Erin Curry, Temporary Program Coordinator, Assistant Professor
310B Caperton Center / (304) 367-4043
Erin.Curry@pierpont.edu
Accrediting Agency
Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education
1111 North Fairfax Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 706-3245
Email: accreditation@apta.org
Website: http://www.capteonline.org/home.aspx
Program Purpose
The Physical Therapist Assistant program is designed to educate and prepare students to work under the supervision of a physical therapist to provide therapeutic treatments to patients who have lost functional ability because of illness or injury. The program prepares students to sit for a state licensing exam and graduates must pass this exam in order to work as a Physical Therapist Assistant.
Program Admission
Admission to the PTA program is competitive. A numerical score sheet is used to select 20 students for each class. Points are assigned for GPA, ACT scores, grades in algebra, physics, and certain other college courses. The students with the highest scores are chosen. To be considered for admission, applicants must:
- Complete a Pierpont Community & Technical College application
- Have at least a 2.0 grade point average
- Have a score of 18 or higher on the English portion of the ACT; a CREDIT in English 0097; OR a “C” or better in English 1104
- Have grades of “C” or better in physics and algebra taken in high school or college
- Complete a total of 10 volunteer/observation hours divided between at least two (2) physical therapy practice settings
- Complete and submit a separate PTA program application, official high school and college transcripts, official ACT or SAT scores, and two (2) volunteer/observation forms to the Director of Admissions by January 31 for the next entering class
Students must have a “C” or better in every course that is part of the curriculum and at least a 75% test average in PTA courses to continue in the program.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the PTA program, graduates will be able to do the following:
- Implement a plan of care established by the physical therapist
- Demonstrate the cognitive knowledge basic to physical therapy intervention
- Demonstrate competence in data collection through tests, measurements, and observations
- Use verbal, non-verbal, and written communication in an effective and appropriate manner
- Exhibit conduct that reflects practice standards that are legal, ethical, and safe
- Exhibit professional behavior through integrity, service, and the ability to assume appropriate responsibility
Opportunities
Career opportunities for licensed PTAs can be found in hospitals, clinics, rehabilitation centers, nursing care facilities, offices of physical therapists in private practice, and in home health care.
According to the US Department of Labor, employment of PTAs is expected to grow much faster than average for the next several years (2012-2022), and the median annual salary for WV is over $44,000.
Many PTA graduates continue their education in a baccalaureate field such as Allied Health Administration or Exercise Science. PTAs who wish to become physical therapists must first earn a Bachelor’s degree in a field that satisfies the pre-requisites for the Doctor of Physical Therapy program they wish to attend.
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