Physical Therapist Assistant

The Physical Therapist Assistant at Prairie State 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: https://www.capteonline.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please Carol Fawcett PTA, BS, MEd at 708-709-3592 or email cfawcett@prairiestate.edu.

Graduates of the Prairie State College Physical Therapist Assistant program will be eligible to take the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE) to practice as physical therapist assistants in for states where licensure is required, Illinois included. Licensure in the state of Illinois is controlled by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, Division of Professional Regulation, 320 West Washington St., Springfield, IL 62786, (217) 785-0800 or (217) 782-8556; https://idfpr.illinois.gov/DPR.asp .

It is each student’s responsibility to determine whether he/she is eligible for state licensure. Graduation from this program does not guarantee a passing score on the NPTE for PTA. Please note that each jurisdiction reviews each licensure applicant and may refuse licensure to applicants with past criminal convictions.

• Ability to push/pull and lift objects more than 50-100 pounds
• Perform patient care for 8-12 hours; stand for prolonged periods of time
• Ability to safely bend, twist, and lift to assist a patient moving from one surface to another.
• Ability to participate in all aspects of therapeutic interventions.
• Ability to perform chest compressions necessary for CPR.
• Possess the coordination, balance, and strength to safely guard and protect a patient during all related physical therapy interventions.
• Possess the agility to move quickly to ensure patient safety.
• Possess manual dexterity to safely grasp, manipulate small objects and dials, feel pulse, muscle tone, bony landmarks and to hold and use a writing instrument for documentation.

• Ability to effectively communicate in verbally and in writing in English.
• Ability to read and understand technical and professional materials.
• Ability to demonstrate sensitivity, confidentiality and respect when speaking with patients, peers, faculty and staff
• Ability to participate in all aspects of therapeutic interventions.

• Normal or corrected visual acuity sufficient to observe a patient’s response to treatment interventions, read or set parameters on physical therapy equipment, observe and assess the environment, gather information from medical records and professional literature.
• Ability to hear and respond to monitors, calls for assistance, alert systems, and verbal directions.

• Emotional and mental health necessary to effectively apply knowledge and exercise appropriate judgment.
• Ability to demonstrate flexibility and adaptability.
• Ability to practice legal, moral and ethical behavior and accountability.
• Ability to self-evaluate.
• Ability to accept feedback constructive criticism.
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Ability to interact effectively with patients, families, supervisors, and co-workers regardless of their race, sex, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sexual orientation, or disability.
• Ability to portray professional behavior in all areas, including professional presentation, academic and professional responsibility, and commitment to learning.
• Ability to recognize and respond appropriately to potentially emergent situations.

If a student’s criminal background check presents a positive personal history a student may not be allowed to participate in required off campus clinical experiences and thus may need to withdraw from the PTA program. Please note some facilities may require an additional criminal background check. Cost of all criminal background checks will be at the student’s expense. Disqualifying offenses defined in Section 955.160 of the Health Care Worker Background Check Act is used to determine offenses that would prohibit admission into the program. Details of disqualifying offenses can be found at http://www.idph.state.il.us/nar/disconvictions.htm. If the student believes that the information is in error, they may obtain a fingerprint background check, at his/her own expense, to refute or confirm the initial findings.

Felony convictions may adversely affect their ability to sit for the NPTE licensure exam and/or the ability to be hired as a licensed physical therapist assistant. It is recommended students review licensure requirements in the state they plan to seek licensure. Information on individual state licensing requirements can be found at https://www.fsbpt.org/Secondary-Pages/Exam-Candidates/Applying-for-State-License.

All students must successfully pass a drug screening through CastleBranch as a condition for participation in an off campus learning experience. Authorization for the drug screen shall be furnished by the student and the student shall be responsible for the required fees. The drug screening must be ordered through CastleBranch, available locations to do the screening will be listed through CastleBranch. The student must complete the drug screening at one of those locations. The results are provided from the testing site to CastleBranch for documentation. In the event of a positive drug screen (not cleared by your healthcare provider), you will not eligible for participation in off campus learning experience and may have to withdraw from the program. If the initial drug screen is positive, the student may refute the positive results (legally prescribed substances only) and at the student’s expense, complete a more extensive drug test.

Following the initial drug screen students may be subject to random drug screening for reasonable suspicion, at the request of a off campus clinical facility, or if the student has been out of the program longer than one year.

If a random drug screen is positive without documentation of medical necessity, or a student refuses to complete a random drug screen, the student will not be allowed to continue in the program. If a second drug screen is positive without documented medical necessity or the student refuses to complete a second drug screen, the student will be dismissed from the program without opportunity for reentering.

Any student who fails a urine drug screen or refuses to complete a urine drug screen will be referred to counseling for follow-up.

All students must complete a physical examination and demonstrate proof of immunizations and/or immunity as a condition for participation in an off campus learning experience. The physical examination must include the following:

• A complete physical that verifies the student is capable of performing all essential skills of a PTA.
• Evidence of completion of Hepatitis B immunization (series of three vaccines) or a signed waiver. If unable to verify the dates of the 3 vaccines, Hepatitis antibody titer to assess for immune status can be ordered by the provider. This titer should be at least 1-2 months after the Hepatitis vaccine dose #3.
• Rubella Titer
• Mumps Titer
• QuantiFERON-TB Gold blood test (QFT-G) completed within 12 months of the start of the off campus learning experience
• Rubeola (Measles) Titer
• Varicella (Chicken Pox) Titer
• Tetanus (if not updated in last 10 years)
• Flu vaccine
• COVID-19 vaccine

PSC recognizes that some individuals may not have been vaccinated for a variety of reasons. It is the sole discretion of a clinical site to accept a student who does not provide evidence of vaccinations of immunity. The program will not guarantee an alternate placement if a student is rejected from a clinical site. If a student is rejected from a clinical site due to not having the required vaccinations or proof of immunity the student may be required to withdraw from the program.

• Math requirement: Placement in PSC’s MATH 094 or higher or successful completion of PSC’s MATH 091 or MATH 093 or equivalent SAT MATH: 460+ or ACT MATH 19+
• English requirement: Completion ENG 101 Composition I with a grade of C or better

Complete BIOL 221 Anatomy & Physiology I, ENG 101 Composition I, and PTA 100 Introduction to Physical Therapy BEFORE the application deadline of June 1 with a grade of “C” or better. 

BIOL 221 must be completed within the last five (5) years. A comparable biology at another institution will be considered after review of the curriculum. Students who wish to transfer Anatomy and Physiology credits can only do so if both semesters have been successfully completed at the same institution.

If the program ranking process for admissions is implemented due to having more than 24 qualified applicants, students living in the PSC district are eligible for 2 additional ranking points. Points will be awarded if proof of residency is provided to the selective admission specialist by June 1 even if the applicant is an enrolled student at Prairie State College. Providing proof of residency for in-district students is optional. The applicant must live in the Prairie State College district at least 90 days prior to the application deadline date. It is the applicant's responsibility to demonstrate residency status by submitting two (2) proofs of residency. The following documents may be presented to verify residency and must be in the student's name: voter's registration card, property tax statement, income tax return, mortgage or mortgage statement, utility bills (gas and electric), bank statements, cell phone bill, medical billing statement, and car insurance statement. Proof of residency must list the same address, and they must match the address shown on the student’s PSC records. If seats in the program are limited and students are otherwise equally qualified, preference will be given to in-district students. The applicant must provide current proof of residency every year they apply to the program. Proof of residency can be submitted to Enrollment Services at pscselectiveadmission@prairiestate.edu. Please be sure to include your name and the program you are applying to.

Submit the PTA Program Intent Form available on the PTA program website or from the PTA program Selective Admission Specialist to Enrollment Services by June 1.

A PTA Program Intent Form SHOULD NOT BE SUBMITTED until the PSC placement test is completed and test scores are available in Enrollment Services, and all required developmental course work is completed or all official college transcripts showing completed levels of English, math, and reading have been submitted. No hard copy or paper intent forms will be accepted.

In submitting your PTA Program Intent Form, you are acknowledging that you have thoroughly reviewed the "Prairie State College PTA Application and Admissions Procedures" contained in this booklet and understand all of the admission requirements. As well as responsibilities which you must meet to be considered for admission to the PSC PTA Program.

Please go to prairiestate.edu/selectiveadmissions, and click on Apply Now under Program Applications. You will be directed to the application portal. You will need to "sign up" if you have never used the application portal before.

1. Accept Seat
   All accepted applicants are required to accept their seat in the application portal indicating they plan to begin the program as scheduled by the given deadline.
2. Mandatory Orientation
   All accepted applicants are required to attend the mandatory orientation session. The date, time and location of the orientation session will be included in the acceptance letter. Failure to attend without contacting the PTA program coordinator will result in forfeiture of your seat in the PTA program.
3. Registration for PTA Technical Courses
   Accepted applicants will be eligible to register for first semester PTA Technical Courses after attending the mandatory PTA orientation session.

Any complaint/grievance related to the Prairie State College PTA program that fall outside of due process that include, but are not limited to, complaints from clinical education sites, employers of graduates, and the general public should be directions to the PTA program coordinator, PTA clinical coordinator or Dean, Allied Health & Emergency Services. Complaints will be maintained in accordance with board policy C-18 Records Retention and Dispositions.

Additional information regarding complaint and grievance procedures can be found in the PSC Board Policies.

Complaints regarding accreditation must be submitted in writing to:

CAPTE recommends those wishing to file a complaint contact them by phone regarding the format of formal complaints. Anonymous formal complaints are not accepted as complaints.