Physical Therapist Assistant - AAS

Admission

• Program Application

  Application for the August 2022 start date of the PTA Program will be available starting January 23, 2023 and are due by May 22, 2023. If you have any questions, please call 620.665.4956 or email pta@hutchcc.edu.

  Application Packet 
• Admission Information

  The following steps must be completed before admission consideration into the Physical Therapist Assistant Program.

  1. Apply for admission to Hutchinson Community College(HutchCC) at http://www.hutchcc.edu/admissions

  2. Submit official transcripts, from both high school and colleges attended (no exceptions), to the HutchCC Records Office. Do NOT send your official transcripts to the PTA Program. 

      Hutchinson Community College
      Records Office
      1300 N. Plum
      Hutchinson, KS 67501

  3. Submit, to the PTA Program, the Physical Therapist Assistant Program application, plus unofficial transcripts (no exceptions), between January 24 and May 23, 2022 for Fall 2022 class. Please highlight the completed pre-requisites. 

  Address:  Davis Hall
                     Physical Therapist Assistant Program
                     815 N. Walnut
                     Hutchinson, KS 67501

  Pre-Requisites: (must be completed prior to the start of the fall semester the applicant is applying for admission)

  • English Composition I (EN 100 or EN 101),
  • College Algebra (MA 106),
  • General Psychology (PS 100),
  • Human Growth and Development (PS 102),
  • Public Speaking (SH 101) OR Interpersonal Communications (SH 210),
  • Anatomy and Physiology (with a Lab) (BI 103) (please note prerequisite in the catalog), (must be completed within 7 years of application date.)
  • Medical Terminology (HR 105).

  4. GPA for all prerequisite courses must be 2.5 or greater to be considered for admission.

  5. Reference Letters:

  • Distribute the 3 forms provided in the packet to those individual selected
  • Reference letter must be returned in a sealed envelope with the reference's signature across the seal
  • It is recommended applicants provide a self-addressed, stamped envelope to their references.

  Hutchinson Community College
  Davis Hall
  Physical Therapist Assistant Program
  815 N. Walnut
  Hutchinson, KS 67501

  Applicants with an associate's degree or higher and for those who have completed all prerequisite courses prior to the application deadline, May 23, 2022, will receive additional consideration.

  6. Interview

  Based upon an evaluative system for each category, the top 40 applicants will be selected for an interview. Notification of interview selection will be mailed. Notification will also be sent to those applicants not receiving an interview. Interview dates will be announced with letter verifying the applicant's selection for an interview. Interviews will be conducted on Thursday, June 9.

  If you have any questions regarding the application or about the program, please contact the PTA office at (620) 665-4956 or toll free at 1-888-Go Hutch, ext. 4956 if outside of Hutchinson

  ** It is the responsibility of the applicant to make sure all items are received. You may contact the PTA office to verify receipts of items. Please call 620-665-4956 or email pta@hutchcc.edu.**

  Expected student outcomes are as follows:

  1. Demonstrate effective communication skills with patients, families, caregivers and the health care team.
  2. Exhibit professional behaviors and conduct that reflect physical therapy practice.
  3. To demonstrate effective clinical decision making in order to implement and adjust intervention as directed by a physical therapist within plan of care and report changes to the physical therapist.
  4. Provide interventions in a safe and effective manner as directed by the physical therapist in the plan of care.
  5. Collect appropriate data to determine readiness for and response to interventions.
  6. Document interventions and data collection findings accurately to meet the professional guidelines within the physical therapy setting.
  7. Effectively educate others using teachings methods based upon the needs of the individuals to include the role of the physical therapist assistant
  8. Demonstrate a commitment to professional growth and life-long learning.

Program Details

• Mission & Goals

  Mission

  In keeping with the institutional mission of excellence the Hutchinson Community College (HCC) Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program will provide a high-quality education program that graduates individuals who are competent and qualified to assume this role within the community.

  Goals

  The HutchCC PTA program will provide to its stake-holders the following goals:

  • State-of-the-art classrooms, simulation labs, and learning resource facilities that enhance the student attainment of knowledge and skills needed.
  • Clinical sites that allow students the opportunity to acquire the competence in the daily work of the PTA.
  • Graduate individuals who can perform the technical aspect of clinical work in a safe efficient manner; who can communicate in a clear and understandable way; who conduct themselves within the ethical and legal framework of the progressing; and who embrace the value of life-long learning.
  • Employ qualified faculty and clinicians who are dedicated to providing relevant practice experiences and who remain current in the field of physical therapy.

  Philosophy

  The faculty believes physical therapy is an integral and dynamic part of health care and that the Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) is a valuable part of the health care team.
  A Physical Therapist Assistant requires specialized skills and knowledge with which he/she is able to work in a safe, effective, ethical and legal manner under the direction of a Physical Therapist.
  A Physical Therapist Assistant should be able to not only treat the injury or illness, but also be able to show compassion and caring in interactions with patients, families, health care team, and his/her community.

  The faculty believes each student is unique related to their learning needs and potential for learning and our responsibility is to provide opportunities for students to obtain the necessary entry level knowledge and skills to be successful in a variety of settings. As licensure is required to work in physical therapy, the faculty believes the educational opportunities provided within the curriculum will prepare students to be successful on the licensure examination.

• Program Outcomes

  The PTA comprehensive curriculum plan includes student-centered learning experiences designed to assist the student in developing terminal competencies. These experiences have been selected and organized in a logical manner allowing the graduate to function in the PTA role upon graduation.  Graduates from the program will be able to:

  • Demonstrate effective communicating skills with patients, families, caregivers and the health care team.
  • Exhibit professional behaviors and conduct that reflects physical therapy practice.
  • Demonstrate effective clinical decision making in order to implement and adjust interventions as directed by a physical therapist within the plan of care and report changes to the physical therapist.
  • Collect appropriate data to determine readiness for and response to interventions.
  • Provide interventions in a safe and effective manner as directed by the physical therapist in the plan of care following legal and ethical guidelines.
  • Document interventions and data collection findings accurately to meet the professional guidelines within the physical therapy setting.
  • Effectively educate others using teaching methods based upon the needs of the individual to include the role of the physical therapist assistant.
  • Demonstrate a commitment to professional growth and life-long learning.
• Comments & Critiques

  We welcome input from all communities in our effort to enhance the HutchCC's PTA program. As such, any community member may comment or critique HutchCC's Physical Therapist Assistant program and the program's students and graduates. Those who are not a HutchCC student, faculty or clinical educator should utilize the following procedures.

  • Comments must be provided in writing and signed by the author. Anonymous submissions nor written comments provided on behalf of an anonymous source will not be acknowledged.

  • Comment should be submitted to:

    Hutchinson Community College
    PTA Program Director
    815 N. Walnut
    Hutchinson, KS 67502

  • The PTA Program Director responds to all comments within 7 days to further discuss and resolve the issue. If satisfactory resolution cannot be reached or if addressing complaints  regarding the program director, then complaints should be submitted to the Vice President of Academic Affairs. 
  • Records of all correspondence is maintained by the Program Director for three years.

  The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Hutchinson Community College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: http://www.capteonline.org.  If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call (620) 665-3396 or email pta@hutchcc.edu. 

• Student Outcomes

  Hutchinson Community College Physical Therapist Assistant Program Student Outcomes (For Graduation classes of 2019 and 2020)

  • Graduation Rate 100%
  • Licensure Examination Pass Rate 90%
  • Employment Rate (within 6 months of Graduation) 88%