Apply to the Program
Due to the rise in COVID-19 cases and for the safety of healthcare students and employees,
many medical facilities, along with federal policies, are mandating the COVID-19 vaccination,
with limited exemptions available for students and employees. Because all clinical
hours and/or clinical competencies must be completed to meet program requirements,
this means you may be required to receive the COVID-19 vaccination or have an approved
exemption on file to enter and/or progress in the Physical Therapist Assistant program.
For additional information, regarding these requirements, please see the Health Sciences and Wellness COVID-19 Policy, page 6.
As referenced in the Health Sciences and Wellness COVID-19 policy, it is up to the
clinical facility to grant or deny the exemption based on the documentation provided.
If an exemption is granted, individuals may also be asked to complete regular COVID-19
testing at their own expense, often on a weekly basis. Additional PPE protocols may
also be required.
In the event the exemption request is denied, the program may attempt to place the
student at another clinical site, but this is dependent upon program clinical capacity
requirements, the ability of the student to meet another clinical site鈥檚 COVID-19
policies, and provided no other students鈥� clinical experiences are impacted. If the
program is unable to place a student, this may delay the student鈥檚 program completion.
Students are advised that the inability to gain clinical education experiences can
result in the inability to meet program objectives and outcomes. These circumstances
may prevent final acceptance into and/or progression through the program, and ultimately
result in dismissal from the program. (HSW COVID-19 Policy, v. 4, August 2021; p.
6)
Applications for the PTA class beginning Jan. 2024 are now available and will close
on Sept. 8, 2023.
Our priority application period has closed. However, late applications are being considered.
Apply by the December 1, 2023 extended deadline to be considered for the PTA class
beginning January 16, 2024.
Acceptance into the Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program is contingent upon
receipt of a completed application, forms, documented immunizations, a satisfactory
background check (if needed for clinical internships) and successful completion of
any remaining prerequisites. It's the applicant鈥檚 responsibility to furnish all required
paperwork. Failure to provide all required information by the application deadline
may cause the applicant to be ineligible for consideration during that term. If the
class doesn't fill by the deadline, applications will continue to be accepted until
the class is full.
Due to program accreditation requirements, the program is limited to 20 students a
year. Students completing program prerequisites may apply in the fall for the upcoming
spring semester. Selection is based on a student鈥檚 grade point average, prerequisites
completed, the date the application was received and other criteria as noted. Final
acceptance will be contingent upon successful completion of program prerequisites,
a health physical and background check.
Application Process
For admission to the Physical Therapist Assistant program, students need to complete
the following steps:
Step 1
Complete an application for acceptance to Laramie County Community College. Students
who are currently enrolled or have previously attended 糖心live need not re-apply. Application
to 糖心live and forms are available on
糖心live's admissions web page.
Step 2
Completion of, or current enrollment in of all prerequisite classes is required. Courses completed
for a previous degree may exempt a student from prerequisite classes depending upon
coursework and level of coursework completed. Minimum cumulative GPA requirement for
all college level coursework is 2.5 or higher. The following prerequisites must be
completed or should be in progress with a grade of 鈥淐鈥� or better by the application
deadline:
- MATH 1400 - College Algebra or higher
- ENGL 1010 - English Composition I
- ZOO 2010 - Anatomy/Physiology or ZOO 2015 Human Anatomy
- COMM 2010 - Public Speaking
- HLTK 1200 - Medical Terminology
Step 3
Provide a copy of all college transcripts to the 糖心live PTA Program Director and an
official transcript to the Admissions Office. All official transcripts should be sent
to the Admissions Office at 1400 E. College Drive, Cheyenne, WY 82007. Unofficial
or copies of transcripts may be used for the PTA application only and should be sent
to the PTA program director.
Step 4
Pre-admission observation: Applicants are REQUIRED to complete a minimum of 20 hours
of observation/volunteer or work-related time in a physical clinic. It would be to
the advantage of the applicant to have some of those hours in a hospital or long-term
care facility to better understand the role of the PTA. Observation forms should be
signed by the supervising clinician and submitted with the application packet. Extra
points will be awarded for those who are involved in employment related to the healthcare
field.
Step 5
Complete and return the PTA Program application to the program director's office (HS
340) or the administrative assistant's office (HS 304). Include the application, essay
question, copies of all transcripts and "in progress" grade report forms. Typewritten
responses are preferred and highly encouraged.
Step 6
Three letters of recommendation (included in the application packet) must be submitted
as part of the completed application process. All references should be professional
in nature. Professional references would include former or current supervisors and
instructors. No relatives may be used as references. These forms are to be returned
directly to the 糖心live PTA program director under separate cover by the individual completing
the form. Reference letter should be signed across the envelope seal.
Step 7
All applicants have the option to schedule a pre-admission advising appointment to
discuss their academic plan. Faculty members will be available for pre-advising on
an appointment basis only. Students can call or email to set up pre-advising.
Step 8
Submit all application materials to the following address:
Physical Therapist Assistant Program
Laramie County Community College
Health Science Building, Room 340
1400 E. College Drive
Cheyenne, WY 82007-3299
Admission to the Program
After Oct. 1, all completed applications will be reviewed by a selection committee
composed of faculty members and other physical therapy personnel. 糖心live doesn't discriminate
on the basis of race, color, nation origin, sex, age, religion, political affiliation
or disability in admission of access to, or treatment of employment in, its educational
programs or activities.
PTA program selection criteria:
The Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Program Selection Committee will be the individuals
to consider the applications submitted by prospective PTA students. They will use
the following point scale. Grade achieved will be multiplied by the number of credit
hours to determine total points for each prerequisite course. From the pool of applicants,
the prospective PTA students will be screened. Applicants having completed all requirements
will be considered first. Applications with requirements not met at the time of application
may be provisionally admitted pending fulfillment of ALL requirements. Future classes
will likely be required to meet all requirements before the application will be considered.
All people submitting an application will be notified of their admission status following
the selection process. A maximum of two points will be awarded for classes that are
in progress at the time of application.
Point Scale
| ITEM |
POINTS |
| MATH 1400 College Algebra or higher (3 credits) |
4(A), 3(B), 2(C) X 3 |
| ENGL 1010 English: Composition (3 credits) |
4(A), 3(B), 2(C) X 3 |
| ZOO 2010 Anatomy/Physiology or ZOO 2015 Human Anatomy (4 credits) |
4(A), 3(B), 2(C) X 4 |
| COMM 2010 Public Speaking (3 credits) |
4(A), 3(B), 2(C) X 3 |
| HLTK 1200 Medical Terminology (2 credits) |
4(A), 3(B), 2(C) X 2 |
| ZOO 2020 Anatomy/Physiology II or ZOO 2025 Human Physiology (4 credits) |
4(A), 3(B), 2(C) X 4 |
|
POLS 1000 American and Wyoming Government
or HIST 1211 U.S. History to 1865
or HIST 1221 U.S. History 1865 to Present
or HIST 1251 Wyoming History
or ECON 1200 Economics, Law, and Government (3 credits)
--state statutory requirement
|
4(A), 3(B), 2(C) X 3 |
| EDST 2450 Human Lifespan Development (3 credits) |
4(A), 3(B), 2(C) X 3 |
| HLTK 2510 Pathophysiology (2 credits) |
4(A), 3(B), 2(C) X 2 |
| Physical Education Activity Course (1 credit) |
4(A), 3(B), 2(C) X 1 |
| Overall College GPA |
6(3.5 or above), 5(3.0 or above), 4 (2.5 or above), X 4 |
| Previous College Degree(s) |
10 Points for a Bachelor Degree |
| Employment in a Physical Therapy department/clinic, as PT Aide, six months or more |
20 Points |
| Other employment in a related healthcare field |
10 Points |
| Physical Therapy observation hours |
15 Points (80 hours or more),
10 Points (40 hours or more),
5 Points (20 hours)
|
| Reflective Essay |
30 Points max. |
| 1st Letter of Reference |
15 Points max. |
| 2nd Letter of Reference |
15 Points max. |
| 3rd Letter of Reference |
15 Points max. |
Should students receive identical scores, the program director will determine priority
based on the PTA Program Handbook guidelines. Final selection will be made and the
students will be notified approximately 30 days after the application due date. An
alternate list will be made to fill any cancellations.
糖心live's program doesn't use an annual waiting list; therefore, students not selected
for admission into the physical therapist assistant program must initiate the admission
process the following year before being reconsidered. All students鈥� applications not
selected will be kept for one year after the deadline and will then be destroyed.
Note: The PTA Program Admission is contingent upon successful completion of in-progress
prerequisites. If the student doesn't successfully complete the in-progress courses,
admission to the program will be voided.
Progression
To progress in the PTA program, the student must:
- Maintain a minimum grade of 鈥淐鈥� in each required PTA and support courses. A support
course is any course that does not contain the PTAT prefix. A cumulative GPA of 2.5
or above is required prior to and after acceptance into the program
- Take PTA program specific courses in sequence.
