Physical Therapist Assistant

Associate Degree. Transfer.

About the program:

Physical therapy is a health profession with the primary purpose of restoring, maintaining and improving the quality of life of the healthy and those with injury or dysfunction.  Through the use of such tools as physical agents (i.e., heat, cold, ultrasound, traction, electrical stimulation), gait training, massage and various forms of exercise, physical therapy professionals work in a variety of settings with a variety of patients.

Some settings in which physical therapy is performed include hospitals, private clinics, rehabilitation units/center, nursing homes, schools and private homes.  Patients treated in physical therapy range from newborns to the geriatric population and sample diagnoses would include cerebral palsy, athletic injuries, back/neck problems, strokes, burns/wounds, post-surgical conditions and spinal cord injuries.

Accreditation Status

The PTA Program at Kilgore College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, VA 22305-3085; Telephone: 703-706-3245; E-mail: accreditation@apta.org. Website: http://www.capteonline.org.  If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 903-983-8154 or email kkleinig@kilgore.edu.

Student Outcomes:

The PTA Program at Kilgore College has excellent student outcomes for its students including graduation rates, licensure pass rates on the national licensure exam, and employment rates. For the most recent two years of data collection (2017-2019), the following outcomes are noted in these areas:

  • Graduation rate: 86.5%
  • National licensure ultimate exam pass rate (last two years): 100%
  • First time national licensure exam pass rate for last two years: 85.71%.
  • Employment rate (last two years): 96%

What does the PTA Program cost?

For estimated costs of the KC PTA Program, view the 2020-2021 cost analysis document (pdf).

How do I apply to the KC PTA Program?

PTA REGISTRATION FORM AND INFO

Alternate option for volunteer/work experience in the field of physical therapy:

Due to unprecedented restrictions on volunteers during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Kilgore College PTA Program recognizes that not everyone will have the opportunity to complete requirements for the Volunteer/Work Experience portion of our application.  It is the Program’s belief that each applicant demonstrate exposure to the field of physical therapy prior to admission into our program, therefore we have developed an alternative solution for applicants of 2021. 

If you have not completed 16 hours in 3 different settings as typically required, then you will watch the 5 videos below and write a paper to satisfy that requirement.  If you have already met the original requirement, you are not required to write this paper. 

Your paper should be a typed, 1.5-spaced, well-developed, one-to-two page essay that reflects on the videos. Spelling and grammar count so use all available resources. Use a readable, 12-point font, 1-inch margins and 1.5 line spacing to answer the following questions:

  • What was your least favorite setting and why?
  • What was your favorite setting and why?
  • What qualities do you have that would align with the strengths listed in a particular setting?
  • What populations are seen in each of the five settings?
  • And what was the general consensus about dealing with an ethical dilemma?

Current Grade Form:

Please use the Current Grade Form to document your current grade in a course that is in progress and will not have final grade posted by the application due date.

Program information:

NOTE: For students in this course who may have a criminal background, please be advised that the background could keep you from being licensed by the State of Texas.  If you have a question about your background and licensure, please speak with your faculty member or the department chair. You also have the right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the applicable licensing agency.

Physical Therapist Assistant

Philosophy, Mission Statement and Goals

Philosophy of the KC PTA Program:

The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Kilgore College is committed to the highest standards of ethics and professionalism. We exist to provide the highest quality education possible to our students to provide the community with physical therapist assistants who are capable of providing physical therapy services under the direction and supervision of a physical therapist in a safe, effective, ethical, and lawful manner to individuals of all ages and diverse ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Mission Statement of the KC PTA Program:

The mission of the Physical Therapist Assistant Program corresponds with the mission of Kilgore College which is to provide “educational opportunities that have high quality, great value, . . . and community focus.” The mission of the Physical Therapist Assistant Program, therefore, is to provide quality education that encompasses theory, knowledge and clinical skills needed to graduate caring, competent and qualified entry-level physical therapist assistants who will provide physical therapy services under the direction and supervision of a physical therapist to meet the needs of the community in a variety of clinical settings.

Goals of the KC PTA Program:

In accordance with its mission and philosophy, the Physical Therapist Assistant Program has the following goals:

  • To provide students with knowledge and practical experience through classroom, lab and clinical education experiences which reflect prevalent practices of physical therapy,
  • To promote a curriculum dedicated to instilling personal growth and development, lifelong learning, involvement in the profession, and commitment to society,
  • To prepare physical therapist assistants to work collaboratively as a member of the healthcare team in the best interest of the patient, and
  • To produce graduate physical therapist assistants who function ethically, legally, safely, effectively, and efficiently under the direction and supervision of a physical therapist.
Admissions Grading Criteria

Admission to the PTA Program is limited to 16 students and is based on an accumulation of points.  Everything submitted in the application packet as well as any additional testing and the interview are objectively scored and enter into the decision regarding acceptance into the Program.  The two largest areas for point accumulation are for the total number of accrued grade points in the support classes and then the interview, if granted.  Additional points are given for the reference forms, essay, extensive observation hours or work experience in the physical therapy field, science GPAs, taking support courses at Kilgore College or other articulating institutions, living in the Kilgore College service area, and other physical therapy professional involvement. Additionally, a student can lose points if they fail to follow the instructions in the application packet, have retaken Anatomy & Physiology courses more than twice (including W’s), or they have negative comments on the Volunteer/ Observation Evaluation Forms. The submitted application is first scored immediately after the May deadline and the top 40 or so applicants are offered an interview and are required to do additional testing, if utilized, within the next few weeks.  These scores are then added to the previous packet score and the top 16 applicants are offered conditional acceptance into the Program pending passing of the Criminal Background Check and the Drug Screen.  There are also identified numbered Alternates for the next 6-10 ranked applicants in case one of the originally accepted applicants is not able to enter the program.

PTA Handbook

This information is provided for incoming PTA students upon acceptance to the program. These are the standards students are expected to follow once in the program.

View the PTA Handbook (pdf)

Drug Screening and Criminal Background Check

If a student is offered a slot in the PTA Program: It is conditional upon successfully completing a drug screen and criminal background check at specific required sites within a narrow time frame.  If any positive result shows up on the drug screen, the student has the opportunity to contest or explain the result, but if the result stands, the student will forfeit their slot in the program. If you have ever been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony, with the exception of minor traffic violations, you will need to have your criminal history evaluated by the Executive Council of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Examiners to determine eligibility for licensure in the state of Texas.  This includes guilty verdicts, no contest pleas, probation, and deferred adjudication.  This process is fully outlined on the Licensing Board’s website at www.ecptote.state.tx.us.  The applicant should go to this website for instructions and necessary forms to start the process.

This process will cost the applicant $50 and may take up to 120 days to complete, so the applicant is encouraged to start this process early if applicable.  A positive ruling by the Board that this criminal history will not make the applicant ineligible to receive a license in Texas will be required before the applicant can begin the PTA program.  The applicant may still apply to the program before the process is complete, but will not be allowed to officially be accepted into the program until the process is complete and the student is deemed eligible for licensure.

Criminal History Evaluation Procedures

If you have ever been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony, with the exception of minor traffic violations, you will need to have your criminal history evaluated by the Executive Council of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Examiners to determine eligibility for licensure in the state of Texas.  This includes guilty verdicts, no contest pleas, probation, and deferred adjudication.  This process is fully outlined on the Licensing Board’s website at www.ptot.texas.gov. The applicant should go to this website for instructions and necessary forms to start the process. This process will cost the applicant $50.00 and may take up to 120 days to complete, so the applicant is encouraged to start this process early if applicable.  A positive ruling by the Board that this criminal history will not make the applicant ineligible to receive a license in Texas will be required before the applicant can begin the PTA program.  The applicant may still apply to the program before the process is complete, but will not be allowed to officially be accepted into the program until the process is complete and the student is deemed eligible for licensure.

Public Comment Procedure

The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Kilgore College engages in continuous and systematic evaluation and improvement. We welcome the community’s comments, suggestions, ideas, and constructive criticism as part of that process. Individuals in the community who do not have a formal affiliation with this institution or program are also welcome to provide comments according to the following policy:

  • This process is only for comments or concerns that cannot be addressed by existing grievance procedures described in the KC Catalog, Faculty Handbook, Student Handbook, or the PTA Program Student Policy and Procedure Manual.
  • Comments must be provided in writing and signed by the author. Anonymous submissions will not be acknowledged, nor will written comments provided on behalf of an anonymous source.

Comments must be submitted to the following:

PTA Program Director
Kilgore College
1100 Broadway
Kilgore, TX 75662

  • Comments regarding the PTA Program Director can be directed to the Dean of Science & Health Sciences at the same address.
  • The PTA Program Director (or dean) shall respond to all comments within seven (7) days to further discuss and resolve the issue. If unsatisfactory resolution is not or cannot be reached, an appeal may be made in writing to the Dean of Science and Health Sciences (if not already contacted) within seven (7) days. Again, if unsatisfactory resolution is not or cannot be reached, an appeal may be made to the Vice President of Instruction within seven (7) days or ultimately to the Office of the President within seven (7) days. The decision of the President will be final and not subject to further appeal. Neither the dean, vice-president, or president will become involved until all attempts to resolve the issue with the Program Director have been exhausted (unless the comments is directly related to the performance of the Program Director as noted above).
  • Records of all correspondence will be confidentially maintained by the PTA program director for five (5) years. These records will not be open to the public.
Links to Professional Associations

American Physical Therapy Association
Information about the profession, educational programs across the country, and information on current health care issues.

Texas Physical Therapy Association
Information about physical therapy in the state of Texas.

Texas State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners
Information regarding licensure regulations, laws governing the practice of physical therapy in the state of Texas, and includes a list of offenses that might disqualify a person from receiving a license.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for graduates?

While the job market for PTA’s has decreased over the last few years, there is still a need for PTA’s in the healthcare setting especially in rural areas. The competition for these jobs has increased slightly, however, to date, all graduates of the PTA program wishing to find employment in the field have done so. The current job growth for PTA’s in the state of Texas is 26% and 17.6% nationwide. The Bureau of the Department of Labor statistics shows the national median salary is $58,040.

How long does it take to complete the program?

The PTA Program at KC is a two-year associate degree program combining academic and clinical course work and is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education. The PTA Program admits one class per year to begin in the fall. Class size is currently limited to 16 students and there are usually between 80-100 applicants each year. All PTHA courses must be taken in sequence and can be taken only in the semester identified.

What kind of salary can graduates expect?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Services, the national median salary for Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) was $49,690. Local salaries will vary.

What do graduates of the program do?

Physical therapist assistants must complete a two-year educational program.. The graduates must then pass a PTA state licensure exam before they can work as a PTA, but the AAS degree is conferred. Physical therapist assistants work under the supervision of a physical therapist. Their duties include assisting the physical therapist in implementing treatment programs according to the plan of care, training patients in exercises and activities of daily living, conducting treatments, using special equipment, administering modalities and other treatment procedures and reporting to the physical therapist on the patients.

For information about Physical Therapist Assistant:

Kristi Kleinig, PTA, MEd
Program Director, Instructor
Physical Therapist Assistant Program
Phone:
(903) 983-8154
Office:
Health Science Center (HSCTR), 250
Fax:
(903) 983-8224
kkleinig@kilgore.edu
Shaunda Kwiatek, PT, DPT
Director of Clinical Education
Physical Therapist Assistant Program
Phone:
(903) 983-8148
Office:
Health Science Center (HSCTR), 248
skwiatek@kilgore.edu

Science & Health Sciences