There continues to be a great deal of uncertainty right now in healthcare and the community. Becoming a PTA is an excellent decision and will bring many years of very rewarding work.
As the government, local health care agencies and the MCC administration continue to wrestle with decisions regarding the best plans moving forward, the PTA program will be making some adjustments to this year's application process.
Physical therapist assistants (PTA) provide direct client care under the supervision of a physical therapist and help improve mobility, relieve pain and prevent or limit permanent physical disabilities due to injury or disease.
Program options
- The program includes interactive classroom experiences along with 720 hours of supervised clinical rotations.
- Both programs have identical clinical experiences in local facilities. Web based learning is an excellent option for many students but it not for everyone and careful consideration should be taken before pursuing this option.
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Traditional option
- The PTA program offers a traditional classroom lecture program with labs beginning each fall semester.
- Once admitted the program is 4 semesters with the first 3 semesters typically meeting Monday through Thursday.
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Web based option
- The web based program where "lecture" materials are learned in a distance education format and the student spends 1-2 mornings a week in the lab for learning and examinations.
- Is web based learning is right for you? Visit MCC's Distance Education frequently asked questions page.
Program admission
Additional steps are required for acceptance into this program beyond the standard MCC admissions application. This is a 4 semester program (additional semesters of prerequisites) that accepts approximately 22 students in the on ground program and 14 students in the web based program annually.
If you have additional questions about the application process please email the PTA Program Coordinator Dr. Randy Leighton at randy.leighton@mcckc.edu.
Admission instructionsProgram Acceptance
Students accepted into the program will work directly with the program coordinator to determine next steps. Students not accepted into the program should contact the Student Advising Department or the MCC-Penn Valley Health Science Institute (healthcare@mcckc.edu) to determine next steps.
Accreditation
The PTA program at MCC-Penn Valley is accredited by:
MCC- Penn Valley PTA Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; Call: 703.706.3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: capteonline.org.
If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call Randy Leighton, MSPT, Ph.D. at 816.604.4808 or email randy.leighton@mcckc.edu.
Careers
PTAs work in hospitals, outpatient clinics, sports clinics, rehabilitation centers, extended-care facilities and schools.
Bright outlook for Physical Therapist Assistants
Visit Occupational Information Network (O*NET) to view salary information, employment outlook and personal characteristics needed for this career.
More program information
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Upon successful completion of the PTA program graduates are eligible to sit for the state licensure examination through the Missouri Board of Registration for the Healing Arts.
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PTAs interact directly with the clients to provide direct client care so they need to be personable, empathetic, motivators and educators.
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Physical strength, agility, quick reactions, strong verbal and written communication skills
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Visit the PTA Essential skills page to learn more.
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Students with instructional feedback or concerns should follow the feedback process outlined in the course syllabus. For other feedback please contact Tarana Chapple, Associate Dean of Instruction at 816.604.4344.
Program outcomes
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Graduation Year Program Number of Students Admitted Goal Class Size=22/14 Number of Graduates CAPTE Retention Percentage** 2019 Web based 14 11* 92% Land based 22 17 77% 2020 Web based 14 8* 66% Land based 22 18 82% 2 year Graduation rate: Web based 77% 2 year Graduation rate: Land based 80% *2 students withdrew due to nonacademic issues
** Retention does not include students who withdrew for nonacademic issues2 year Licensure Pass Rate for Both Programs: 100%
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Graduate Data *Job Placement Percentage TSA Pass Rate Results (Certification/Licensure) Number of Students Who Took the Exam/ Number of Students Who Passed Class of: 2019 100% # sat for the exam = 16 # passed the exam = 16 - 100% Class of: 2020 100% # sat for the exam = 18 # passed the exam = 18 100% -
Time Frame Graduate Data *Job Placement Percentage *TSA Pass Rate Results (Certification/Licensure) Number of students who took the exam/number of students who passed Class of: 2019 100% # sat for the exam = 11 # passed the exam = 11 100% Class of: 2020 100% # sat for the exam = 8 # passed the exam = 8 100%