Frequently Asked Questions - Physical Therapist Assistant Program
Q. When can I apply to the program?
Applications are accepted at the PTA Program office in April for the next Fall semester class. Please refer to the application to determine the exact dates. The application dates are April 1-15 of every year for the incoming Fall semester class.
Q. How many students are accepted each year?
The Physical Therapist Assistant Program accepts up to 20 students each Fall semester.
Q. What are my chances of getting into the program?
Upon fulfilling the requirements and successfully completing an application for admission, Ohlone College is required to conduct an admission by lottery process. This means that all applicants who qualify have an equal chance of being admitted. The lottery process is only conducted in years in which there are more than 20 qualified applicants for the next incoming class.
Q. What is the Accuplacer Ttest?
The Accuplacer Test evaluates English competency. This is a Placement Test with 2 sections (reading and sentence structure). English 101A or equivalent (ENG 1A) is required for admission. The English reading comprehension requirement is met through "clearing" English 163.
Students take the test at the Placement Center in Building 1, fourth floor, Room 1405A
Placement Testing for Physical Therapist Assistant applicants are:
- September 1, 2006, Friday, 9:00am - 10:00am and 1:30pm - 3:30pm
- September 8, 2006, Friday, 9:00am - 10:00am and 1:30pm - 3:30pm
Students may arrive at the Placement Center to start the test anytime during the open hours. Testing is done on a first come, first served basis. Space is limited to 30 students. Students must bring a photo ID (driver’s license, passport, etc.) and know their Ohlone College student ID number.
Sample questions and study guides are available.
If you have questions about the exam, contact the Placement Center at (510) 659-6126. Be sure to specify that you are a physical therapist assistant student.
Q. Do I have to take the Accuplacer Test before entering the Program?
If you have already received a four year degree from an accredited College or University in the United States you do not have to take the Accuplacer Test. ALL OTHER STUDENTS MUST TAKE THE READING PORTION OF THE ACCUPLACER TEST. Some students may have already taken an English Composition course that is equivalent to the English 101A eligibility requirement (such as completion of English 151B at Ohlone College with a "C" or better). Students who do not "clear" English 163 must take the courses indicated to meet the requirement. The math test is not required for students entering the Physical Therapist Assistant Program.
Q. Do I have to take Anatomy and Physiology?
Students must complete, at the very minimum, the first semester of the two part series of Biology 103A and 103B (or an equivalent course at another institution). The second semester of the series may be "in progress" at the time of the application, but must be completed by the end of that semester with a "C" or better. A second option requires you take Biology 104 Basic Human Anatomy and Physiology (or equivalent) and enroll in PTA-120 Anatomy of Biomechanics during your first semester in the PTA Program. If the course work was not completed at Ohlone College, check with a counselor (Maria Ramirez) to make sure the courses are equivalent to the Ohlone College Courses. Anatomy and Physiology prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of "C" or better within the past five (5) years.
Q. What other courses are required?
Introduction to Physical Therapy (PTA-101) is a required course prior to admission into the program. Ohlone College's PTA Program requires any transferable “Intro to PT” course be 3 units, with one unit of laboratory, if taken at another institution.
Students must also meet the requirements for an Associate of Science degree to graduate [see Curriculum Guide/Worksheet].
Q. What GPA is needed?
A College GPA of 2.5 is required.
Q. Do I need any special supplies for the Program?
The students are required to purchase an APTA Kit for Physical Therapist Assistants. This kit contains a gait belt, goniometer, reflex hammer, Thera-band material, and other items typically used in the field. The kit may be purchased during the PTA-101 course or at the beginning of the Program in the Fall Semester from the APTA. Students are also required to possess a lab coat and an identification badge.
Q. How long is the Program?
The Program requires that the students be involved in class and clinical work for two full years. The summer session of the second year is a full-time clinical affiliation meaning that the students do not officially complete the Program until August of that year.
Q. Are there jobs as a graduate from the Physical Therapist Assistant Program?
In the March 10, 2006 USA Today, one of the 10 top jobs on the rise is Physical Therapist Assistants. Eight of the twenty fastest growing occupations are in health care, with a 44% increase in the number of PTA jobs expected through 2014. ("As baby boomers become baby geezers, we'll need more help, especially with new medical advances.")
With the pressures of managed care and HMO's influencing the field of health care and particularly physical therapy, the PTA is one profession that appears to becoming even more valuable and the projected demand is for an even larger work force. The Occupation Outlook Handbook (PDF file), published by the Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics has this to say about PTAs:
“Employment of physical therapist assistants … is expected to grow much faster than the average through the year 2010. Federal legislation imposing limits on reimbursement for therapy services may adversely affect the job market for physical therapist assistants … in the near term. However, over the long run, demand for physical therapist assistants … will continue to rise, with growth in the number of individuals with disabilities or limited function. The rapidly growing elderly population is particularly vulnerable to chronic and debilitating conditions that require therapeutic services.”
Q. Does Ohlone College offer its Physical Therapist Assistant program on-line?
No. While all of the courses in our curriculum have on-line information (course syllabi, schedules, general information, etc.) and some of our courses have an on-line component (assignments, lecture handouts, self-tests, etc.), the nature of the physical therapy profession demands that our curriculum have hands-on, laboratory-based content in addition to clinical education experiences. Therefore, we cannot put our entire curriculum on-line.
We currently offer one fully on-line course, PTA-140 PTA Licensure Exam Preparation and one hybrid course, PTA-102 Pathology.
Q. Is the Physical Therapist Assistant Program accredited by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)?
The Ohlone College PTA Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22134; accreditation@apta.org; (703) 684-2782 or (703) 706-3245, the accrediting body for PT and PTA programs.
Q. What are the success rates for Ohlone's PTA Program?
Matriculation rates are 75% for the first year, 90% for the second year. Graduation rates are 60% or higher. Employment rates vary between 80 and 100%. Licensure exam pass rates are: 90% for 2003, 67% for 2004, and 88% for 2005.
Q. What is cost of Ohlone's PTA Program per year?
Tuition, books, parking, health screen, background check, CPR certification, lab coat are approximately $1,600 per year.
Q. I still have questions. Who can I contact for more information?
For general program information or PTA Program admission materials, please contact Zelma Hunter in the Health Sciences and Environmental Studies Division at (510) 742-3103 or at zhunter@ohlone.edu.
For counseling information or information about prerequisites or equivalencies for courses taken at other colleges or universities, please make an appointment to see Maria Ramirez in Counseling at (510) 742-2346 or mramirez@ohlone.edu.
For information regarding admission to Ohlone College (not specifically the PTA Program), please contact Admission and Records.
