Physical Therapist Assistant

(Perkinston Campus)

Coming Soon - Fall 2019

The Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program is a 2-year program of study that prepares students to perform physical therapy interventions under the supervision of a physical therapist. Such interventions include: strengthening activities after an injury, balance and agility activities to decrease risk for falls, gait and posture activities to promote good body mechanics.  PTA’s can practice in hospitals, outpatient clinics, rehabilitation centers, extended care facilities, home health agencies and other health care settings.

Upon satisfactory completion of the program, students are awarded the Associate of Applied Science in Physical Therapist Assistant and are eligible* for PTA license examination.

*Graduation from a physical therapist assistant education program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA 22314; phone; 703-706-3245; accreditation@apta.org is necessary for eligibility to sit for the licensure examination, which is required in all states.

MGCCC is seeking accreditation of a new physical therapist assistant education program from CAPTE. The program has submitted an Application for Candidacy, which is the formal application required in the pre-accreditation stage (see http;//www.capteonline.org). Submission of this document does not assure Candidate for Accreditation status. Furthermore, Achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status is required prior to implementation of the professional phase of the program. Therefore, no students may enroll in the professional courses until Candidate for Accreditation status has been achieved. Although achievement of the status signifies satisfactory progress toward accreditation, it does not assure the program will be granted accreditation.

Mission Statement

The field of physical therapy is a person-centered profession that requires active cooperation between the therapist and the individual patient.  The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is a student-centered evolution that requires active cooperation between the faculty and the individual student. 

The mission of the MGCCC PTA Program is to provide an atmosphere of shared accountability in the teaching/learning process between program faculty and students.  The PTA Program is committed to providing the community with professional, skilled and ethically responsible entry level Physical Therapist Assistants.

PTA Program Goals

1.  Accountability

• Adhere to federal and state legal practice standards and institutional regulations      related to patient/client care and fiscal management.
• Act in a manner consistent with the Standards of Ethical Conduct for the Physical Therapist Assistant and Guide for Conduct of the Physical Therapist Assistant.
• Change behavior in response to understanding the consequences (positive and negative) of the physical therapist’s assistant’s actions.

2.  Altruism

• Place client’s/patient’s needs above the physical therapist assistant’s self-interest.

3.  Compassion and Caring

• Exhibit compassion, caring and empathy in providing services to client’s/patient’s.
• Promote active involvement of the client/patient in his or her care.

4.  Cultural Competence

• Identify, respect and act with consideration for the client’s/patient’s differences, values, preferences and expressed needs in all physical therapy activities.

5.  Duty

• Demonstrate behaviors, conduct, actions, attitudes and values consistent with the roles, responsibilities and tasks of the physical therapist assistant.
• Support and participate in organizations and efforts that promote physical therapy.

6.  Integrity

• Demonstrate integrity in all interactions with client’s/patient’s, family members, caregivers, supervising physical therapists, coworkers, other health care providers, students, other consumers, employers and payers.

7.  Social Responsibility

• Value and support the physical therapy profession in society.
• Demonstrate citizenship.

8.  Intervention

• Review the plan of care established by the physical therapist prior to initiating client/patient intervention.
• Provide safe interventions as directed in the plan of care and supervised by the physical therapist.
• Provide effective instruction to the client/patient and others to achieve the goals and outcomes as described in the plan of care.
• Collect data to quantify the client’s/patient’s response to interventions as directed and supervised by the physical therapist.
• Progress the client/patient intervention’s through the plan of care.
• Complete documentation that follows professional guidelines, health care system and physical therapy facility policies.
• Respond effectively to client/patient and environmental emergencies in the work setting.

9. Communication

• Expressively and respectively communicate in a culturally competent manner with physical therapists, client’s/patient’s, family members, caregivers, other health care providers, students, interdisciplinary team members, administrators, payers and consumers.

10.  Education

• Effectively educate others using teaching methods commensurate with the needs of the learners.
• Educate others about the role of the physical therapist assistant.

11.  Resource Management (human, fiscal, systems)

• Utilize human and material institution-based resources and services to provide high-quality, efficient and cost-effective physical therapy services.
• Comply with facility procedures and payer regulations consistent with the health care delivery system and the practice setting.

12.  Career Development

• Participate in learning and development activities to ensure continued competence.
• Participate in and respond to self-assessment activities.
• Participate in clinical education.
   

Admission Procedure

(PTA Applications are not available until the Preliminary approval process required by CAPTE is approved)

1. Make application and be accepted to Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. Application can be completed online.
2. Submit copies of official transcripts of all schools attended to the Office of Admissions. All transcripts must be reviewed by the Office of Admission for determination of course credits.
3. Meet all Academic Requirements (listed below) and complete any program pre-requisites or Entry Requirements.
4. After successful completion and submission of ALL academic and entry requirements (See section below), the student is eligible to complete the Physical Therapy Assistant Supplemental Application for Program Admission.                                                       

Fall Semester Application Submission:
Between August 15th and November 1st complete and submit the online Supplemental Application.                                           

To complete and submit the online Supplemental Application:

1. Access the college’s web page mgccc.edu
2. Click on Web Services (top tab)
3. Enter the GCID (M#) and Password
4. Select Student
5. Select Health Sciences Division Supplemental Application                 

Thereafter, the applicant MUST read the guidelines carefully.  In order to complete and submit the application, college admission and ALL pre-requisite requirements are required.

PHYSICAL THERAPY ASSISTING ADMISSIONS CHECKLIST 17/18  

Supplemental Application Deadline Dates:  Fall semester - July 1 (If deadline falls on a weekend, holiday, or closing, the deadline is 5 p.m. on the next college business day). ALL required test scores, transcripts, and entry items (CBC, pre-orientation, etc.) must be completed with results placed in Banner (MGCCC’s computer information system) by the appropriate college employee prior to the deadline. In addition, any outstanding college holds must be clear in order for the applicant to complete and submit the supplemental program application. Incomplete applications will not be considered.  (MGCCC reserves the right to review additional supplemental applications following the posted deadline).

Academic and Entry Requirements

• Achieve a minimum Composite ACT Score of 18
• Have a minimum cumulative (GPA) of 2.5 on college work with no grade less than “C” on any Academic Core* courses in the current PTA curriculum. (Courses may be re-taken and highest score will be used)
• Complete pre-requisites. Student must complete at least 4 of the program’s Academic Core* courses. One of the 4 courses must be Anatomy & Physiology I. All courses considered for selection must be completed prior to making application.
• Register for and complete the HESI A2 Exam
• Review the online mandatory Pre-Health Sciences Orientation Session prior to completing the supplemental application for program ranking.  The session can be viewed anytime and anywhere you have access to the internet.  The Power Point presentation gives you valuable information on topics common to all health science programs at MGCCC.   Even without the ability to speak directly or interact immediately with a health sciences advisor, the session speaks to frequently asked questions from program entrance to completion.  In order to receive credit for viewing the session, follow the steps below.  The information is approximately one (1) hour in length.                                                             

To complete this requirement, do the following:

1. Access the college’s web page mgccc.edu
2. Click on Web Services (top tab)
3. Enter the GCID (M#) and Password
4. Select Student
5. Select Health Sciences Division Supplemental Application Orientation Session.                                                                                     
6. In order to receive credit, you must review the entire session.
7. Click survey complete so that your log-in information will be recorded in the college’s BANNER system.  

Comply with Mississippi law requiring a Criminal Background History Check with Fingerprinting through the Mississippi Department of Health. All students making application to a Health Science program at MGCCC are required to obtain a clear or acceptable Criminal Background Check from the MGCCC Campus Police Department at JD, JC, Perkinston, or GC Campus.  The criminal background check policy (including testing dates and times) can be viewed at Health Sciences Division Criminal Background Check Policy 17/18  

Selection Process

Program openings are filled based on Selective Admission; applicants are ranked based on their individual achievement test scores and prior college course work. Student ranking for entry into the Physical Therapy Assistant program is based on the GPA, ACT composite, and the HESI Entry Exam. Program enrollment is a floating number which can fluctuate each year based on availability of clinical rotation slots. Students are selected according to the following criteria:

• Academic Core GPA – 10%
• Cumulative GPA – 30%
• ACT Composite – 30%
• HESI A2 Exam – 30%

Physical Therapy Assistant Program Policies

• All Health Science students are required to submit to substance testing in accordance with the substance testing policy and procedures for the Health Sciences Division.  The testing policy can be viewed by clicking here: Health Sciences Division Health Sciences Division Substance Testing Policy 17/18  Substance Testing Policy 17/18
• A physical examination, immunization records, CPR Certification and completed health form, signed by a Medical Physician, are required prior to the first meeting of the program. The physical form can be viewed on-line at MGCCC Health Sciences Division Pre_Entrance_Health_Form  MGCCC Health Sciences Division Pre_Entrance_Health_Form
• Upon admission to the Physical Therapy Assistant Program, students must maintain a 2.0 GPA on the required courses and complete each course with a C or better.
• Adherence to additional clinical affiliation requirements may be necessary depending on clinical rotation placement. (i.e. hospital orientation, HIPPA training, CPR certification).

Physical Therapy Assisting Program Expenses – Non Refundable (Cost may be subject to change)

Tuition

• Full-time Tuition $1,550 per semester (15-21 credit hours)
• Part-time Tuition $155 per credit hour

Fees

• Registration Fee $60
• Book Service Fee (Per Book) $40
• Technology Fee $4 - $60
• Non-resident Fee $155 per credit hour up to 14 hours
• Non-resident Fee $1,550 for 15 - 21 hours
• Credit card processing fee of 2% of the transaction amount
• Online course fee $15 per credit hour
• Career and Technical Program of Instruction Fee $60-$450/semester
• Out of State & International Fees $1400 - $2000

Additional Miscellaneous Fees may be applicable – See MGCCC website

Housing

• Perkinston Campus Dormitory Room w/ Meal Plans $2,000 - $2,150 per semester
• Housing Deposit - $50.00
• A tiered fee schedule is based on facilities
• Hayden, Andrews, Moran, and Owen Halls – An additional $100
• Bryan and George Halls – An additional $200 

Physical Therapy Assisting Program Expenses – Non Refundable (Cost may be subject to change)

Prior to Entering Program

• Criminal Background Check $65 - $80 (MGCCC Campus Police)

Once Admitted into Program

• Program Fee $300.00 per semester
• Pre-admission Physical Exam and Immunizations $200 - $300                                              
• Books $1000  - $1200 (plus rental fees, if applicable)                                                                   
• Substance Testing $29 -$35 per semester                           
• Liability Insurance $12 -$15 per semester
• Additional purchase items, supplies $50 - $100                    
• Uniform, Accessories $200 - $300
• National Board Exam Application Fee $215 - $300

Costs may be subject to change