A.S. in Physical Therapist Assistant Program

Please review the following requirements: General Admission Requirements for all programs. The Physical Therapist Assistant Program has a selective application process. There is a deadline for completed applications to be submitted. Please inquire with Admissions about the current deadline date.

1. All applicants must attend or view a live or recorded Information Session.

Informational Sessions are held monthly in the Physical Therapist Assistant classroom or via GoToMeeting, as needed, at the Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts, San Mateo campus. These 1.5-hour sessions are conducted by the Physical Therapist Assistant Team and Admissions to provide specific information about admission requirements, program and clinical rotation scheduling, and financial aid resources. A packet of registration documents will be given to applicants to complete and return or provided online during the GoToMeeting presentation.

Please review The Essential Functions for Physical Therapist Assistant Students in the Program Performance Requirements section.

2. All applicants MUST complete two Admissions Assessment tests. Details will be provided at the informational sessions or by Admissions.
3. Completing the Distance Education Questionnaire for applicants who receive full credit granting of the A.S. in PTA general education courses or enrollment and completing an online general education prerequisite course(s) at Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts, as applicable.
4. All applicants must complete the following prerequisites: a ‘C’ or above and a 2.5 or above GPA. All credit granting is subject to approval by the Program Director. Official transcripts are required.
   1. Anatomy and Physiology with lab (complete one-year sequence within the last five (5) years)
   2. College-level Math
   3. College-level English (reading and writing composition)
   4. Introduction to Psychology or Lifespan Psychology
   5. One course in the Social or Behavioral Sciences
   6. Oral Communication, Speech, or Interpersonal Communication
5. All applicants must submit the Verification of Observation Hours form documenting 80 hours (40 inpatients and 40 outpatient) of observation, work experience, or volunteer experience at a physical therapy facility by the application deadline.

You can download the Verification of Observation Hours form and instructions in the Application/Registration packet here.

6. Applicants must submit all required documents by the application deadline. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please plan for time to submit official transcripts and complete observation hours.
7. The Physical Therapist Assistant Admissions Committee will review all applications and approve the 40 top-scoring applicants for an on-campus interview and essay writing. Please see the scoring rubric.

The interview criteria are based upon ‘Generic Abilities’ identified through a study published by UW-Madison. Interviews will be scheduled for 15-20 minutes. Applicants will also have additional time to complete a short Application Essay and Pre-Admission Questionnaire. Applicants will be reminded to complete their online FAFSA application for federal student aid.

8. The 20 top-ranking applicants will be offered seats in the program, with up to ten (10) alternates. Selected applicants must accept the seat within 72 hours of receiving the formal acceptance letter.

Please review the following requirements: General Performance Requirements for all programs.

To be successful in the physical therapist assistant classroom, lab, and clinical settings, and ultimately successful as a physical therapist assistant, students must possess the intelligence, integrity, compassion, humanitarian concerns, and physical and emotional capacity necessary to practice physical therapy. At a minimum, students must have the following essential skills:

Critical Thinking — calculation, problem-solving, reasoning, and judgment

• Collect, document, interpret and analyze written, verbal, and observed data regarding patients.
• Prioritize multiple tasks, integrate information, and make effective decisions.
• Act safely and ethically in physical therapy settings.
• Recognize the difference between facts and opinions.
• Exercise good judgment in the classroom, lab, and clinical/professional settings.

Interpersonal and Behavioral Skills — working with others, resolving conflicts, and offering support.

• Establish productive working relationships.
• Foster cooperative relationships with classmates, instructors, healthcare providers, patients, and their families.
• Have the ability to work with lab partners, patients, and others under stressful conditions, including but not limited to medically or emotionally unstable individuals and situations requiring rapid adaptations or emergency interventions.
• Hold the appropriate maturity, emotional stability, and empathy to establish effective and harmonious relationships in diverse settings.
• Apply conflict management and group problem-solving strategies.
• Demonstrate professional behavior in the classroom, lab, and clinical settings, including but not limited to appropriate personal hygiene, timeliness, preparation, and concentration.

Communication Skills — verbal, nonverbal, and written

• Process and communicate information effectively and promptly in the English language.
• Comprehend written material in English at a level required for safe and effective patient care.
• Effectively communicate information in the English language concisely and comprehensively regarding patients’ status and safety, including written or dictated patient assessments.
• Effectively communicate in English with instructors, patients/families, and other healthcare providers.
• Recognize, interpret, and respond to nonverbal behavior.
• Demonstrate the ability to listen effectively.

Motor Skills — gross motor, fine motor, coordination

• Can sit for long periods, including up to four (4) hours.
• Can stand for long periods, including up to six (6) hours.
• Adjust and position patients and equipment, including bending or stooping to floor level and reaching above head height.
• Move and position patients and equipment, including the ability to lift, carry, pull, and guide weights up to 50 pounds (22.68 kg).
• Assist in patient care, including standing, kneeling, sitting, or walking for 60 minutes or longer without rest.
• Demonstrate the ability to manipulate physical therapy equipment, including finger dexterity.
• Perform CPR without assistance.

Sensory Skills — visual, auditory, tactile

• Observing and responding to patient responses, including facial expressions, movement patterns, verbal responses, and reactions to the environment.
• Ability to assess safety factors involving patient care and physical environment and take measures necessary to ensure a safe environment.
• Can respond to equipment alarms, call bells, and timers.
• Having the ability to monitor blood pressure and breath sounds effective.
• Have the tactile ability to palpate pulse and detect skin texture abnormalities, skin temperature, muscle tone, tissue texture, and joint movement.