Physical Therapist Assistant A.A.S.

Currently a CBI is required for all students applying for any Health Science program except: Physical Education, Phlebotomy, and Histologic Tech*.

Criminal Background Investigations & Drug Screens
Michigan law requires criminal background screening for individuals working in most health care settings and facilities. Students in a Health Science Program are affected by this law. Conviction of a criminal offense (felony or misdemeanor) may make a student ineligible to be assigned to a clinical site, making program completion and graduation unattainable.

The start-up packet provides instruction regarding the process to complete and submit the background investigation. Students will not be admitted to any health science program without a clear CBI.

*In some cases, clinical sites may require students to complete additional background investigation and submit to drug screening procedures prior to or during the clinical experience. All background investigations and drug screenings are at the student’s expense.

Conviction of a criminal offense may also make graduates of health science program ineligible for state or national licensure/certification at program completion. All applicants for a health profession license in Michigan are required to submit fingerprints and undergo a criminal background investigation prior to licensure/certification.

Program coordinators, faculty, and staff cannot give legal advice to any student regarding potential eligibility/ineligibility based on prior convictions or negative findings on the criminal background investigation. The student should consult an attorney for questions specific to his/her individual case.

A student with a flagged CBI may be cleared to begin program courses, but is not guaranteed sufficient clinical placement for degree completion or authorization to take the licensing exam.

Time Commitment

The PTA program requires a large time commitment for classroom hours, study, open labs, check-offs and clinical participation. Expect to study two hours for each lecture hour. Some evening and weekend classes may be required when enrolled in the program. Classes may be scheduled as early as 8:00 am and end as late as 7:00 pm. The student will not be in school all of these hours, but in any semester you may have a varied schedule. Students are typically in class 14-21 hours per week during the program. Clinical practice courses are scheduled each semester or session beginning in the Spring Session of Year One. The student must follow their clinical instructor’s (CI) schedule. This may be anywhere between 6:00 AM and 8:00 PM. The final PTA Clinical is scheduled during the Spring Session of Year Two of the program. Students are in the clinic for eight weeks, 40 hours per week. The student must follow their CI’s schedule.

Some students are able to work 15-20 hours per week in the Fall and Winter Semester of Year Two, but more than this may result in being unable to keep up with the material and maintain the required grades to continue in the program.

Tuition

Tuition is based on contact hours. For the Fall and Winter of Year Two the student will be registering for 23 contact hours. In the Spring Session, the student is registering for 10-12 contact hours in each session.

Please see the Tuition and Fees schedule for actual costs. The Board of Trustees of the College may raise tuition as necessary. Approximate tuition cost for a College in-district resident for 1st year students is $7544 2nd plus lab fees and $8373 for 2nd year students. For a Michigan out-of-district resident is approximately $10,428 plus lab fees, 1st year students and $11,977 plus lab fees 2nd year students. Use the Tuition Calculator to figure current cost.

Additional Expected Cost

Year One
Winter Semester Lab fees: $35 A recent physical examination(no older than six months) is required with paperwork COMPLETED and turned in during the Winter Semester (January 15th) at the Health Sciences Office in the Curtice-Mott Complex in Flint (May cost up to $200/depending on health insurance). A delay in this may impede progress in the PTA program and delay graduation. The physical examination form is available in the Division of Health Sciences office in the Curtice-Mott on the main campus. A criminal background check is required before orientation to the program (approx $70-80).
Rubber soled (gym type) shoes, elastic waist shorts and a tank top for labs
A stethoscope is not required but strongly recommended ($7-$30)
A goniometer (measuring instrument) is required ($15-$30)
A watch with a second hand is required. ($6.00 and up), a name badge ($6.00)
Lace-up or Velcro: Tennis/sneaker type shoes ($25-$75)
LICENSE APPLICATION FEE – Michigan = $135.00
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mdch/cis_fhs_bhser_ptaltdpkt_292578_7.pdf
NATIONAL LICENSE EXAM FEE = $400 (total cost approximately $700)
Year One: Spring Semester
Lab fees: $15
Stethoscope is required ($7-$30)
A white hip or knee length lab coat or other professional clothing as described by the program is required ($20-$50).
Year Two: Fall Semester Lab fees: $165 Year Two: Winter Semester Lab fees: $165 Year Two: Spring Semester Lab fees: $198

Travel

Reliable transportation is required for Spring Session Year One. During this session and all of Year Two, part of the student's training includes clinical practice. The students will be traveling to health care settings in the Spring Session Year One, Fall Semester Year Two and in the Winter Semester Year Two for their clinical practice. Students will then travel to a clinical site for eight weeks (forty hours per week) in the Spring Session of Year Two. Students may be required to drive as long as 75 minutes from their home to participate in clinical practice. Some of the clinical sites are not within commuting distance of the campus. Clinical sites are selected based on obtaining a well-rounded variety of learning experiences for the student and student interest. Clinical sites are not based solely on location. Students may travel up to 70 miles to their clinical. The faculty chooses the clinical sites with student input concerning their interests. It is possible to arrange a special affiliation (at a site not already contracted with Mott Community College PTA program) if enough advance notice is given (6 to 12 months prior to scheduling the clinical internship).

Textbooks

Cost of required textbooks varies by the term. The cost generally varies from $250 to $450.

Grades

Students must receive at least a "2.0" for each Occupational Related courses. The students must pass each practical examination at 80% to continue in the program, one re-take is allowed. The grading scale for the PTA Program at present is as follows:
60 = 0.0
60-66% = 1.0
67-72% = 1.5
73-77% = 2.0
78-82% = 2.5
83-87% = 3.0
88-91% = 3.5
92-100% = 4.0
The scale for PTA Program courses that are graded as satisfactory/unsatisfactory is as follows:
Satisfactory 80-100%
Unsatisfactory 0-79%
**Mott Community College will not discriminate in any of its admissions, educational programs/activities or employment policies or practices on the basis of race, gender, age, color, national origin, religion, height, weight, marital status, physical or mental handicap, sexual orientation, or veteran's status.

• Immunizations: average cost $100
• Medical and Background Check manager: $78
• Background Check: $60
• CPR certification: $25-100

PTA program complaint process: If you have any concerns or complaints, please contact the PTA Program Coordinator, Ashlee Wines, PT, DPT at 810-762-5021. If your concern or complaint is not resolved, please then contact the Dean of Health Sciences, Rebecca Myszenski, PT, DPT, at 810-762-0317.

• Pre-Admission Information Sheet
• PTA Supplemental Application Form
• PTA Observation Form
• Clinical Rotation Vaccination Policy
• Student Handbook

Physical Therapist Assistants (PTA) work under the supervision of physical therapists in providing specific patient services for the prevention or alleviation of physical impairment. It is an interesting, varied, people-oriented, hands-on occupation.

• Assisting the physical therapist in collection of information about the patient. This may include performance of varied tests to determine limitations or changes in range of motion, strength, functional ability, or neurological status.
• Administer treatment interventions such as therapeutic exercises to condition, strengthen or stretch muscles.
• Administer treatment interventions to decrease pain, muscle spasm, or swelling through the use of physical agents such as light, heat, water and/or electricity.
• Education of patients and/or their families in exercise activities of daily living, self-care and other health care promotion areas.
• Observing the effects of various treatments and modifying the treatment within the plan of care established by the physical therapist.

In addition to general education classes required of all students seeking associate's degrees, in the Physical Therapist Assistant Program you will study anatomy and physiology, kinesiology, physical science, psychology, therapeutic procedures and modalities, medical terminology, and rehabilitation procedures. All PTA laboratory courses are held at the Southern Lakes Branch Center - Fenton. PTA lecture courses, as well as General Education courses are offered at both SLBC and the Main campus. As you advance in your studies you will take part in a clinical practice and internship in which you will apply your knowledge and skills to actual patient care under the close supervision of a physical therapist.

Salaries vary depending upon location within the state. For current Salary information visit salary.com. There are PTA employment opportunities in the physical therapy departments of acute care hospitals, rehabilitations centers, outpatient clinics, school systems, industrial clinics, sports medicine centers, nursing homes, and home health care agencies.

The Mott Community College PTA program is affiliated with approximately 65 physical therapy centers within a 70-mile radius of the college. Your part-time clinical practicums are scheduled at these facilities. Full-time internships may be local or out-of-state. There are many volunteer opportunities at local outpatient clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, children's camps or with the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

When you complete the Physical Therapist Assistant program at Mott Community College you are a candidate for an Associate in Applied Science degree.

All PTA laboratory courses are held at the Southern Lakes Branch Center - Fenton.

Some PTA lecture courses are offered at the main campus. General Education courses are offered at both SLBC and the main campus.

The program coordinator will answer specific questions and assist you with scheduling: 810-762-5021 or 810-762-0317.

Sources of additional information are:

• American Physical Therapy Association
  1111 Fairfax St. Alexandria,
  VA 22314-1488
  www.apta.org
• Michigan Physical Therapy Association
  P.O. Box 21236
  Lansing MI 48909
  

*enrolled student number in the winter semester of the 1st year of the PTA Program
** there are additional students of this group with anticipated graduation of this year.
^one student went part time and is expected to graduate in 2018

** = National Physical Therapist Assistant Examination National average summary data is provided at the Commission on Accreditation in: Physical Therapy Education web site

*** Reporting Requirement as of January 2, 2021