Program Description
Would you enjoy a rewarding career helping persons of all ages recover from injury and illness? Consider the high demand occupation of the physical therapist assistant. Tulsa Community College offers a five (5) term Physical Therapist Assistant Program accredited by The Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, American Physical Therapy Association, 1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA 22314, Telephone: (703) 706-3245, Website: www.apta.org/CAPTE.
The physical therapist assistant is a technically educated health care provider who assists the physical therapist in the provision of physical therapy. The physical therapist assistant may perform procedures and related tasks that have been selected and delegated by the supervising physical therapist. To further investigate the role of the physical therapist assistant, contact the American Physical Therapy Association at www.apta.org. Successful completion of this program requires that the student perform at a “C” level or better in all of their physical therapist assistant courses.
The graduate of this program is eligible to apply for the National Physical Therapist examination. Individuals who have been convicted of a felony or of a crime involving moral turpitude, or who have had a drug problem, may not be permitted to take the licensure examination. If any of these circumstances exist, you may wish to contact the Oklahoma State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision, (405)-848-6841 for clarification.
Admission to the Program
Program Application Instructions
- All prospective Physical Therapist Assistant students who have not been enrolled at TCC within the past year must complete an application for admission to the College, submit their high school transcripts, ACT scores and previous college transcripts to the Metro Campus Registrar at 909 South Boston, Tulsa, OK 74119. Incomplete submissions will not be considered for admission into the Physical Therapist Assistant program. Admission to Tulsa Community College does not guarantee admission to the Physical Therapist Assistant Program.
- Applications to the PTA program must be completed online at tulsacc.edu/ApplyAlliedHealth by December 1. For more information, contact the Department of Allied Health office at (918) 595-7002.
Program Admission Requirements
- High school diploma or GED
- Minimum GPA of 2.0
- Minimum ACT composite score of 15
- Must be able to drive to local and distant clinical sites.
- Following the review of the applicants’ academic history, qualified applicants will be notified via TCC email of their continuance in the selection process. This includes an interview, a writing assignment, and participation in clinical observation experiences to complete the application process. Applicants will be notified via TCC email of their acceptance into the PTA program by April 15.
- An extensive criminal background check, including but not limited to, a seven-year county of residence nationwide criminal history check, national sexual predator screening, Social Security check, and Medicare/Medicaid fraud screening is required by all clinical affiliates. All Allied Health students participating in clinicals are required to complete these background checks, immunizations and a drug screening test by the Department of Allied Health office deadline prior to the first clinical rotation. Any positive findings may be subject to review by the clinical affiliates and could prevent the student from completing clinical requirements.
English Language Proficiency
An official iBT® TOEFL (internet-based Test of English as a Foreign Language) test score or an IELTS (International English Language Testing System) Band score is required as proof of English proficiency for any International student for whom English is a second language who is applying to any Tulsa Community College health sciences program. Students who have graduated from a U.S. high school will not be required to take the iBT Toefl or IELTS tests. Your scores must be current within 2 years of the semester for which you are applying.
For health sciences students, the minimum sub-scores on the internet based TOEFL (iBT®) are 21 for Writing; 24 for Speaking; 20 for Reading; and 20 for Listening, with a total minimum score of 85.
For students choosing the IELTS test, acceptable scores include: 6.5 for Reading; 6.5 for listening; 7.5 for Speaking; and 6 for Writing, for a total IELTS Bans score of 6.5. These required minimum scores must be met for each of the four sub-tests on a single exam. A total score that does not meet the sub-score minimums does not meet the requirement. Exceptions to this policy may be considered on an individual basis.
Students must go to www.ets.org/toefl to find a TOEFL iBT testing site, register and pay for the test. Students may go to www.ielts.org/us to find an IELTS testing center and register and pay for the test. Both tests cost approximately $190. Students are highly encouraged to take practice tests to prepare for these important tests. Your official scores, including ALL Sub-scores, must be sent directly to the TCC Registrar’s Office.
Contact Information
Physical Therapist Assistant Program Director
Melanie Heffington, PT, DPT, APTA Education Leadership Institute Fellow
918-595-3423
melanie.heffington@tulsacc.edu
TCC Metro Campus
909 S. Boston Ave.
Tulsa, OK 74119
Additional Information Available
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this program you will be able to:
- Perform in a safe manner that minimizes risk to patients, self, and others.
- Demonstrate professional behaviors that create a positive and productive working environment in all situations.
- Adhere to established legal standards, standards of the profession, proper use of support personnel, fiscal responsibilities, and ethical guidelines.
- Adapt delivery of PT services with consideration for patients’ differences, values, preferences, and needs.
- Communicate in ways that are congruent with situational needs.
- Participate in self-assessment and develop plans to improve knowledge, skills, and behaviors throughout lifetime.
- Demonstrate clinical problem solving when determining patient status, changes in patient status, patient data collection, and need for plan of care modification and or need for other services.
- Perform quality PT interventions in a technically competent manner.
- Produce quality documentation in a timely manner to support the delivery of PT services.
Careers
Search careers in this field at Focus 2 Career or schedule an appointment with TCC Career Services to learn more about our free career planning and job preparation services.
Degree Requirements
View a semester-by-semester course plan of study on the Physical Therapist Assistant Degree Map.
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