Physical Therapy Assistant - STEPS Sessions - June 2021

1. Physical Therapy Assistant
Associate Degree
STRATEGIES TO ENHANCE PROGRAM SUCCESS

2. Overview
 4 semester program
 Admission is based on weighted criteria.
 Applications Due: May 15th each year to apply for a seat in the Fall
Semester (August start) class at the Grand Strand Campus. 34 top
qualified students will be accepted each year.
 Late or incomplete applications will not be reviewed for
admission.

3. Application Requirements
 Must be admitted to the College and currently eligible for enrollment.
 Complete all 6 Physical Therapy Assistant (PTA) Prerequisite Courses with a
minimum grade of “C” and a GPA of 2.50. All courses must be within the
required time limits. Further information about these courses is provide on
the next slide.
 View the online Physical Therapist Assistant Departmental Information
Session at www.hgtc.edu/healthscience. (2 year time limit).
 Submit proof of 20 hours of observations completed within 3 years prior to
applying for the PTA program. Documentation forms and site list information
is available on the Libguides page under the “Forms You Will Need” box.

4. Physical Therapy Assistant
Prerequisite Courses
The following 6 courses must be completed with a grade of ‘C’ or higher, minimum GPA of
2.50 and within the time limits, where indicated:
1. English Composition I (ENG 101)
2. Anatomy and Physiology I (BIO 210 – 5 year time limit & has a prerequisite of BIO 112
or 101)
3. Anatomy and Physiology II (BIO 211 – 5 year time limit)
4. General Psychology (PSY 201)
5. Either College Algebra or Probability and Statistics (MAT 110/120 – 10 year time limit)
6. One Humanities course

5. Required Online
Department Information Session
 The PTA Faculty created this session to provide you with information about clinicals, fees,
jobs, and everything else you need to know about working in the field of Physical Therapy.
 You will view pictures and see information about the PTA Instructional facilities and state
of the art equipment you will train with at HGTC.
 Learn what is expected of you as a student in the PTA program as well as in the job field.
 Have many of your questions answered.
 The required online session may be viewed on the Libguides page or
www.hgtc.edu/healthscience.

6. Observation Hours
 PTA applicants are required to schedule and complete 20 hours of observations in a Physical Therapy
facility. Observation hours must be completed in the three years prior to submitting your PTA
application.
 Scheduling and completing the observations is the students’ responsibility. A list of facilities and
contact information is available in the “Forms you will need” box on the Libguides page.
 Observations may be completed at more than one facility – as long as the combined hours equal at
least 20 hours.
 The Observation Form (provided in the “Forms” box as well) must be signed by a licensed PT or PTA.
Their contact information and license number must be included.
 The completed observation form should be submitted to the Admissions office on any campus by the
application deadline. Please attach the form to your PTA application.

7. Weighted Criteria for Acceptance
 The scoring criteria on the next slide is used to determine which applicants will be accepted
into the Physical Therapy Assistant program. The 34 students with the highest number of
points are accepted to begin the program in the Fall Semester at the Grand Strand Campus.
 Acceptance depends on your points vs. the points of the other applicants at that time.
Therefore, points required for acceptance to the program will change with each review
period.
 Acceptance into the PTA program is limited and competitive. There is no guarantee of
acceptance. Your grades are very important. Even though the minimum GPA requirement is
2.50, you should strive for a much higher GPA.

8. Physical Therapy
Assistant Admission
Scoring Criteria
Pre-requisite core courses GPA (BIO210, BIO 211, ENG101,
MAT110/120, PSY201, and Humanities)
Points
Earned
3.91 – 4.00 13
3.81 – 3.90 12
3.71 – 3.80 11
3.61 – 3.70 10
3.51 – 3.60 9
3.41 – 3.50 8
3.31 – 3.40 7
3.21 – 3.30 6
3.11 – 3.20 5
3.01 – 3.10 4
2.91 – 3.00 3
2.81 – 2.90 2
2.75 – 2.80 1
Completed at least 8 credit hours of the PTA prerequisite
or co-requisite courses with an overall GPA of 2.5 or better
(BIO210, BIO211, ENG101, MAT110/120, PSY201, PSY203,
and Humanities) from HGTC or Coastal Carolina Univ.
(CCU)
2
Horry or Georgetown County Resident (as established by
the College)
1
Total Points

9. Be the BEST Applicant you can be!
Applying with the highest number of points you can obtain is important! Consider these options to increase
your points:
 Apply with the best grades possible: The grades in your prerequisite courses play a large part in PTA
acceptance. Strive for A’s to keep your GPA high. If you make C’s in some of your courses, consider
retaking the course(s) to get a higher grade. *Always check with financial aid before retaking courses as
it may affect your Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) if you retake too many or already have W’s, F’s
or D’s in other courses.
 Apply for and obtain residency status: If you are not coded as an “In-County resident”, go to
http://www.hgtc.edu/admissions/residency.html to complete a Residency Application. Obtaining a
South Carolina driver’s license and car registration (if the car is in your name) are normally an important
part of this process. Read the application and instructions carefully.

10. Requirements AFTER Acceptance
If you are accepted into the program, your acceptance letter will provide detailed instructions and deadlines for completing
the following items. DO NOT complete them before you are instructed. This information is being provided so that you can
plan ahead to cover the costs of these items.
1. Submit a $500.00 tuition deposit to reserve your seat. This is an out-of-pocket expense and not covered by financial aid.
2. Pass Certified Background Check and Drug Screening. The current cost for this is $112.00. The return of an unfavorable CBS and/or UDS
may result in a student being removed from the desired program. Clinical sites/facilities determine applicant’s eligibility to participate in
clinical studies based on their policies. If you complete the background check before being instructed to do so you will have to redo it
and pay the $112 again. The Background Check, drug screening, and payment of $112 will be required each semester while in the
program.
3. Complete a Health Physical and submit proof of required immunizations. (Physical and immunizations costs are your responsibility, so
plan ahead financially.)
4. Show proof of current Health Care Providers CPR. You may take a class through HGTC’s Continuing Education/Workforce Development
Department. You may register online for the course on the HGTC Continuing Education/Workforce Development website. This course
costs approximately $105.00.

11. Program Expenses
 You may view a comprehensive list of program expenses that a student can expect to
incur during enrollment in the Physical Therapy Assistant curriculum here.
 Please keep in mind that these figures are approximations and are based on current
costs. Many of these expenses are payable to third parties and subject to change
without notice.
 Tuition is subject to change.
 Supplies and fees: Students will be responsible for items above and beyond tuition,
such as uniforms, clinical supplies, and items needed for projects.

12. Physical Therapy
Assistant Program
Schedule
 Physical Therapy Assistant is a 4
semester program. Once accepted you
will attend year round, including
summer. Please plan ahead financially
as you may not receive financial aid for
the summer. Clinicals will vary by
semester but may require 1-2 days a
week. Students may have to travel up to
a 50 mile radius to fulfill clinical
requirements.
 If you have already completed PSY 203
with a grade of ‘C’ or higher you do not
have to retake it in the program.
First Semester (Fall) Third Semester (Summer)
PTH 101 Physical Therapy Professional
Preparation
2 PTH 228 Manual Therapy Techniques 2
PTH 204 Physical Therapy Functional Anatomy
and Application
5 PTH 242 Orthopedic Management 4
PTH 205 Physical Therapy Functional Anatomy 4 PTH 253 Clinical Practice II 3
PTH 221 Pathology I 2 SEMESTER TOTAL 9
PSY 203 Human Growth Development 3
SEMESTER TOTAL 16
Second Semester (Spring) Fourth Semester (Fall)
PTH 202 Physical Therapy Modalities 4 PTH 235 Interpersonal Dynamics 2
PTH 234 Clinical Education I 3 PTH 244 Rehabilitation 4
PTH 240 Therapeutic Exercises/Applications 5 PTH 275 Advanced Professional Preparation 1
PTH 270 Special Topics in Physical Therapy 3 PTH 276 Physical Therapy Practicum II 6
SEMESTER TOTAL 15 SEMESTER TOTAL 13
TOTAL PTA CREDIT HOURS 53
TOTAL PREREQUISITE CREDIT HOURS 20
TOTAL CREDIT HOURS 73

13. You have completed the
Physical Therapy Assistant STEPS Session!
 HGTC reserves the right to change the program admission
requirements at any time. You must meet the admission requirements
that are in effect at the time you submit your application.
 Please review the checklist located below this STEPS Session on the
Libguides page and enter the information requested below the
checklist to receive credit for viewing this session.