ANNOUNCEMENT
NEW MILITARY INFORMATION

Associate of Applied Science (AAS) Degree Department Chair: Mary Chavez Location: Medical Arts & Tech Building, Rm 172 Phone: 719-549-3433  E-Mail: mary.chavez@pueblocc.edu Faculty: Paula Thomas Margaret (Peggy) Oreskovich Visit our Physical Therapist lab tour Visit our Job Listings page Admissions Information Program Information and Application

Career Opportunities
PTAs work under the direction of physical therapists, helping to manage conditions such as back and neck injuries, sprains/strains and fractures, arthritis, burns, amputations, strokes, multiple sclerosis, birth defects, injuries related to work and sports, and others. You will work in a broad range of settings including hospitals, outpatient clinics, rehabilitation facilities, skilled nursing, extended care, or subacute facilities, homes, schools, fitness centers, and sports training facilities.

Program Description
The AAS degree prepares you to serve as a PTA within 5 semesters. The program is offered 2 - 2 ½ days per week except during the clinical experiences which occur in the third and fifth semester. Clinical experiences are scheduled for 40 hours per week, and placement is typically anywhere in Southern Colorado. Learning experiences include lecture and interactive lab opportunities in a spacious lab with state of the art equipment. The PTA program is accredited by CAPTE of the American Physical Therapy Association.

Program Requirements
The application process is based on an individual education plan (IEP). Please contact the program Chair to discuss the process and ensure that your application is eligible for fall admission. We allow you to “reserve” a slot for the fall start while completing the following program requirements for admission: a background check, volunteer hours or work experience in a physical therapy setting, a college reading class (if required), and a college anatomy and physiology class—a 4 credit course with a lab (with a minimum grade of “C”). You must also have a health care provider CPR card to attend clinical experiences, and you must provide proof of current immunizations, pass a drug screen, and purchase liability insurance.

Admissions Information
Complete an admission application form for PCC, contact the PTA program for advising and class registration. At that time an individual education plan will be developed for each student based on the following admission criteria:                                    

• Background check must be satisifed BEFORE applicants may enroll in the PTA Program.

• Completion of Anatomy and Physiology with a "C" or above

• Completion of 50 volunteer hours in at least 2 different physical therapy settings
  

• A minimum of 80 on the Accuplacer reading test.                        

• Students must have a current and valid Health Care Provider CPR card (valid for 2 years) to attend internships

PROGRAM STATISTICS

Admissions 2003 2004 2005 Number of student applying   22    28    32 Number of students accepted   22    23    18 Number of students accepted who enrolled   18    17     18 Minority students    8     6     8 Average age 25.5    25.8    33 Number of completers 6/6    22*(includes transfer students)    13 Completers                                      Employed graduates who sought PTA employment   4/4     10/10    13/13 Average of 2001-03 students passing national exam*    100% *Not required for employment in Colorado

Other Links:

• American Physical Therapy Association
• State of Colorado, Physical Therapy licensure
• Web CT Link