Health Professions: Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA)

Admission Procedures

The following steps must be completed by April 1 to be eligible for Fall admission:

1. Apply to Tidewater Community College. TCC Admissions process
   
   
2. Complete a Health Professions Application indicating Physical Therapy Assistant as your program choice. Submit to the Domicile Health Professions and Records Office (Virginia Beach Campus), Princess Anne Building, Room A-100A, 1700 College Crescent, Virginia Beach, VA 23453.
   

   Applications will be time and date stamped. Applications can be mailed or hand delivered to:

   Gloria Singleton
   Domicile Health Professions and Records Office, A-100A
   Tidewater Community College
   1700 College Crescent
   Virginia Beach, VA 23453

3. To receive transfer credit from previous colleges attended, contact the Registrar at each college attended and have official transcripts sent directly to the Central Records Office.
   
   
4. Submit online form, Request for Evaluation of Previous Educational Experiences SS-033
   Data must be received by the Central Records Office in order to evaluate your transcripts and assign transfer credit. Verify receipt of all transcripts and forms by contacting the Central Records Office.
   
   
5. If you have not yet successfully completed a college-level English or Math class, you will need to take placement tests. These tests determine the appropriate English and math developmental classes a student must take before enrolling in the general education requirements of ENG 111 and PHY 100. Locations, times, costs, etc. on the testing website.
   
   
6. If you have you have never taken or have not recently taken high school or college biology, or chemistry you may be required to take either BIO 01, CHM 01, or HLT 143 as a refresher course prior to enrolling in BIO 141. Call the Counseling Center, (757) 822-7211, to find which of these classes you will need to take.
   
   
7. Computer competency test
   Prior to graduation from the program, students must demonstrate computer competency in word processing, spreadsheet, database, and internet/e-mail. You can either take ITE 115 (Introduction to Microcomputer Software), or call the Counseling Center at (757) 822-7211 to schedule to take a computer competency test. It is best to do this early in the program.
   
   
8. Twenty hours of documented observation or work hours in each of two different physical therapy practice settings (i.e., outpatient and acute care, skilled nursing facility and outpatient, etc.) under the supervision of a Physical Therapist or Physical Therapist Assistant. Forty hours total.
   
   
9. Two recommendation forms from employers, professional associates, clinicians, or professors
   

Selection Process

Applications will be reviewed first for the prerequisites noted above, including both required and recommended coursework.
Points will be awarded to applicants in the following manner:

• No points are awarded for "C" grades, however, they are considered for transfer.
• One (1) point for every 10 hours of observation/work in a PT facility over the required minimum of 40 hours. No more that 200 hours (16 points) may be counted toward acceptance to the program.
• Recommendation Forms: Excellent rating = 5 points Good rating = 2 points

The top 30-point earners will be accepted into the program. The remainder will make up the alternate list and placed in order of point average earned. The time and date stamp on the student’s application will decide all point ties. If the program receives more qualified applicants than can be accepted, interviews may be held.

If a student is not accepted into the program and is still interested; he/she must resubmit a Health Professions application by the March 31 deadline for the following fall semester.