Catalog 2010 - Naugatuck Valley Community College - Connecticut ...

106 Allied Health/Nursing/Physical Education Division
PHySicAl tHerAPiSt ASSiStAnt
The Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program is accredited by Connecticut's Board of Governors for Higher Education, and by the Commission
on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education of the American Physical Therapy Association, 1111 North Fairfax St., Alexandria,
VA, 22314, (703) 684-2782.
The PTA is an assistant to the physical therapist and a valued member of the health team. Career opportunities are in hospitals, school systems,
private offices, home health agencies, industry, rehabilitation hospitals and nursing homes.
This two year, full-time curriculum for an Associate in Science degree is offered through a collaborative arrangement among Capital, Housatonic,
Manchester, Naugatuck Valley, Northwestern Connecticut, and Tunxis Community Colleges. The program is based at Naugatuck
Valley Community College. The physical therapy courses are held at that college in Waterbury, and more than 90 physical therapy clinics
from around the state collaborate with this program to provide internships. The course of study begins in January and includes a minimum
of 67 credits.
In reading this section candidates must note the special requirements of this program.
Selective Admission Requirements
1. Submit a PTA program application, in addition to the college application for admission, and an official final high school transcript
indicating graduation or a General Education Development (GED) Diploma.
2. Complete the following courses with a minimum grade of "C", and submit a high school and/or college transcript documenting that
these were completed no earlier than five years prior to the application date:
a. Intermediate Algebra
b. Chemistry or Physics, with a laboratory component
Applicants enrolled in high school can complete these requirements through courses at the college preparatory or advanced level.
High school modified grade level courses will not meet these admissions criteria nor will high school courses designated as
"allied health".
Applicants not enrolled in high school may complete these requirements through courses completed at a college. Adult education
courses do not meet these criteria. Satisfactory scores on the CLEP in intermediate algebra and chemistry or physics are
acceptable in meeting these requirements.
Courses which must be completed by the application deadline to meet these requirements are:
ALGEBRA: The minimum high school level course to meet this requirement is Algebra II. The minimum college algebra course
to meet this requirement is MAT*H137.
CHEMISTRy or PHySICS: This high school course must be "general with laboratory". College courses with laboratory must be
"introductory" or "general" level courses. The minimum course to meet this requirement is CHE*H111 (Concepts of Chemistry)
or PHy*H110 (Introductory Physics).
3. Complete no earlier than five (5) years prior to entering the PTA program the course Anatomy and Physiology I (4 cr.), which
must be completed with a minimum grade of "C". Students enrolled in Anatomy and Physiology I during the Fall Semester, and
who have met all other admissions criteria, may be offered conditional acceptance to the program based on achieving a minimum
grade of "C" at the end of the semester. official transcripts or final grade(s) must be submitted as soon as they are available. The
minimum course to meet this requirement is BIo*H211 or equivalent.
4. Complete the required College Placement Tests. Remedial courses required as indicated by testing must be completed before
october 1 of the year prior to the year in which the student wishes to enter the PTA program.
5. Earn a GPA of 2.5 for all previous college work.
6. Submit all application materials, including official high school and college transcripts, and program application, by october 15,
for admission consideration for the upcoming spring semester.
7. Students must be able to perform common physical therapy functions as defined in the program's Essential Requirements. Contact
the program to receive a copy of this document.
8. In addition to tuition and fees, students in the PTA program must pay for books, appropriate attire for internships, and transporta-
tion. Students must complete and verify all required immunizations and provide certification by the American Heart Association
in Basic Life Support (BLS) for the Health Care Provider before the start of clinical activities.
9. Students may be required by a health care facility to undergo a background check for felony convictions. Students who do not pass
the background check may be excluded from the clinical site and may not be able to meet the competencies required for the
program.