reference must be from a credible source in the physical therapy profession. One of the reference letter forms included in your application packet is labeled as the Physical Therapy reference letter form. The other two references must come from a professional or scholastic source, such as an employer or faculty member. References from family members or friends are
not acceptable, and will add no points to the applicant s score. The applicant is responsible for ensuring that letters of reference arrive by the application deadline. It is suggested that you provide the person providing the reference with a self-addressed stamped envelope for him or her to return the reference form to you. All three Reference Forms must be submitted with your application. Each of the seven areas the individual providing the reference will comment on are assigned points as per the table below. The seven areas are: o intellectual ability o communication/listening skills o critical thinking skills o initiative/motivation o moral/ethical behavior o professionalism o compassion/caring Keep in mind that you receive 0 points if the individual providing the reference has no basis for judging you in a particular category. It is therefore highly recommended that you ask individuals for references only if they feel comfortable commenting on all of the areas listed on the form. Rating Points No basis 0 Below average 1 Average 2 Above average 3 Superior 4 2 The Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) exam assesses essential skills of potential PTA students. Students may register for the exam at www.atitesting.com. The cut off score for the PTA program as of the 2013-2014 academic year is 50%. TEAS scores from the past three years will be accepted. If you took the TEAS exam more than three years ago, you must repeat it. 3 Quality Points Grade Points Quality points A 93+ 4.0 A- 90-92 3.7 B+ 87-89 3.3 B 83-86 3.0 B- 80-82 2.7 C+ 77-79 2.3 C 73-76 2.0 C- 70-72 1.7 D+ 67-69 1.3 D 63-66 1.0 D- 60-62 0.7 F <60 0.0
4 Community Service is time volunteered that benefits your community. The PTA program is committed to enrolling and graduating individuals that meet PTA Program Goal #6, which states that our students and graduates will, display compassion, caring, altruism and social responsibility, not only as a PTA, but as citizens of both Fairfield County and the larger community. To that end, points are awarded for a history of community service during the application process. These hours are separate from the admissions requirement that involves volunteer (or paid) experience in a physical therapy environment. Community service activities include unpaid volunteering for organizations that benefit the community such as Meals on Wheels or Habitat for Humanity. Other community service activities may involve your place of worship, mentoring, school programs, youth organizations, police and/or fire department, and the elderly. length of history of community service (10 points) o one year history of community service prior to application = 5 points o two year history of community service prior to application = 10 points frequency/consistency of community service (10 points) o 1-2 events/hours per year = 5 points o >3-5 events/hours per year = 10 points If a student is not accepted to the program (either initially or from the wait list) in a given year, he or she may reapply the following year. A student s previous application will have no bearing on future applications. All students begin each year with zero admissions points.
PTA Program Curriculum PTA courses must be completed in the sequence indicated below. See next page for prerequisite requirements for each course. Students may not combine semesters to complete the PTA degree in under two years. PTA courses are only offered in the semesters indicated below. Students must complete this two year program in three years or less. Pre-requisite: Course Title: Credits: BIO 211 Anatomy & Physiology I 4 TOTAL: 4 Fall I: Course Title: Credits: PTA 120 Introduction to Physical Therapy 3 PTA 125 Physical Therapy for Function 4 ENG 101 Composition 3 BIO 212 Anatomy and Physiology II 4 CSA 105 Introduction to Computer Software 3 TOTAL: 17 Spring I: Course Title: Credits: PTA 235 Kinesiology for Rehabilitation 4 PTA 253 Pathophysiology for Rehabilitation 3 ENG 102 Literature and Composition 3 MAT Math Elective (172 or 201) 3 PSY 111 General Psychology 3 TOTAL: 16 Summer: Course Title: Credits: PTA 259 Clinical Experience Orientation 1 TOTAL: 1 Fall II: Course Title: Credits: PTA 230 Physical Agents in Physical Therapy 4 PTA 250 Therapeutic Exercise 5 PTA 261 PTA Internship I (120 hours) 3 IDS Humanities Elective (210 or 230) 3 COM 173 Public Speaking 3 TOTAL: 18 Spring II: Course Title: Credits: PTA 258 PTA in the Healthcare Arena 2 PTA 262 PTA Internship II (280 hours) 5 PTA 265 PTA Internship III (280 hours) 5 TOTAL: 12 PROGRAM TOTAL: 68
Physical Therapist Assistant Program Course Descriptions PTA 120 Introduction to Physical Therapy (3 Credits) Prerequisite: Acceptance into the PTA program This course is designed to be an introduction to the Physical Therapist Assistant program. The student will learn the paraprofessional duties of being part of a healthcare team in a clinical setting as well as recognizing the professional relationship that they will have with the Physical Therapist. Patient management, communication, conduct, medical terminology, documentation, ethics, and laws, as well as related organizations and their history will be discussed. PTA 125 Physical Therapy for Function (4 Credits) Prerequisite: Acceptance into the PTA program This course will provide the student with the knowledge and skills necessary for patient education in the use of assistive and/or adaptive, protective, supportive, prosthetic and orthotic devices. Concepts of gait, balance, and developmental activity therapy will also be discussed. Three hours of lecture, three hours of lab per week. PTA 235 Kinesiology for Rehabilitation (4 Credits) Prerequisites: Successful completion of PTA 120 & PTA 125 This course is designed to give the student an understanding of human movement, anatomy, and biomechanics, and their application to physical therapy. Students will explore the anatomical structure of each muscle/joint of the body as well as positioning variables, range of motion, applied forces, and joint kinematics. Students will learn to assess, measure, and analyze posture, gait, range of motion, and biomechanics. Three hours of lecture, three hours of lab per week. PTA 253 Pathophysiology for Rehabilitation (3 Credits) Prerequisites: Successful completion of PTA 120 & PTA 125 This class is designed to address the structural and functional changes in tissues and organs of the body in a variety of conditions and diseases throughout the human life span. The student will come to understand the effects of rehabilitation on many special populations including those with neurological and orthopedic conditions. PTA 230 Physical Agents in Physical Therapy (4 Credits) Prerequisites: Successful completion of PTA 235 & PTA 253 This course is designed to provide the knowledge needed by Physical Therapist Assistants to safely administer physical and mechanical agents to their patient population. Through case studies and problem-oriented management, the student will learn to administer modalities, as well as understand indications and contraindications for each agent. Heat, cold, water, electrical, and mechanical forces will be discussed in detail. Three hours of lecture, three hours of lab per week.
PTA 250 Therapeutic Exercise (5 Credits) Prerequisites: Successful completion of PTA 235, PTA 253 & PTA 259 This course is designed to provide the student with the fundamentals and theory of safe and effective therapeutic exercise with patients. Students will also become proficient in measuring physiological and anatomical parameters. This includes but is not limited to manual muscle testing, aerobic capacity, and range of motion. Three hours of lecture, six hours of lab per week. PTA 258 PTA in the Healthcare Arena (2 Credits) Prerequisites: Successful completion of PTA 230, PTA 250 and PTA 261 This course will provide the Physical Therapist Assistant student with the necessary knowledge for understanding the healthcare processes of the clinical setting. Research based decision making will also be covered. Other topics such as licensure, continuing education, data collection, and problem-oriented management will be discussed. PTA 259 Clinical Experience Orientation (1 Credit) Prerequisites: Approval from PTA Program Director This course is designed as an introduction to and preparation for clinical education in the Physical Therapist Assistant program. Students will become oriented to the clinical education process and come to understand provisions of the Physical Therapist Assistant in the clinical setting. Other topics such as learning opportunities, communication, leadership, supervision of staff, and problem solving will also be discussed. PTA 261 PTA Internship I (3 Credits) Prerequisites: Successful completion of PTA 259 PTA Internship I is designed to afford the student supervised clinical experience hours in observation and application of physical therapy services as a physical therapist assistant. Principles of the curriculum will be applied to general skills needed in a clinical setting. Consists of 120 clinical hours; one day per week for 15 weeks. PTA 262 PTA Internship II (5 Credits) Prerequisites: Successful completion of PTA 230, PTA 250 and PTA 261 and successful completion of all general education courses required in PTA program PTA Internship II is an advanced clinical experience designed to afford the student supervised clinical experience hours in physical therapy services as a physical therapy assistant. Theory and fundamentals of the curriculum will be applied to specific care plans and patient management as the student hones skills needed in a clinical setting. Consists of 280 clinical hours; Full-time (approximately 40 hours per week) for 7 weeks in the first half of the semester. PTA 265 PTA Internship III (5 Credits) Prerequisites: Successful completion of PTA 262 PTA Internship III is an advanced clinical experience designed to afford the student supervised clinical experience hours in physical therapy services as a physical therapist assistant. The student will be able to focus on specific interests in the field of physical therapy as they finalize their transition from student to paraprofessional. Consists of 280 clinical hours; Full-time (approximately 40 hours per week) for 7 weeks. Takes place after PTA 262 in the last 7 weeks of the semester.