The Wallace State Community College Physical Therapist Assistant program earned its fifth overall and third first-time 100 percent pass rate for graduates taking their National Physical Therapy Examination. Pictured are 2013 graduates Casey Cooley, of Boaz, left, and Scott Cooley of Cullman.
HANCEVILLE – Recent graduates of the Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program at Wallace State Community College achieved a 100 percent first-time pass rate for the third year in a row, with all of them passing their licensure exam on the first try. This also marks the fifth year for an overall pass rate of 100 percent from PTA graduates.
“We could not be more proud of our students,” said Alina Adams, PTA program director. “They work very hard in class and in clinical hours to learn all they need to know to enter the field as a physical therapist assistant. Their achievement in everyone passing their licensure exam on the first try is a testament to their dedication and to that of our instructors and clinical supervisors.”
Physical therapist assistants deliver patient care, following the plan of action developed by a supervising physical therapist and using established procedures. Their duties are varied but include rehabilitation of orthopedic, neurological, pediatric, and sports-related problems. They can be employed by hospitals, rehabilitation centers, skilled nursing facilities, home healthcare agencies, private practices, and other specialized healthcare settings.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage nationwide for physical therapists’ assistants in May 2015 was $55,170, with the lowest 10 percent earning less than $32,640 and the top 10 percent earning more than $76.940. Wages vary by region. In Alabama, the average mean wage in May 2015 was $52,520.
Wallace State’s PTA program offers an Associate in Applied Science degree that can be completed in five semesters. The first two semesters consist of pre-requisite courses, while the final three are program specific courses.
The program admits a new class each fall, with applications accepted from April 1 through June 1. More than 100 applicants usually apply for the 36 slots available each year. The Physical Therapist Assistant program welcomed its first cohort of students in 1990 and its 28th with the newest group in Fall 2016.
Several advising workshops are offered throughout the year for anyone interested in applying to the program. Upcoming meetings are planned Dec. 9, Jan. 6 and Jan. 27, all at 8 a.m. All meetings are held in Room 708 of the Tom Bevill Health Education Building. Everyone is welcome and there is no need to pre-register for the workshop.
The Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education accredits the PTA program. The PTA Program at Wallace State has been accredited since 1992. Graduates are eligible to sit for the PTA version of the National Physical Therapy Examination administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy.
For more information about the Wallace State Physical Therapist Assistant program, contact Alina Adams at 256-352-8332 or alina.adams@wallacestate.edu or visit www.wallacestate.edu/programs/health-division/physical-therapist-assistant.
