Physical Therapist Assistant

Program Overview

BPCC’s PTA Program consists of a Pre-PTA component and a Clinical component. Students may work at any pace (part time/full time) to complete the pre-PTA courses and other requirements. When the pre-PTA courses have been completed (with a “C” or better), students apply for admission to the clinical component.  Applications for the clinical component of the program are taken each spring, with a new clinical class beginning each summer. The program is designed so that a full-time student may complete the pre-PTA component in 1 year and the clinical component in 13 months.

Program Mission

The PTA Program is committed to:

• Provide an accredited program of instruction in Northwest Louisiana and the surrounding area for students who desire to pursue education in physical therapy at the associate degree level.
• Serve the needs of the regional physical therapy community through graduating well-qualified physical therapist assistants to work under the direction of physical therapists in a variety of clinical environments.

Admission to the Program

Admission to the Clinical PTA Program is based upon a competitive selection process that occurs once a year. All applicants are ranked by the PTA Clinical Selection Committee on predetermined criteria that are both academic and non-academic. Cumulative GPA for eligibility to apply is 2.50 or higher. Qualification course GPA must be 2.5 or higher with a “C” or better in all required courses. The Clinical Application Packet includes additional eligibility requirements, detailed instructions, deadlines and procedures for clinical application. The top ranking 20 applicants are offered admission to the Clinical PTA Program that begins in the summer semester, session “C.”

Bossier Parish Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, qualified disability, marital status, veteran’s status, or sexual orientation in admission to its programs, services, or activities, in access to them, in treatment of individuals, or in any aspect of its operations. Bossier Parish Community College does not discriminate in its hiring or employment practices.  More information on our policy.

Special Requirements

• Students who are selected for the clinical component of the PTA Program must be available for daytime, evening and occasional weekend classes.
• Clinical PTA students must be prepared to complete one or more full-time clinical rotation/externships (4-5 weeks in duration) at an out of town facility.
• Students selected for PTA clinicals must adhere to the PTA Clinical Requirements related to additional tests/immunizations required, documentation submission and policies/procedures of the division/program.
• Students selected for PTA clinicals pay a clinical fee, in addition to regular tuition, each clinical semester.
• Students selected for PTA clinicals must attend a full-day orientation the week before classes begin. Date for this orientation will be provided to students in their selection letter.  

Click here to view the PTA program curriculum.

Program Goals And Expected Outcomes

Goal #1: Provide a comprehensive and effective curriculum informed by outcomes.

Expected Outcomes:

• Graduate performance on National Physical Therapy Exam Content Areas meet or exceed the National Mean.
• Students and graduates will achieve 100% of the Program Learning Outcomes.

Goal #2:  Admit, retain and graduate competent, knowledgeable  PTAs who achieve licensure and gain employment.

Expected Outcomes:

• 90% of all admitted PTA students will graduate with the  Associate of Applied Science degree in PTA
• BPCC PTA Licensure Pass-rate on the National Physical Therapy Exam will exceed CAPTE requirement of 85%
• 90% of all program graduates will be employed within 1 year

Goal #3:  Prepare students & graduates to provide high quality patient care.

Expected Outcomes

• Clinical Instructors evaluate student PTA performance during internships to be 4/5 on all clinical performance indicators
• Employers are  95% “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with the performance of program graduates

Program Data

Pre- PTA Component, 2 Semesters minimum: Although the number of semesters needed to complete the pre-PTA component may differ for individuals depending upon the need for remedial coursework and the number of credit hours taken per semester.

Clinical Component, 13 Months/4 Semesters: The clinical component of the PTA program is only offered in a full-time format. Matriculation for the PTA Program begins with the C session of Summer and concludes in the following year after the Summer A session. Students must be available for class every weekday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with occasional evening and weekend hours additionally required.

NOTICE: It is the responsibility of the applicant to carefully read all of the information on this page to ensure that program requirements and deadlines are met to satisfy eligibility. Please be advised that all qualifying Human Anatomy and Physiology lecture and lab courses (8 hours total) must be completed no more than five years prior to the application deadline.

Admissions

• Complete all BPCC Admissions Forms
• Transfer students must complete requests for official transcripts to be sent to the BPCC Admissions Office from all previously attended institutions

PTA Application Eligibility Requirements

You are ready to begin your application when you have:

• Completed no less than 12 college hours of PTA qualification coursework (half in Natural Sciences) or show satisfactory mid-semester progress with at least a 2.5 GPA and a “C” or better in each qualification course.
• Verified that all official and final transcripts from other institutions have been received by the BPCC Admissions Office and that applicable transfer courses are accessible in LOLA and visible on your BPCC transcript.
• Verified that you have a minimum of a 2.00 cumulative GPA on all attempted college coursework.
• Verified that your Human Anatomy and Physiology lecture and lab courses (8 hours total) were completed within 5 years of the application deadline.
• Registered online to complete the ACT WorkKeys assessments at the BPCC Testing Center prior to April 15. (see detailed description below.)
• Preregistered for all remaining PTA qualification courses with potential to finish in the spring semester.

Register online for ACT WorkKeys

DO THIS: beginning in the fall semester but no later than April 15

• PTA Application process requires two ACT WorkKeys – PTA assessments: ACT WorkKeys Graphic Literacy (formerly called Locating Information) and ACT WorkKeys Workplace Documents (formerly called Reading for Information) If you took them previously under the old name, those scores will continue to be accepted.
• Once complete, ACT WorkKeys scores remain eligible for submission in the current or future application cycles. Should an applicant choose to retest, there is a limit of two attempts per assessment per application cycle.
• Register online for the ACT WorkKeys assessments by following this link to BPCC’s Testing Center’s online registration.
• Under the header Schedule an Exam select BPCC’s Testing Center as your testing location. The Testing Center is located in Building D Room 203.
• Choose a Group – PTA applicants need to select ACT WorkKeys – BPCC Physical Therapist Assistant. When you select this group you will be taken to information that should be read before you proceed with scheduling your appointments.
• Once you read the disclosure, you will be prompted to Choose an Exam, Choose a Date, and Choose a Time for your appointment. Complete the registration process on this page by supplying all required information. As you near completion, you will see a section called Acknowledgements for ACT WorkKeys – Physical Therapist Assistant Program. Read this information carefully and indicate with the check-box that you agree to follow the testing guidelines.
• The cost for each assessment is $18.50. You can schedule one assessment at a time, or you can schedule both assessments on the same day. Each assessment will require a separate registration, but can be paid for together when you check out.
• BPCC testing center appointments are available on Tuesdays, Thursdays, some Fridays and some Saturdays.
• You should print a copy of your registration and bring it to your testing appointment along with one valid government–issued ID.
• After you complete the exams, the Testing Center will give you a copy of your score reports. Please keep your copies. You are required to submit a copy of your scores for both ACT WorkKeys assessments along with the Program application.
• If you would like more information about ACT WorkKeys or to schedule practice tests, please visit the ACT WorkKeys web page. If you have questions or need assistance, please contact BPCC’s Testing Center at testing@bpcc.edu or 318-678-6002.

To Submit your PTA Program Application:

• Contact Ms. Bryant or Ms. Cox by email requesting a review of your transcript and eligibility requirements.  You will be informed if there are additional requirements that must be completed prior to submitting the application form.
• Print and retain a copy of the PTA Essential Requirements Form for your records. You will be asked on the Program Application Form to state that you have “read and acknowledge understanding of the Essential Requirements for the BPCC PTA Program."
• For more information about PTA Selection can be found in the Frequently Asked Questions section
• Submit a scanned copy of your WorkKeys Score Reports to Ms. Bryant or Ms. Cox by email.
• The Application Form will only be accessible between October 15 and April 15 of each application cycle. Click on the link below to complete and submit your application.

Observation/Volunteer Experience

For your application packet to be complete, you are required to complete 40 hours of physical therapy observation, volunteer or work experience in two different physical therapy settings under the supervision of two different licensed PT/PTAs. Contact Ms. Bryant or Ms. Cox by email or phone for more detailed instructions about completing observation hours.

• Work/Volunteer Experience must be less than 12 months old at the time of application packet submission.  
• Plan and start early –All observation hours must be complete by the April 15 deadline.
• Observation hours completed with a family member will not be accepted.
• If you work as a physical therapy technician or have recently participated in a student internship at a PT clinic, those work hours are eligible.
• Call ahead and make an appointment at a PT clinic or facility of your choice.  Introduce yourself as a BPCC student and a PTA applicant that needs to schedule observation hours. 
• Keep a LOG of your days/hours and who you observed with using the form below.
• Leave a COPY of the observation log form with the PT/PTA at the conclusion of your observations so that they have your name, total number of hours and the instructions for completing the Clinical Observation Rating Form (CORF). 
• Do not contact the PTA program to see if your CORF was received.  You will be contacted as the deadline approaches if anything is missing from your packet.
• PTA Observation log

DEADLINES

Available appointments for testing and packet submission may be limited close to the published deadlines. Please schedule early when eligibility requirements are met.

• April 15 – Program application deadline; Deadline to register online for ACT WorkKeys.
• May 1 – Clinical Observation Rating Forms deadline; ACT WorkKeys score submission deadline.
• May 23, 2024 – PTA Interviews; A mandatory 2-part interview process will be conducted in person. All applicants will receive notification by email of their eligibility for interview. Details regarding times and locations will be provided in the correspondence.

2024-2025

Revised 11/21/2024

View the CAPTE Financial Fact Sheet and Student Debt Summary. Get more information on scholarships and grants available through BPCC.

*Tuition costs include mandatory enrollment fees.
**Estimate  

• PTA Program Student and Clinical Handbook 2023-2024
• Student Commitment Form 2023-2024
• Clinical Site Information Form
• 2023-2024 Clinical Rotation Calendar
• Frequently Asked Questions for Clinical Instructors

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