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Physical Therapist Assistant

Career and Technical Program

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The Physical Therapist Assistant Consortium Program prepares students for employment as physical therapist assistants (PTA). The PTA functions through the direction of a physical therapist (PT) to implement the PT’s plan of care. The ultimate goal of physical therapy is to aid patients and clients in their return to maximal function. PTA students are instructed in thinking processes and skills such as therapeutic exercise, orthopedic and neurological interventions, therapeutic modalities, and the art of patient care. In addition to patient treatment courses, students study the basic sciences of anatomy, physiology, clinical pathology, and kinesiology. Clinical education experiences are integrated throughout the curriculum and offer students the opportunity to practice the techniques learned and practiced each semester. The program is designed to be completed in two years.

ICPTAE Application 2021

Application dates for the Fall 2020 ICPTAE program closed April 30, 2020. We are no longer accepting applications for the Fall 2020 program. The next application cycle will open in late January 2021 for the Fall 2021 cohort. If you are currently enrolled in a prerequisite or a required general education course, complete the course and then apply. This will allow your required courses to be included in the application.

This is a selective-entry program and the following numbers of students will comprise the Fall 2021 class:

  • College of Western Idaho (CWI) - 14 students
  • Lewis-Clark State College (LCSC) - 6 students
  • North Idaho College (NIC) - 10 students
  • College of Southern Idaho (CSI) – 10 students

Statement of Accreditation Status

The Idaho Consortium for Physical Therapist Assistant Education at the College of Southern Idaho, the College of Western Idaho, Lewis-Clark State College, and North Idaho College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: http://www.capteonline.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call (208) 665-5051 or email jon.gardunia@nic.edu

Complaints Against PTA Program, Faculty, Students or Program Graduates:
An individual may make an inquiry regarding complaint procedures or about issues and concerns that could be considered complaints. The Idaho Consortium for Physical Therapist Assistant Education's response and its obligations to meet the specific timetables outlined in these procedures will begin only after a formal written complaint is received by the program director or dean.

Admission Requirements

Competitive Entry
  1. High school diploma or GED. 
  2. Application to the Physical Therapist Assistant program. 
  3. Minimum grades of C/2.0 must be earned in each of the courses listed below.
    Minimum Prerequisites Needed to Apply
    • BIOL-227 (Human Anatomy & Physiology I With Cadaver)
    • CAOT-179 (Medical Terminology)
    • ENGL-101 (English Composition)
    • MATH-123* (Contemporary Mathematics)
    * Mathematics requirement includes any math course that is MATH-123 or higher and fulfills the A.A.S. degree requirement as list in the NIC catalog. 
    Other Courses Assigned Points in Admissions Process
    • BIOL-228 (Human Anatomy & Physiology II)
    • COMM-101 (Intro to Speech Communications)
    • PSYC-101 (Intro to Psychology)
  4. All lab science courses must have been completed within 7 years of the application deadline.
  5. Documentation showing a minimum of 16 hours of observation in a physical therapy clinical setting. 
  6. A criminal background check will be required upon acceptance. Violations may result in denied access to clinical sites and therefore inability to complete the program. For questions regarding specific violations, please contact program director.

Interested in the Idaho PTA Consortium Program?
Be sure to click on the FAQs link above and most of your questions will be answered. 

Idaho Consortium for Physical Therapist Assistant Education Program/Student Outcomes
Graduation Year 2015 2016 2018
2-Year Graduation Rate: 86% 96% 92.6%
2-Year Licensure Examination Pass Rate: 94.3% 95.8% 100%
2-Year Employment Rate: 100% 100% 100%

More questions? Contact your advisor or program faculty.

Contacts

Health Professions Advisor
(208) 625-2320

Jon Gardunia, DPT
Program Director/Instructor
Physical Therapist Assistant Program
(208) 665-5051
jon.gardunia@nic.edu

 

Program Guidelines

Links