Physical Therapist Assistant - Additional Information

In order to complete the PTA Program and become a candidate for graduation, the student must complete all PTA Program didactic courses with a grade of “C” or better and all clinical courses with a grade of “Pass.” The student must also complete general education courses required for completion of the PTA Program with a grade of “C” or higher. During the final semester of the PTA Program students must complete the application for graduation, which is reviewed by the Program Coordinator and sent to the WKCTC Registrar. Applications must be completed and submitted prior to the deadline noted in the Academic Calendar for that semester.

Detailed Program and Course Information can be located in the KCTCS catalog.

PTA General Education Requirements:

General education requirements can be taken in any order.  Students are encouraged to take as many as possible prior to starting the program.  Human Anatomy and Physiology I must be completed prior to the start of the PTA Program. Human Anatomy and Physiology II must be taken prior to the start of the second semester.  All general education courses must be completed prior to the 3rd semester in the program.

Once admitted into the PTA Program, the new class takes the next 4 semesters as a group prior to graduation.

First Semester:  6 credit hours in PTA coursework and completion of Human Anatomy and Physiology II and other general education courses if not already completed.

Students can anticipate approximately 3 half days in person on campus during the first semester.

Second Semester:  10 credit hours in PTA coursework and completion of any remaining general education requirements.  Students can anticipate approximately 2 ½ days in person on campus during the second semester and a total of 8 full time clinical days spread out during the semester.  

Third Semester:  12 credit hours in PTA coursework. Students can anticipate approximately 3 1/2 days in person on campus during the first 10 weeks of the third semester.  The last 4 weeks of the third semester students are in full time clinical rotations.  

Fourth Semester:  12 credit hours in PTA coursework.  Students can anticipate approximately 5 days in person on campus during the first 6 weeks of the fourth semester. The last 10 weeks of the fourth semester students are in full time clinical rotations until graduation.  

• Classes: Students will participate in lecture, laboratory and clinical experiences during the program. Every class in the program has some online instruction or assignments included.
• Grading: All general education and PTA course requirements must be completed with a "C" or higher to meet the program requirements. All lab practicals must be passed to continue in the program. Students have up to 3 attempts at passing lab practicals and specific requirements are listed in each course syllabus. All clinical rotations must be completed with a Passing grade.
  • Grading Scale
    • A = 90-100
    • B = 80-89
    • C = 70-79
    • D = 60-69
    • E = below 60
  • Incomplete grades:  An incomplete grade ("I") is assigned solely at the discretion of the instructor. There must be a reasonable possibility that the student will pass the course upon completion of the missed work, and the missed work must be the result of extenuating circumstances. The instructor will set dates for completion time.
• Late/Make Up Work: Assignments are due at the beginning of the class period on the day they are due. Any assignment submitted after the beginning of the class period will be considered late.  Ten percent of the grade for that assignment will be deducted for each calendar day the assignment is late. Further class specifications are in each course syllabus.
• Laboratory Classes:Students may need to wear shorts, tank tops, and/or patient gowns to allow practice of clinical skills and procedures. Every effort is made to insure privacy and dignity during these laboratory sessions. Students also serve as demonstration subjects during laboratory sessions.
• Clinical Assignments: Clinical assignments are made based on clinical experiences needed for entry level proficiency. Students are required to travel to and from the clinical site. This may involve considerable commuting time depending on your location and the availability of clinical sites. We make every effort to assign sites that are close to the student’s home, but the type of experience needed and availability of both sites and instructors will always take precedence.
  In the event of student injury during a clinical assignment, each facility has agreed to provide emergency care if needed, as part of their contract agreement with WKCTC. Until such time that another party is found responsible, the student is responsible for the cost of this emergency care.
• Clinical Requirements: In order to be admitted to off-campus clinical affiliate sites, a criminal background investigation and drug screening is required. This will be done at the student’s expense. For the PTA program, background checks and drug screenings will be completed prior to entering the PTA program. Students must use the WKCTC vendor (Castlebranch) to complete this requirement. Costs vary from year to year but are typically around $40 for the background check and $40 for the drug screening. It will be necessary to undergo the background investigation and drug screening more than once during the program to meet clinical site requirements. Students will be required to have certain immunizations, TB skin test, and/or health insurance to attend clinical rotations. Students will be informed of these requirements prior to starting clinical assignments.
• CPR Certification: For Students accepted into the PTA program, they must obtain CPR certification PRIOR to the orientation meeting in December. Students are encouraged to meet this requirement early since classes are offered intermittently. The CPR class must be a PROVIDER class (not a class for the general public). Although it may have some online component, it must include face to face competency check offs.
• APTA Membership: All students are required to join the American Physical Therapy Association and pay student dues for both years in the program
• PTA Program Expenses:
  • Tuition and fees
  •  CPR certification for the duration of the program - approximately $70 depending on location of course 
  • Textbooks and required subscriptions - costs vary significantly for each semester and different texts are adopted from time to time.  Students are required to keep texts as they may be used in future semesters and for NPTE review.  Per semester cost varies from approximately $250 to $500.
  •  Annual background check and drug screen - Approximately $160 
  • APTA Student membership- approximately $80 a year 
  • Last semester Kentucky Licensure and Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy/FSBPT fees - approximately $700 
  • Immunizations and TB testing- varies with student specific insurance coverage 
  • Basic school supplies and a device for counting seconds – varies with student choice of items 
  • Travel to and from the clinical site - varies with clinical rotation 
  • Housing if needed for clinical rotations - varies with clinical rotation 
  • Clinical dress that meets the facility dress code - $20 to $50 depending on student choice 
  • Liability insurance - included in your college fees 
  • Official WKCTC name tag- $20 
• Completion of the Program: To become licensed in the state of Kentucky, a student must graduate from an accredited program, complete the application for Kentucky licensure, pay the licensure and testing fees (currently approximately $700 in total), and take and pass the NPTE. If a student has been convicted of a felony this may or may not affect the ability to license in the state of Kentucky. The application requires applicants to list any convictions and this must be answered honestly. The Kentucky Board of Physical Therapy reviews each of these issues individually. Applicants need to contact the Kentucky Board of Physical Therapy with any questions about their ability to become licensed in the state of Kentucky or any other state.
• Financial Aid
• Refund Policies
• Financial Fact Sheet
• Outcomes
• Academic Calendars
• Student Support Services
• Complaint Process
  • WKCTC Student Complaint Process
  • CAPTE Formal Complaints
• Academic Policies

Inquiries or complaints that fall outside the realm of due process including complaints from prospective students, clinical education sites, employers of graduates, the general public, etc., should initially be directed to the PTA Program Coordinator. If the coordinator is unable to resolve the issue, the complaint should then be directed to the following persons in the order listed: Nursing and Allied Health Division Dean, Vice President of Academic Affairs, and finally the President. Inquiries or complaints regarding any other aspect of the college received by either program faculty members or the Program Coordinator should be directed to the dean of the college area involved. Documentation shall be maintained by the PTA program coordinator including the details of the complaint and any actions taken by the program or college officials regarding the complaint. Retaliation for submission of any complaint is specifically prohibited.