Hybrid PTA

Hybrid PTA Application

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The Hybrid PTA pathway is designed for students who want to earn a PTA degree while remaining in their home communities.

Most coursework is completed online, allowing students greater flexibility. However, hybrid does not mean completely online.

You'll come to the NWACC Bentonville campus approximately every three to four weeks, depending on the semester, for a three-day intensive laboratory experience. These labs are held Friday through Sunday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This program is a good fit if you:

  • Need flexibility because you live outside Northwest Arkansas
  • Want to complete much of your coursework online
  • Can attend required intensive labs in Bentonville
  • Can manage independent study and online coursework
  • Want the possibility of completing clinical education near your home community
  • Can commit the time required for a demanding healthcare program

Things to consider:

The Hybrid PTA program includes four full-time semesters and two part-time summer semesters.

The program begins with prerequisite coursework, followed by technical and general education coursework and then technical and clinical coursework.

Although coursework is delivered online, you should expect weekly online interaction with instructors, intensive on-campus laboratory experiences, substantial studying and hands-on practice outside scheduled class time, and full-time clinical education experiences.

The Hybrid pathway offers greater scheduling flexibility than the Traditional pathway, which may make it easier for some students to continue working.

However, the program remains academically and physically demanding. Students should be prepared to devote significant time to coursework, studying, laboratory practice and clinical education.

The program recommends that Hybrid PTA students work no more than 20 hours per week.

The Hybrid PTA pathway is designed to allow students to complete clinical education in or near their home communities when an appropriate clinical site is available.

However, a particular clinical site or location cannot be guaranteed.

You should be prepared to travel if necessary and should plan for expenses related to travel, housing or other costs associated with your clinical education experience.

Distance from the NWACC main campus is one component of the Hybrid PTA selection process.

The Hybrid pathway is intended to expand access to PTA education for students who live farther from campus and want to remain in their home communities.

Applicants are ranked using the selection criteria described in the current Hybrid PTA application information.

Previous Credits:

If you have attended another college or university, submit official transcripts from every institution you have attended.

Then meet with a Health Professions Advisor and request a degree audit. Your degree audit will help determine which courses have transferred and which PTA requirements you still need to complete.

Previous credits transfer:

Coursework completed at another accredited institution may transfer if it is determined to be equivalent to an NWACC requirement.

A previous degree does not automatically satisfy all PTA prerequisites.

If you believe a course should meet an NWACC PTA requirement but it has not transferred as expected, talk with a Health Professions Advisor about whether a course substitution may be appropriate.

Important Information:

  • View all of the admissions information listed below before applying to the hybrid PTA program. 

  • You will need to apply to be an NWACC student before completing the hybrid PTA application.
     
  • You must complete all required prerequisite courses by the end of the fall semester in which you are applying.

  • Application period is open June 1 - November 1. All application materials must be received on the designated deadline date and time. If the deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, then it will be the following business day.

Program Admission Process

Please read all of the information below before applying to NWACC's hybrid PTA program. 

The program administrator and faculty, in cooperation with appropriate institutional personnel, establish admissions procedures which are non-discriminatory, contribute to the quality of the program, and allow a selection of students with the potential to successfully complete the program. 

There is an established admissions committee which includes the program administrator and an advisory selection committee.

Before applying to the Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Program, please review the following admission requirements and recommendations.

  1. You must have the ability to communicate safely, accurately, and effectively in both written and spoken English. If English is your second language, you must take and receive a score of 110 or higher on the Accuplacer ESL listening test.  You are also encouraged to enroll in English as a Second Language (ESL)  to enhance your success.
  2. Submission of an application does not guarantee acceptance.
  3. For students attaining their prerequisite courses at another college, we will offer an online section of Clinical Kinesiology. Please note other Kinesiology courses will not transfer because this is a specific PTA Program Clinical Kinesiology course.
  4. General Education prerequisite courses MUST be completed by the end of the Fall semester in the year that the student is applying to the PTA Program Hybrid Program.  Please refer to your degree plan for prerequisite information.
  5. As part of the application process, students are required to attend three different physical therapy clinics for three hours each for a total of nine hours of observation.
  6. Applicants must have a physician complete the "Physician Certification of the PTA Essential Functions and Physical Demands".
  7. If admitted, students will complete a drug screen, background check and CPR certification

How to Apply:

1) Apply for admission to NWACC. If you are not currently enrolled at NWACC, you need to apply for admission to the college before applying to the hybrid PTA program. Apply to NWACC.

2) Apply to the hybrid PTA program. Your application and all required materials must be received in the division office by 3 p.m. on the final day of the application period.

The selection of students into the PTA Program is based on a point system. Students with the highest total points are selected for admission.

Distance

This program is designed for students who wish to seek a degree as a Physical Therapist Assistant but remain living, completing clinical internships, and practicing in the areas they currently reside.  Points are awarded as follows:

100 miles or greater = 30 points
75-99 miles = 25 points
55-74 miles = 15 points
35-54 miles = 10 points
34 miles or less = 0 points

Grades for Prerequisites (GPA)

40 points are possible for the combined points for Science courses:

  • 32 from BIOL 2214 A&P I
  • 8 from AHSC 1001 Medical Terminology
  • 36 from ENGL Comp I, General Psychology, Intro to Computers or Electronic Health Records

Points will be awarded based on the following formula for science courses: Multiply the # of credit hours for the course by the student earned grade with an A = 4; B = 3, C = 2; then multiply that number by 2.

For example, if a student earns a B in BIOL 2214 A & P I, the points earned would be calculated in the following way:  4 credit hours x 3 (B in course) = 12  x 2 = 24; the student would have earned 24 points of the possible 32.

Interview/Observation

30 total possible points*:

All applicants will be interviewed by the PTA Selection Committee and must complete 9 hours of observation and complete the required observation form (with signatures).  The points possible and then percentile toward total rank for admission approved by Advisory Board.

Total Points

136 total possible points:

Students are ranked based on the following selection criteria:

  • 40/136  = 29.4% - A&P I and Intro to Medical Terminology
  • 36/136 = 26.5% - ENGL Comp I, General Psychology, Intro to Computers or Electronic Health Records
  • 30/136 = 22.05% - Interview/Observation
  • 30/136 = 22.05% - Distance from NWACC Main Campus

We will notify applicants to the Physical Therapist Assistant program by email or phone one to two weeks after the end of the fall semester.

Upon acceptance to the program, you will receive a detailed email on all required steps that must be completed before the mandatory orientation day.

If you have questions or concerns about the background check, we encourage you to make an appointment to discuss these concerns with the PTA director. 

Non-Native Speakers of English, seeking admission into Health Professions programs are required to complete an ESL Listening Test.  Students can receive more information and/or schedule to take this test through NWACC testing services, 479-619-4354 .  The ESL listening test is designed to assess a student’s ability to understand Standard American English.  A score of 92 or higher on the COMPASS ESL listening test (taken within the last three (3) years) OR a score of 100 or higher on the Accuplacer ESL listening test is REQUIRED for NNSs students seeking entrance into Health Professions Programs at NWACC.  The minimum score or higher indicates the ability to understand linguistically complex discussions, including academic lectures and factual reports.  NNSs students seeking career paths in Health Professions scoring below the minimum will need to retest and successfully pass by July 1st.

 

1) Apply for admission to NWACC. If you are not currently enrolled at NWACC, you need to apply for admission to the college before applying to the hybrid PTA program. Apply to NWACC.

2) Apply to the hybrid PTA program. Your application and all required materials must be received in the division office by 3 p.m. on the final day of the application period. View the PTA Program's Physical Therapist Assistant Hybrid Application Forms and Information.

Hybrid PTA Application Opens June 1

Note: Students who will be attending clinical rotations while enrolled in a professional program at the Center for Health Professions will be required to have a drug screen performed, either prior to admission, or prior to attending clinical rotations. Students who test positive for drugs (including medical marijuana) will be denied access to the clinical rotations and will consequently be either denied acceptance into the professional program or dismissed from the professional program.