Are you interested in a career in health care? Are you fascinated by anatomy and exercise physiology? Then becoming a physical therapist assistant is for you!
The Physical Therapist Assistant Program prepares students for a rewarding hands-on healthcare career in a variety of clinical settings! PTAs are valuable members of a healthcare team, working under the direction and supervision of a physical therapist. PTAs may administer interventions to help decrease pain, increase strength and endurance, and improve mobility. They apply physical agents such as ultrasound and electrical stimulation, help patients perform exercises, and instruct patients in the use of devices like walkers, crutches, canes, braces, and prosthetic limbs. PTAs are employed in a wide variety of clinical settings, including outpatient clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, home health agencies, and school settings. Excellent clinical and interpersonal communication skills are essential for this career.
Applying to the PTA Program
The PTA program is a competitive entrance program. Application to the program is made separately from application for admission to Missouri Western. The PTA program accepts one cohort per year, which begins in the Fall semester. The annual deadline for standard application to the program is March 1st.
Application to the PTA program is open to current MWSU students, transfer students, non-traditional students, and incoming freshman (who may apply during their senior year of high school). The application packet requires the submission of the following items:
- Completed online application form and $20 application fee:
- High school and any college transcripts: These may be official or unofficial, and should be uploaded to the application form where indicated.
- Helpful courses for applicants include: college level or AP high school level anatomy and physiology course, college level or AP high school level biology course.
- ACT composite (or ATI-TEAS) score report: This may be a copy of the full report (preferred) or a screenshot of the ACT portal, which shows the students information and their composite score. This should be uploaded to the application form where indicated.
- At least 24 hours of observation of a PT or PTA: Applicants should download and print this form to take with them to the site of observation. The PT/PTA observed must complete the form and then mail or email it directly to the PTA program (pta@missouriwestern.edu). Information related to observation should also be entered into the application where indicated.
- Up to 3 letters of recommendation: Applicants should enter the name and email of three references on their application form. Once the application form is received, the PTA program will contact these three references by email to have them complete a standardized recommendation form. References can submit a letter of recommendation directly to the program by mail or email in addition to completing the standardized form.
- 2 short essay questions: These two questions may be answered on the application itself, or can be uploaded as a PDF attachment on the application where indicated.
- What led you to consider the health care field, and specifically a career as a Physical Therapist Assistant? Why do you feel this is a good career for you? Include reasons you believe you can be successful in the PTA program, as well as in the field of physical therapy.
- Describe areas in which you feel some self-improvement would be helpful for a successful career. Suggest three to four ways you might improve in this area.
PTA Early Acceptance Pathway (EAP):
Any applicant may apply for the “Early Acceptance Pathway” (or EAP) to the PTA program. By meeting EAP criteria, eligible students may be granted a guaranteed seat in the next PTA cohort. Interested applicants must submit their application form (including all materials listed above) between October 1st and February 1st prior to the semester in which they intend to start the program. Students will be notified of their acceptance status within 30 days of their submission. Accepted students must maintain all EAP criteria through the start of the PTA program in order to retain their seat in the upcoming cohort.
Criteria for Early Acceptance are:
- Completed online application form and $20 application fee:
- ACT composite score of 20 or above, OR ATI-TEAS overall score of 55.5% or above
- GPA of at least 2.7, which must be maintained in order to remain eligible for early acceptance. If an EAP student’s GPA drops below 2.7 prior to the start of the program, their application will be switched to the “Standard Application” pathway, and will be reviewed for consideration with all other standard applications. They are not guaranteed a seat in the cohort.
- Successful completion (grade of C or better) of BIO 101, BIO 250, and ALH 106 (or equivalent transfer credit).
Any questions regarding eligibility for the PTA program EAP, application requirements, or application status may be directed to pta@missouriwestern.edu.
The PTA program is a full-time, daytime program with both morning and afternoon courses held Monday-Thursday. It begins annually in the Fall with integrated coursework consisting of general studies courses, foundational sciences, and technical physical therapy courses.
The program is a total of seventy-two credit hours, taken over four semesters and two Summer sessions. Degree requirements consist of nine credit hours of general education, fifty credit hours of PTA required classes, and thirteen credit hours of clinical education. Clinical education courses are full-time (36-40 hours per week) clinical internships, which take place for four weeks in the Summer between the first and second year, six weeks in the final Spring semester, and six weeks in the final Summer semester.
The program has determined that its curriculum meets the state educational requirements for licensure or certification in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands secondary to its accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).
Students graduating from MWSU are eligible to take the National Physical Therapy Examination and apply for licensure in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. For more information regarding state qualifications and licensure requirements, refer to the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy website at www.fsbpt.org.
The program is designed to prepare graduates to meet the requirements to practice as a Physical Therapist Assistant in a variety of health care settings, including hospitals, rehabilitation centers, long-term care facilities, outpatient clinics, sports medicine clinics, and school-based systems.
The table below displays graduation rate, ultimate pass rate, and employment rate in table form by year.
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2-year average (2022-23) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Graduation Rate | 88.2% | 70.6% | 88% | 82% | 85% |
| First Attempt Licensure Exam Pass Rate | 93.3% | 63.3% | 86.7% | 100% | 93.35% |
| Ultimate Licensure Exam Pass Rate | 93.3% | 90.9% | 93.3% | 100% | 96.65% |
| Employment Rate (one year after graduation) | 100% | 100% | 100% | n/a |
Program Accreditation
The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Missouri Western State University 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 816-271-5996 or email pta@missouriwestern.
Mapping your degree plan is important. Consult with your academic advisor to create a plan and monitor it regularly.
