Program Review for PTA
Program Review Framework & Criteria
I. Connection: From interest to application (Qualitative, program head and dean)
1) Please provide a description of any changes to the program since the last cycle and the appropriate updates to the catalog (general education changes, program requirement changes, ancillary program costs for students, hours/credits of credentials, etc.).
The PTA program accepted its inaugural cohort of students in spring 2020. The program is five semesters in length, with one pre-requisite semester and four technical semesters. It consists of 68 credits total, with 19 credits of pre-requisite courses and 49 credits of technical coursework. The P&HCC catalog details program requirements. There are additional financial costs beyond tuition and books including immunizations and physical examinations, background check/drug screen, student APTA and VA chapter fees, academic PEAT (practice exams), and potential clinical experience costs including transportation and clinical attire. The program has gone through the Candidacy cycle and is awaiting full accreditation which is regulated by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). Upon graduation, students are able to register to take the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) for PTAs and apply for state licensure (which is only granted upon achieving a passing score on the NPTE.
2) How do students find out about the program? Please provide examples of advising activities, marketing materials, or other outreach and engagement events designed to recruit students to the program.
Students are able to find out information about the PTA program through the P&HCC website (Programs of Study), the P&HCC catalog, the PTA program website, and through a brochure available on campus detailing the program. The core faculty of the program advise students who are interested in the program and collaborate with the high school career coaches. There is also a departmental health program advisor, who is able to perform pre-program advising.
II. Entry: From application to pathway entry (Qualitative, program head and dean)
1) Please provide a description of your program credentials and how they stack into one another.
The PTA degree is a stand-alone degree and does not have any stackable credentials. Pre-requisites include general studies courses. There is a competitive application process for entry into the program.
Questions for consideration:
1.a. What is the employability (or transferability) of each credential?
The PTA program is not intended for transfer. Upon completion of the program, students are eligible to register for board examination and apply for state licensure. Upon successfully passing their board examination and becoming licensed, students are eligible for employment as a PTA.
1.b. Do all credits from a sub-credential transfer into the parent credential?
There are no sub-credentials. Students can take general studies courses that apply toward the pre-requisites.
1.c. What is the timeframe of completion for all credentials within the program (i.e. is the program setup to award sub-credentials prior to the parent credential)?
The PTA program consists of 5 total semesters; one semester of pre-requisite general studies coursework and 4 semesters of technical coursework. The first semester of pre-requisite courses may be independent of the other semesters due to the competitive nature of the application process.
2) Program enrollment, if applicable, disaggregated by specialization (Quantitative, IE)
The first cohort began January 2020 with 16 students. At this point, 16 students are expected to graduate in December 2021.
The second cohort began January 2021 with 16 students. To date, 14 are still enrolled.
The third cohort will begin January 2022. We have offered acceptance to 16 students.
a. Annual program FTE and HC over the last review cycle (To include SCHEV program ratios and SCHEV class ratios)
The PTA program just began accepting students in January 2020. We currently have 30 total students in the program; 16 second year students and 14 first year students.
| PTA (AAS) | 18/19 | 19/20 | 20/21 | 21/22 |
| Headcount | -- | 16 | 32 | 45 |
| FTE | -- | 9.73 | 24 | 26 |
III. Progress: Pathway advancement (Quantitative, IE)
1) Student learning outcomes data
There is no data currently. The first cohort will graduate December 2021.
These are our student learning outcomes:
Graduates will be able to
1) demonstrate minimum proficiency in General Education Skills which are defined as civic engagement, critical thinking, professional readiness, quantitative literacy, scientific literacy, and written communication
2) demonstrate appropriate written and verbal communication that is professional and effective for the practice of physical therapy
3) demonstrate an ability to use problem solving, critical thinking, and decision making skills to provide appropriate physical therapy care for patient safety following the physical therapist’s plan of care
4) demonstrate an ability to collect and review appropriate data to perform evidence-based interventions within the scope of practice for a PTA and within the physical therapist’s plan of care
5) demonstrate the ability to adhere to federal and state regulations, facility policies and procedures, and APTA standards of ethical conduct in clinical practice as a physical therapist assistant
2) Program credit attainment (15/12 in one semester, 30/24 for those who enrolled in two consecutive semesters)
| Semester | Pre-requisite (1st semester) | 2nd semester | 3rd semester | 4th semester | 5th semester |
| Credits | 14 cr. | 16 cr. (includes 5 cr. of gen ed that could be taken ahead) | 12 cr. | 14 cr. | 12 cr. |
| PTA | 18/19 | 19/20 | 20/21 | 21/22 |
| Cohort Size | -- | 16 | 32 | 45 |
| 12 or less credits (1 semester only) | -- | 3 | 7 | 27 |
| 13-15 credits (1 semester only) | -- | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 24 or less credits (2 semesters) | -- | 8 | 12 | 14 |
| More than 24 credits (2 semesters) | -- | 5 | 9 | 0 |
| Total taking 2 semesters worth of credits | -- | 13/16 | 21/32 | 14/45 |
3) Program retention and persistence relative to the start date of the program (subsequent term calculation)
The PTA program always starts in a spring cycle.
January 2020: 16 students accepted; December 2021: 16 students expected to graduate
January 2021: 16 students accepted; To date: 14 students still enrolled
IV. Completion: Credential attainment (Quantitative, IE)
1) Sub-credential attainment and timeframe (are students completing sub-credential prior to or at the same time as parent credential?)
| PTA (AAS) | 21/22 |
| Graduates | 15/45 |
| Out of graduates, those who graduated within 150% timeframe | 12/15 |
2) Parent credential attainment and timeframe, if applicable, disaggregated by specialization
After acceptance into the program, students complete in 4 semesters: Spring semester, fall semester of 1st year and spring semester, fall semester of 2nd year; graduating in December of the 2nd year.
a. Are students completing within 6 semesters (150% of graduation time)?
At this point, we haven't graduated a cohort. The original 16 students in the first cohort are expected to graduate on time. Cohort 2 are only in their 1st year. Anticipate 25% attrition due to students' self disclosure of not returning due to vaccine requirements for clinical placements.
V. Transition: Employment or transfer post-credential (Quantitative, IE)
1) Transfer outcomes (students who transfer with associate degree, students who transfer without)
This program is not intended for transfer.
2) Student perspective/satisfaction
The program has scheduled surveys to be completed by students just prior to graduation (exit survey) and post-graduation (Alumni survey) to receive student feedback for future use.
| Question | 2018-19 | 2019-20 | 2020-21 | 2021-22 |
| The courses I took at P&HCC prepared me for my educational goals. | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| The faculty at P&HCC are fair and supportive of students. | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| The faculty at P&HCC demonstrate thorough knowledge of the subject matter. | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| In the courses I took at P&HCC, classroom activities and outside assignments were appropriate and meaningful. | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| I would recommend the faculty at P&HCC | N/A | N/A | N/A |
VI. Sustainability: Future Program Outlook (Mixed methods, IE, program head and dean)
1) Program forecast (major expenditures, changes, personnel needs, etc.); any future costs should be explained in this section)
The PTA program has a well equipped laboratory. Additional equipment is requested through Perkins funding and ETF funding as needed. Federal COVID dollars were also utilized for equipment needs. As health care changes occur, new equipment needs are recommended by or brought before the advisory committee.
a. Any other pertinent information relevant to the review process should be provided here (e.g. community need, state/federal requirements, external accreditation, SCHEV low enrollment warning, etc.)
The PTA program received full initial accreditation effective 11/2/2021
Current accreditation status:
The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Patrick & Henry Community College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: http://www.capteonline.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 276-656-0288 or email jmartin@patrickhenry.edu.
b. Employment forecast for program (Analyst data)
Job Market Outlook
The Virginia Employment Commission, Economic Information &
Analytics, Long Term Industry and Occupational Projections, 2014-2024
Occupational Employment Statistics Survey, 2014 has projected growth
occupations for our service area. The occupation of Physical Therapist
Assistants for Henry County shows 87 estimated PTA’s in 2014 with projected
employment of 112 PTA’s by 2024, demonstrating an increase projected growth of
28.74%. (http://virginialmi.com/report_center/community_profiles/5104000089.pdf) In Virginia, there were
an estimated 2085 PTAs in 2014 with projected employment of 2979 PTAs by 2024
demonstrating an increased projected growth of 42.88%. Further the average annual employment
openings for the PTA field in Virginia according to the Occupational Employment
Statistics includes 60 replacements per year and 89 new positions per year
resulting in 149 total per year. (http://virginialmi.com/report_center/community_profiles/5157000013.pdf)
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data demonstrates 88,300 PTAs
nationwide in 2016 with a projected growth to 115,800 PTAs in 2026 with a 31%
growth. (https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physical-therapist-assistants-and-aides.htm#tab-6)
| Occupation data for Patrick & Henry Service Region | Total Employed | Mean Wage | Projected Demand (5 years) |
| Physical Therapist Assistants | 35 | $62,300 | 28 |
| All Occupations | 47,606 | $42,000 | 25,599 |