School of Physical Therapist Assisting
Student Information
Revised 9-2015
Admissions Requirements
Revised 9-2015
The Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program is taught in the State of Ohio. The licensing requirements and statutes affecting the practice of physical therapy in the State of Ohio will be the guiding philosophy for all PTA curriculum regardless of the state of residency of the student.
It is very important to understand that fulfilling the admission requirements DOES NOT guarantee the applicant’s acceptance into the program. The School of Physcial Therapist Assisting, Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program is completely residential in nature and no component is done through distance learning.
PSI is on a 12-week quarter system with a one (1) week break between quarters. Enrollment into the PTA program is offered in April and October of each year. The academic calendars are located on page 5 of this catalog.
The PTA Program Cost Sheet and the PTA Retention, Placement, and Licensure Program Disclosure Form are given to each applicant as an insert to this catalog by an Admissions Representative during the first meeting.
PSI’s Academic Catalog is available electronically on the website at www.proskills.edu. The catalog includes program information, under each program tab, for review prior to applying for admission and/or signing an enrollment agreement.
To qualify for the School of Phycial Therapist Assisting, PTA program at PSI you must be:
1. Be at least 18 years of age and submit a state issued ID for proof of identity. A PSI employee will copy ID, sign and date the copy for verification.
2. Be a high school graduate or have passed a GED equivalent test and submit one (1) of the following as verification:
1. *An official U.S. high school diploma/transcript.
2. An official U.S. GED equivalent transcript.
3. An official U. S. translated foreign transcript.
The completed translated official foreign transcript must be equivalent to a U.S. high school diploma.
High school transcripts from other countries are acceptable, as long as the diploma is equivalent to a U.S. high school diploma. To assure compliance all applicants with foreign transcript must have the transcript reviewed by a U.S. credential evaluation service.
If the applicant has credits from other approved colleges or schools for course work completed and would like transfer credit approval, the applicant must submit an official transcript showing proof of the successful completion of approved course(s).
The official college transcript must show proof of successful completion of approved college courses of at least 3 semester credit hours, with a letter grade of “C” or above and taken within the last 10 years.
This is optional and not a requirement for admission.
Note: The applicable high school and college transcripts are used by the PTA Program Director for calculation of points for admission selection. Applicant must have a minimum of nine (9) semester credits or 15 quarter credits before college GPA can be used for calculation of points for the Admissions Check and Drug Testing Acknowledgment.
5. Take and successfully pass the TEAS-V AH Exam with the required score.
• Submit a payment to PSI in the amount of
$65 for the Test of Essential Academic Skills-V for the Allied Health (TEAS-V AH), using a money order, debit or credit card to confirm a testing date.
• Testing: There are four (4) components of the TEAS-V AH computerized admission exam. The four (4) components are Reading Comprehension, M a t h e m a t i c s , Science and English and Language. An overall passing score of 50% is needed.
• If not successful on the first attempt, the applicant may choose to re-take the entire TEAS-V AH exam at an additional $65 fee to achieve the minimum passing score of 50%.
• A score will be assigned to each of the four (4) individual components of the TEAS-V
• Applicants will be tested until the established testing date has expired, usually two (2) weeks prior to the beginning of the next quarter or until seats are filled, which ever comes first.
• If a applicant does not pass the TEAS-V AH exam on the first attempt, he/she has the option of taking the entire exam again. If the applicant does not pass the exam the second time he/she has the option of beginning the process from Step 3, again during the next enrollment process.
6. Complete Observation Hours: Complete 60 hours of observation in a Physical Therapy Clinic or department under the supervision of a licensed PT or PTA which must be obtained from a minimum of two (2) different clinical sites, and a minimum of 15 hours at any site. Observation hours cannot be accomplished in a highly specialized clinic, e.g.
pediatric or MRDD (Mentally Retarded Developmentally Delayed).
PTA Observation Verification Forms will be given to the applicant by an Admissions Representative after the successful passage of the TEAS-V AH exam.
Applicants must submit the completed PSI Observation Verification Form with the business card of the signing Physical Therapist/ Physical Therapist Assistant (PT/PTA) attached. A positive recommendation from the supervising or signing PT/PTA must be received.
Work experience within the field of physical therapy may be considered in lieu of 45 observation hours as long as there is an accompanying positive recommendation letter from the supervising or signing PT/PTA. The remaining 15 observation hours must be done at a different site. A positive recommendation from the supervising or signing PT/PTA at the second site must be received.
Note: A score will be assigned to the two (2) observation experiences or the two (2) with the highest number of hours and will be used in the calculation of points for admission selection.
7. Complete Written Essay: Written essay is based on the completed PTA observation experience.
8. Review and sign the program Retention and Placement Program Disclosure Form.
9. Review and sign Admission Acknowledgment Form.
10. Review and sign the On-lineAcademic Catalog Acknowlegement Form.
11. Submit Application Fee of $25. .
(Refundable, only if applicant is not accepted in Step 3 of Application Process.)
Payment of application fee must be in the form of a check or money order made out to PSI or the fee paid with a debit or credit card.
12. Attend a brief Financial Aid information session.
To complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online, a link to this form is found at www.proskills.edu under the Financial Aid tab.
13. Receive a minimum score of 64 points on the PTA Applicant Summary Qualification Form. The PTA Program Director may elect to schedule a professional interview with any applicant to gather more information or to have additional questions answered.
14. *Be accepted as an applicant into the program.
Accepted applicant who defer their start date and have their entrance test date expire at two (2) years will not have to re-test if the version of the exam that was originally passed is the same version currently being utilized by Admissions. If a new version is being used, the applicant must pass that version to update his/her file. There will be no testing fee assessed for the first attempt at the new exam. If the initial testing attempt is not successful, any subsequent attempts will require a testing fee be paid.
After being accepted :
15. Meet with a Director of Financial Aid to discuss loan and grant eligibility and repayment obligations.
16. Meet with the Student Accounts Officer to discuss cost and payment for the program.
17. Meet with the Admissions Representative to continue with the enrollment process.
• receive a hardcopy of the Academic Catalog.
• prior to completing the enrollment agreement, review and sign the State Board (Ohio) of Career Colleges and Schools Disclosure Form. (PSR0017)
• review and sign an Enrollment Agreement.
After enrollment:
18. Attend a mandatory financial aid and education orientation to:
• finalize all education and financial aid documentation.
• review education policy and procedures with a program director or faculty memeber.
• receive the appropriate Student Handbook.
• review program class schedule and register for classes.
*As mature and responsible social behaviors are the fundamental basis for any professional atmosphere, be it academic or employment related, Professional Skills Institute strives to accept only students who exhibit the utmost respect and courtesy for others. Even from the applicant’s initial contact with the School, the School will begin its evaluation to appraise the applicant’s behavior as responsible and appropriate. If any conduct is demonstrated that is inappropriate for the professional and academic environment, or lacking common respect and courtesy for others, the admission may be denied.
Professional Skills Institute reserves the right to use any and all information gathered, printed or otherwise, during the admission process to appropriately determine a applicant’s suitability for enrollment. If behaviors or a past pattern of behaviors are revealed during this assessment, that are immoral, unlawful or unbecoming of a student of Professional Skills Institute, the admission may be denied.