Once admitted to the program and before classes begin students must submit at orientation a clear background check. Some convictions will prevent the applicant from ultimate acceptance into the program. The student is responsible for all fees associated with background checks.

If a student receives an unsatisfactory background check, they must submit a copy of the “History Evaluation Letter” (see note below) from the state licensing board along with the negative background check.

Note: Satisfying the criminal background check for the program does not guarantee that the graduate satisfies the criteria for Texas licensure. If you have a felony, misdemeanor conviction, jail-time associated with a crime, or deferred adjudication, you must contact the Texas Board of Physical Therapy Examiners (www.ecptote.state.tx.us) to ensure you are eligible to take the licensure exam after graduation. There is a form on their website to complete (“Request Criminal History Evaluation Letter”) and submit the completed letter to the PTA program.

Students are required to verify immunizations as described in this section. The first-year student will complete their required immunizations/titers and upload results into the student portal, prior to placement in the first short term clinical. The second-year students will be required to complete yearly immunizations and upload into the student portal prior to the first long term clinical. This ensures a yearlong period of covered immunizations to include the time spent in clinical settings. Students will not be provided with clinical placement choices until the DCE is provided with proof from program-selected agency that all immunization requirements are complete and uploaded in the student portal. The only exception to verification of immunization will be a signed declination of immunization form from the State of Texas. If a student chooses the declination form, no guarantee can be made on clinical placement, which will result in dismissal from the program.

Once admitted to the program:

In order to be in compliance with clinical site requirements, documentation of:

• Hepatitis B- SAg quantitative, positive (numerical value) TITER complete.
• MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella)—positive quantitative IgG TITER.
• Varicella (Chicken pox)—positive quantitative IgG TITER.

• TB Testing—PPD skin test results must be reported in “mm” (not just as positive or negative) with the date given and the date when read, or submit a lab report for an IGRA (T-SPOT or QuantiFERON Gold) test done within the past 3 months. If PPD or IGRA result is positive, you must submit a radiology report to specifically rule out active disease, along with the positive skin test report in “mm” or positive IGRA lab report. TB testing is only valid for one year and is required just before clinical courses start so it stays valid for the entire year. Note: All foreign-born students who have received the BCG vaccine are not exempt from the PPD screening test.
• Seasonal Influenza – Seasonal immunizations are only available after August annually. It is strongly encouraged that this immunization is received in the first fall semester. This immunization is required to be completed during the second fall semester of the program, prior to clinical placement. If a student chooses to decline this immunization, they may be required to wear a mask at all times in the classroom/clinical setting, or be denied clinical placement which will result in dismissal from the program.
• HEP C TITER – either + or -

Any negative TITER, other than HEP C, will require documentation of your previous immunizations, along with the negative TITER lab report, and proof of booster(s)/re-vaccination. Immunization series will be required 2 times with 2 negative TITER reports, and a letter from physician stating the student won’t ever convert. History of the disease is NOT sufficient; you must have the TITERs.

Other immunizations or tests may be required by individual clinical facilities.

PTHA 1201 - The Profession of Physical Therapy

ENGL 1301 - Composition & Rhetoric I

PSYC 2301 - General Psychology

BIOL 2401 - Human Anatomy & Physiology I

Professional Performance Requirements

Students training to be physical therapist assistants are expected to perform in the following skill areas and to demonstrate proficiency during evaluations (skill checks, tests & other examinations).

Physical performance

1. Lifting, supporting, and turning patients or weights that may exceed 100 lb. (with assistance as needed & available).
2. Standing, walking, crawling, climbing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, squatting, balancing, reaching, handling, feeling, manipulating, holding, pressing, pushing, pulling, seeing.

Communication performance

1. Appropriate and accurate oral and written communication with other physical therapy personnel (physical therapists, assistants, aides and management support staff), including the use of medical terminology.
2. Appropriate and accurate oral and written communication with other health care personnel (physicians, nurses, occupational therapists, speech & language pathologists and others), including the use of medical terminology.
3. Appropriate and accurate oral and written communication with patients or other clients, of all ages and education levels and who may have their own communication impairments.
4. Reading and accurately comprehending complex medically related literature, documents, and instructions.
5. Accurately comprehending, interpreting, and following oral and written instructions from different people.

Mental performance

1. Thinking skills: memorization, integration of concepts; abstract reasoning; multifactorial problem solving; interpreting.

Management skills: managing grief and revulsion; managing frustration and stress; prioritizing; organizing.

Please review the Health Occupation Programs Admissions Policy regarding minimum age requirement.

Admission Information

In addition to the general admission requirements of the Lone Star College (LSC), the following are requirements that must be met in order to apply for admission to the PTA program:

1. Have a grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.0 in high school and/or college.

1. Complete at least 40 hours of observation in the field under the direction of a licensed physical therapist or licensed physical therapist assistant.

1. Complete ENGL 1301 - Composition & Rhetoric I, PSYC 2301 - General Psychology, BIOL 2401 - Human Anatomy & Physiology I, and PTHA 1201 - The Profession of Physical Therapy with a grade of “C” or better. Additionally, BIOL 2401 - Human Anatomy & Physiology I must have been completed within the last 7 years.

Final acceptance into the program is contingent upon criteria as set by Lonestar College.
Note: It is recommended that students complete as many of the general education core courses as possible prior to application to the PTA program.

Prerequisites (First Semester Courses)

• ENGL 1301 - Composition & Rhetoric I
• BIOL 2401 - Human Anatomy & Physiology I
• PTHA1 201 - The Profession of Physical Therapy
• PSYC 2301 - General Psychology

Minimum age requirement

Must be 18 years old for clinical placement.

Application process

Applications for admission will be received during the spring semester before the program starts. Because admission to the program is competitive, the students who are most likely to be accepted are those who score highest on the criteria established by the admissions committee. Those criteria may include but are not limited to the following:

1. Completion of the general education core courses in the degree plan

1. High GPA in these courses

1. High scores on a standardized admission exam, writing sample and interview

All applicants are highly encouraged to attend at least one information session prior to applying to the PTA program. The information sessions are held monthly on the LSC Montgomery campus during the spring and fall semesters http://www.lonestar.edu/physical-therapist-assistant-dept-montgomery.htm. Dates and times for the information sessions are also located on the department’s web page.

An online application packet for the physical therapist assistant program must be completed and submitted to be considered for acceptance into the program. A link to the on-line application for the class starting August will be available beginning in April of the same year at http://www.lonestar.edu/physical-therapist-assistant-dept-montgomery.htm.

The following material must be included on the application, which may require document uploading prior to the deadline to be considered for admission:

1. On-line application signed by the student

1. Observation forms are to be completed after 40 hours of observation under a licensed PT or PTA. The form is available under Application Forms at http://www.lonestar.edu/physical-therapist-assistant-dept- montgomery.htm (Signed and sealed by the licensed professional and either mailed or delivered by hand to the PTA department office B120)

ATI TEAS test results. The test ticket and directions on taking the test are available http://www.lonestar.edu/physical-therapist-assistant-dept-montgomery.htm.
IMPORTANT:ATI TEAS test must be taken at least one week prior to the application deadline.

1. Any additional documentation requested during the online application.

Applicants may be invited for an interview and asked to submit a writing sample for review by the admissions committee. Any student who cannot attend the interview will not be accepted into the program.

All successful applicants admitted to the PTA program will be required to attend a mandatory orientation session in the summer before starting the program. Any student who cannot attend the orientation will be withdrawn from the program.

Annual Flu Shots and any other immunizations which may be required by clinical sites.

Didactic Exams in each course must be passed with a 75% or higher before a final grade will be earned.

Practical Exams must be passed prior to progression in the program and to clinical placement.

PTA Supply Kit, 2 Program Shirts.

Once admitted to the program, students will be asked to provide proof of personal health insurance. Students must provide documentation indicating they are covered (with their own name on the card) with at least “catastrophic or emergency care”.

Students are not required to purchase their own patient liability insurance for clinical courses. The program obtains the insurance certificate and provides this information to each clinical site. The fee associated with this insurance is paid for by students during the fall semester of each year. Students are covered at one million dollar per incident/three million total. Note: This insurance does not pay for injuries to the student at clinical - only for the patient. The student is completely responsible for costs incurred if injured while in clinical. This insurance may not cover all legal costs if a patient is injured by the student.

Once admitted to the program, proof of a current annual CPR certification must be submitted. This CPR course MUST BE American Heart Association BasicLife Support. You cannot take a course that is online and claims to meet the American Heart Association requirements. This course must include AED and a practical component.

Once admitted to the program and before classes begin, students are required to submit at orientation results of a negative 10-panel urine drug screen.

Additional requirements may be requested by individual clinical sites for clinical placement. The student must comply with these requirements and should verify necessary requirements with the Director of Clinical Education and the assigned clinical site.

AAS in Physical Therapist Assistant

The following procedures are in effect for students seeking transfer into the PTA program from another accredited PTA program must:

1. Submit a letter explaining why you are transferring and requesting admission to the program and evaluation of previous credit (for courses) achieved.

2. Submit a letter from the current program certifying that the student is leaving in good standing status with the previous program. This includes a letter of recommendation from the previous Program Director AND a faculty member.

• Final acceptance of a transfer from an outside PTA program into LSCS PTA program is by unanimous approval of the admissions committee.
• All LSC PTA program admission requirements must be met.
• All official transcripts from the PTA programs attended must be submitted.
• Admission as a transfer student can be considered only if prior program enrollment has been within three (3) months and all previous PTA coursework earned a grade of C or higher.
• Written and/or practical tests will be required to identify current knowledge/skill level. The readmission written and/or practical test must be passed at a 75% or higher in order for the student to be considered for transfer.
• No transfers requests will be accepted for placement within the last two semesters of the degree plan.