Alicia R. Dittmar, M.Ed,  PT                                                         PTA Program Director                                                                   PO Box 5616 Greer 153                                                    Greenville, SC  29606                                                                  Phone: 864-848-2036 or 848-2037          FAX: 864-848-2038 

PTA PROGRAM  GENERAL INFORMATION

I.  Type of Degree:  

Associate of Health Sciences in Physical Therapist Assisting

II.  Phase I

The GTC PTA program is offered only in a One-Plus-One course progression format.  Students must successfully complete all Phase I general education and related courses with a minimum GPA of 2.5, no course grade lower than a "C", to progress on to Phase II.  General Education Courses are offered full or part-time during the day, night, weekend and/or on-line for students convenience.     Phase I  courses which may be completed at Greenville Technical College or any of 10 articulating colleges with whom GTC has an articulation agreement.

III.  Phase II

The professional/technical component of the PTA program is taught at either the GTC Greer Campus, at the Florence-Darlington Tech Health Sciences Campus and at Aiken Technical College Campus.  Phase II courses are offered in a full time track or extended track format with courses offered only during the daytime.  Clinical course assignments during Phase II may require students to travel and arrange accommodations away from home.  During clinical education, students should anticipate being exposed to patients with infectious diseases, critical or terminal illnesses, open wounds and bodily fluids. 

Phase II Enrollments:  between 24-30 new students admitted into Phase II at the Greer Campus each Fall semester.  10 students admitted each Fall semester into Phase II at Aiken Tech, 10 students admitted each Fall semester into Phase II at Florence-Darlington Tech.  Typically, the college receives over 100 applications for 50 slots in Phase II annually.

IV.  Professional Credentials: 

Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA)

Graduates of accredited PTA Programs must pass a computerized national licensure exam and apply to the SC Labor, License and Review Board (LLR) to receive a license to practice as a Physical Therapist Assistant in the state of South Carolina.

PTA PROGRAM ADMISSION INFORMATION

 V. Phase I Admission Requirements for GTC Campus:

• Submit completed GTC admission application packet along with application fees ($35.00)        

• Submit High School Diploma and High School Transcript or copy of GED.    

• Complete the following test or combination of tests:  SAT, ACT or ASSET/COMPASS placement tests to determine Phase I course placement.

• Submit any previous college transcripts to GTC Student Records or to Alicia Dittmar  (Official hardcopy only.   No electronic transcripts will be processed.)

• Recommend completing FAFSA Financial Aid form by Summer.

• Meet with assigned PTA Program advisor to plan and enroll in Phase I general education courses.  PTA Program advisors are located on the Greer Campus.  Students completing Phase I courses at articulating colleges should meet with the Health Sciences Advisor assigned to the college they will be attending to make sure they enroll in the correct required courses.

     ELEVEN (11) REQUIRED PHASE I COURSES

• ENG 101   English Composition I       3 credit hours

• ENG 102   English Composition II      3 credit hours

• CPT 101   Introduction to Computers 3 credit hours                                             (must be completed within 5 years of entering Phase II)                                                    

• MAT 109  College Algebra or MAT 120 Probability & Statistics                                               3 credit hours

• PSY 201  General Psychology           3 credit hours

• PSY 203   Human Growth &              3 credit hours         Development                             

• Humanities Elective                        3 credit hours                                                    (Suggest Spanish, Ethics, History)                                            

• AHS 102   Medical Terminology        3 credit hours

• SPC 205 Public Speaking or             3 credit hours                                                    SPC 209 Interpersonal Communications                            

• BIO 210   Anatomy & Physiology I    4 credit hours

• BIO 211  Anatomy & Physiology II   4 credit hours                                                    (BIO courses must be completed within 5 years of entering Phase II)                   

TOTAL CREDIT HOURS Phase I Courses 35.0

           PTA Program Phase I Full Time Suggested             Course Progression

 Courses listed below must be taken in any order.   The chart below is only a suggested model for full time progression for students who have completed Math Placement courses if required.

(35 credit  hours, 11 courses) 

               PTA Program Phase I Part-Time Suggested            Course Progression

 Courses listed below must be taken in any order.   The chart below is only a suggested model for part time progression and includes Math Placement courses if required.

(Required 35 credit  hours, 11 course + Math Placement if Required) 

VI.  Phase II Admission Requirements:

• Attendance at PTA Program Career Talk Advising Seminar required.

• Complete a minimum of 20 hours of observation to "job shadowing" a licensed Physical Therapist or Physical Therapist Assistant in at least 2 different facilities.  A minimum of 3 observation hours must be completed in an acute care hospital.  Submit the signed "Observation Hours" rating forms to PTA Program Secretary Kathy Sams (address below).

• Schedule an advising session with a PTA Program Faculty Advisor to review your progress before you send in your letter of intent.

• Complete all Phase I required courses with a "C" or better with an overall minimum GPA of 2.5 in the Phase I required general education courses by end of the Spring semester.  Students who make a "D, F or W" in any required Phase I course on the 3rd attempt become ineligible for admission into Phase II of the PTA Program.

• Complete an application to GTC, including submission of official college transcripts to Alicia Dittmar at the address above.

• Complete and submit a Letter of Intent to enter Phase II to the PTA Program Director, Alicia Dittmar, by March 31 of the spring semester prior to their desired Phase II start date.

• Acceptance into Phase II will be granted to those students with the highest ranking Weighted Admission scores who complete all Phase I courses by the end of the spring semester.    

  Weighted Admission Score Sheet

  		Criteria Met	Points
  PTA Applicants will receive evaluation points toward PTA Program admission on only the following criteria:
  1.  High School Level Biology, Chemistry, Physics
  Number of courses successfully completed:	Point Value
  ·      Biology and Chemistry and Physics (3/3)	2
  ·      Biology and Chemistry or Physics (2/3)	1
  2.  Technical GPA: based on only Phase I courses.	Point Value
  ·          4.0	4
  ·          3.50-3.99	3
  ·          3.00-3.49	2
  ·          2.50-2.99	1
  3.  BIO 210:  Anatomy & Physiology I
  1st Attempt grade of:	Point Value
  ·          A	3
  ·          B	2
  2nd Attempt grade of A or B	1
  4.  BIO 211:  Anatomy & Physiology II
  1st Attempt grade of:	Point Value
  ·          A	3
  ·          B	2
  2nd Attempt grade of A or  B	1
  5.  BIO 150:  Kinesiology  (offered spring & summer only)
  1st Attempt grade of:	Point Value
  ·          A	2
  ·          B	1
  6.  MAT 109/ 110:  College Algebra or MAT 120 Statistics
  1st Attempt Grade of:	Point Value
  ·          A	3
  ·          B	2
  2nd Attempt Grade of A or B	1
  7.  Physical Therapy or Health Related Professions  Experience (excluding observation hours)	Point Value
  ·       Employed in Physical Therapy Department   > 6 months	3
  ·       Employed in other Health Related Profession   > 6 months	2
  ·        Volunteer in physical therapy department or hospital > 50 hrs.	1
  8.  Observation Hours in Physical Therapy   Department	Point Value
  ·          20 hours in more than 2 different facilities.	1
  9.  Previous College Work:  2 points maximum per category	Point Value
  ·          Master’s degree	2
  ·          Bachelor degree	2
  ·          Associates degree	2
  ·          Certificate or diploma	2
  10.  Completion of College Studies Course	1
  Maximum Possible Score =   30                              Total Weighted Admission Score =

   

   

  Phase II PTA Program Information The top ranking students for each campus location will be accepted into the Fall Phase II class.  Students accepted for admission into Phase II will be notified of their acceptance as soon as possible before beginning of the Fall semester.  Accepted students must attend a Phase II New Student Orientation Day scheduled sometime during the first 2 weeks of August. Phase II Clinical Placement Requirements: Students admitted into Phase II must complete the following before beginning clinical their clinical courses: Submit Student Health Form:  health physical evaluation signed by a physician documenting medical conditions, allergies, medications, immunization status for the following:    mumps, rubella, rubeola, chicken pox, tetanus, 2-step TB test, Hepatitis B. Submit documentation of current CPR certification valid through the year following admission into Phase II. Submit proof of purchase of professional liability insurance.  Some clinics also require proof of personal medical insurance coverage. Negative Criminal Background Record,  A SLED and/or national FBI report run on all students admitted into Phase II. Clean random drug screen report prior to beginning clinical education courses.  Students may be required to pay for random drug screening while in clinic.

  

  Fourteen (14) Phase II Required Courses  Credit Hours PTH  101   PT Professional Preparation 2.0 PTH  102   Introduction to PT          Interventions 2.0 PTH  105   Introduction to Kinesiology 3.0 PTH  115    Pathology for PTAs 3.0 PTH 118    Physical Agents & Modalities 4.0 PTH  220    Patient Assessment Techniques 4.0 PTH  226    Therapeutic Exercises 3.0 PTH  228    Manual Therapy Techniques 2.0 PTH  234    Clinical Education I 3.0 PTH  242   Orthopedic Management 4.0 PTH  246   Neuromuscular Rehabilitation 5.0 PTH  264   Clinical Education II 5.0 PTH 270   Special Topics in Physical Therapy 3.0 PTH  274    Clinical Education III 5.0 TOTAL PHASE II  CREDIT HOURS TOTAL PTA PROGRAM CREDIT HOURS 48.0 83.0   PTA Program Faculty Advisor and Staff Contacts: Associate Dean Health Sciences Greer Campus and PTA Program Director:                             Alicia R. Dittmar, M.Ed, PT  Alicia.Dittmar@gvltec.edu                             Phone:  864-848-2036 Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education (ACCE)Jean Hamrick, BS, PTA  Jean.Hamrick@gvltec.edu                             Phone:  864-848-2035 Greer Campus PTA Program Coordinator:        Nancy Williams, BS, PT  Nancy.Williams@gvltec.edu                          Phone: 864-848-2039 Aiken Technical College PTA Program Coordinator: Sandy Campbell, BS PT           campbells@atc.edu                                       Phone:  803-593-9231 Florence-Darlington Technical College PTA Program Coordinator:                                        Gregg Forlini, MPT                    Greg.Forlini@fdtc.edu                                         Phone:  843-661-8270 PTA Program Administrative Assistant              Kathy Sams                               Kathy.Sams@gvltec.edu                               Phone  864-848-2037

   

VII. PTA PROGRAM ADVISING INFORMATION

Greer Campus Location

1. Students entering Phase I at GTC are assigned a Health Sciences Advisor, Linda Kirby-Underwood, located at the Greer Campus 864-848-2046 or to any Health Advisor located in the Greenville Technical College ARC 864-250-8109.   Once admitted into the PTA Phase II, students will be assigned to one of three PTA Faculty Advisors.   Last names beginning with the following letters will be assigned to:                                                      

   A-F to Alicia Dittmar 864-848-2036   

   G-M  to Jean Hamrick  864-848-2055      

   N-W to Nancy Williams  864-848-2039
    

   Students enrolled in one of the following colleges with whom GTC has an articulation agreement to transfer in completed Phase I course requirements should contact the assigned Health Care Advisor at their College to make sure that they are completing the correct Phase I courses:      

   1.  Blue Ridge Community College in Hendersonville, NC

   2.  Central Carolina Technical College in Sumter, SC

   3.  Horry-Georgetown Technical College in Conway, SC

   4. Isothermal Community College in Rutherfordton, NC    

   5.  Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College in Orangeburg, SC

   6.  Piedmont Technical College in Greenwood, SC

   7.  Spartanburg Community College in Spartanburg, SC

   8.  York Technical College in Rock Hill, SC

   GREER CAMPUS CAREER TALK DATES:                                              Greer Campus Location Building 301 Greer Campus     Time: 6 PM

   November 11, 2008                6:00 PM

   December 9, 2008                  12:00 PM

   January 13, 2009                    6:00 PM

   February 10, 2009                  6:00 PM

   March 10, 2009                      6:00 PM

   April 14, 2009                        6:00 PM

   May 12, 2009                          12:00 PM

   June 9, 2009                          6:00 PM

   July 14, 2009                           6:00 PM

   August 11, 2009                     6:00 PM

    

   Aiken Tech Expansion Campus Location

• Students entering Aiken Tech PTA Program should contact Sandy Campbell, PT  PTA Program Coordinator at 803-593-9231 or campbells@atc.edu. 

• Students must complete 25% of Phase I course work at ATC to be considered for admission into Phase II at ATC.

AIKEN TECH COLLEGE CAREER TALK DATES

If you are planning to major in the Physical Therapist Assistant Program at ATC, you must attend a session of Career Talk at Aiken Technical College.   All of these sessions will be held in  room 1400 on Aiken Tech Campus.

November 12, 2008, 5:00 p.m.

January 13, 2009, 12:00 noon

February 24, 2009, 5:00 p.m.

April 14, 2009, 12:00 noon

May 26, 2009, 5:00 p.m.

July 14, 2009,12:00 noon

August 25, 2009, 5:00 p.m.

October 6, 2009, 12:00 noon

November 17, 2009, 5:00 p.m.

Florence Darlington Tech Expansion Campus Location

• Students entering Florence-Darlington Tech PTA Program should contact Gregg Forlini, MPT,  PTA Program Coordinator at 843-661-8270 or Pat Shelley, Health Sciences Advisor at 843-661-8220 or Pat.Shelley@fdtc.edu

• Students must complete 25% of Phase I course work at ATC to be considered for admission into Phase II at ATC.

FLORENCE-DARLINGTON TECH COLLEGE            CAREER TALK DATES

Any person planning to enter the Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Florence Darlington Technical College is required to attend Career Talk, an information session.  All sessions of Career Talk are held in room 209 HSC.    Questions should be referred to Pat Shelly Phase I advisor at 843-661-8220, room 347 or Gregg Forlini FDTC PTA Program Coordinator, room 305 843-661-8270

Program Accreditation 

Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) in conjunction with the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA).  Re-accreditation visit is scheduled for August, 2008.

PTA PROGRAM GRADUATION RATE 2004-2006:  71%

PTA Program 1st Time Licensing Exam Pass Rate Graduates 2004-2006:  91%

PTA PROGRAM EMPLOYMENT RATE Graduates   2004-2006:  100%

Employment Opportunities

The Physical Therapist Assistant program prepares graduates to become a licensed PTA who can work in the field of physical therapy, under the supervision of a licensed Physical Therapist, as an integral member of the health care team.  A PTA can work in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, school systems, home health care, private practice, health clubs and academia. Physical Therapist Assistants provide physical therapy interventions that help patients reduce their pain,  minimize their physical impairments, improve movement and function, prevent illness or injury and promote optimal physical health.  Salary projections for PTA's based on recent graduate starting salaries in the Upstate South Carolina range from $35,000 - $38,000 annually.

 ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF A PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT

To help you determine if PHYSICAL THERAPY is the right career choice for you, we have listed the following typical job duties. The following standards reflect reasonable expectations of a Physical Therapist Assistant for the performance of common physical therapy functions.  In adopting these standards, the GTC PTA Program is mindful of patients rights to safe and effective treatments administered by a PTA in a broad variety of clinical settings.  PTA students may be required to demonstrate the following technical standards to verify that they are able to perform these essential functions: 

1.  Critical Thinking/Problem Solving

 Definition:  Ability to collect, interpret and integrate information from a variety of resources and make decisions regarding patient care in consultation with supervising physical therapist..  

Example:     Read and comprehend relevant information in textbooks, medical records and professional literature; identify cause/effect relationships; identify patient problems and progress  appropriate patient goals and interventions; respond to emergencies; know when to apply universal precautions for infection control; use effective teaching, learning and test taking strategies.

2.  Interpersonal Skills 

Definition:  Ability to collaboratively work with all PTA students and with program faculty in the classroom, lab and clinical setting.

 Example:   Establish rapport with patients/clients & colleagues; participate in lab situations to role play both clinician & patient role; interact appropriately with individuals, families, and groups from a variety of social, emotional, cultural and intellectual backgrounds; employ basic conflict management skills.

3.      Coping Skills

Definition:  Ability to respond appropriately to stressful environments or during impending deadlines.

Example:   Manage heavy academic schedules and deadlines; perform in fast paced clinical situations; cope with psychosocial issues involving catastrophic illness, disability and death.

4.      Communication Skills

Definition:  Ability to communicate effectively in English, using verbal, non-verbal and written formats, with faculty, other students, patients, families, and health care workers.

Example:     In both oral and written format, explain and teach physical therapy procedures; give directions; answer questions posed by patients, co-workers, physicians and other health care providers; keep accurate logs and records of treatment procedures and charges using appropriate medical terminology and correct spelling; demonstrate active listening skills; recognize, interpret and respond  to non-verbal behavior of self and others.

5.  Mobility/Motor skills

Definition:     Sufficient motor ability to execute the movement and skills required for safe and effective physical therapy treatment.

Example:       Demonstrate adequate coordination, balance, speed and agility to assist and safely guard patients who are walking, exercising or performing other activities; move, adjust and position patients or equipment which involves bending, stooping freely to the floor, reaching above head, lifting, pulling or guiding a weight of 100-150 pounds; guide, resist and assist patients during physical therapy interventions; provide emergency care and administer CPR; stand, kneel, sit, walk or crawl for 90 minutes without rest; perform transfer and gait training techniques using correct and safe body mechanics; manipulate with sufficient dexterity the devices used in physical therapy, such as adjusting gauges, dials, small nuts/bolts and equipment settings.

6.  Sensory Abilities

Definition:     Sufficient auditory, visual and tactile ability to monitor and assess health needs. 

Example:      Visual – (corrected as necessary) recognize and interpret facial expressions and body language, identify normal and abnormal patterns of movement, discriminate color changes and interpret and assess the environment up to 20 feet; read or set parameters on physical therapy equipment.

                           Auditory – (corrected as necessary) recognize and respond to soft voices or voices under protective garb, auditory timers, equipment/ emergency alarms, and effectively use devices for the measurement of vital signs and breath sounds.

                          Tactile –  palpate a pulse and detect changes or abnormalities of surface texture, skin temperature, body segment contour, muscle tone and joint movement.

 7.  Behavioral Skills

Definition:     Ability to demonstrate professional behaviors and a strong work ethic.

Example:       Demonstrate initiative, flexibility, enthusiasm, honesty, cooperation and industrious behavior; recognize personal limitations and request assistance as appropriate; demonstrate responsibility for personal and professional development; demonstrate respect for the patient, other health care providers and the profession of physical therapy; perform duties efficiently, willingly and thoroughly; present professional appearance and maintain personal hygiene.

Professional Links

American Physical Therapy Association:      www.apta.org

Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE):  http://www.apta.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=CAPTE3&Template=/TaggedPage/TaggedPageDisplay.cfm&TPLID=65&ContentID=49490

South Carolina Physical Therapy Association:  www.scapta.org

Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy:   http://www.fsbpt.org/

SC LLR Board:    www.llr.state.sc.us/POL/PhysicalTherapy