Students and state OPTA meeting in Tulsa.

Students volunteering at the Endeavor Games in Edmond OK.

Developing safe crutch skills.

PTA students at Nashville in 2004

Use good body mechanics

Ms. Hail enjoying teaching.

The Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Program at Murray State College leads to an Associate in Applied Science Degree (AAS).  Our program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA).  You can click on the names of these organization to learn more about the important process of accreditation.  The PTA program was initially accredited in April of 1997.  Information about the status of the program and performance of graduates is located at the HOW is the PROGRAM DOING? link.

The PTA program is designed to prepare students to be dynamic team members working with the direction and supervision of physical therapists (PT).  Physical Therapists and PTA's work with people of different ages and with many different conditions.  Simply put; "Physical Therapy helps people move better," therefore anyone who has problems moving may be referred for physical therapy services.  This makes physical therapy a dynamic and exciting profession which serves individuals from across the lifespan with a variety of conditions that impact their ability to move.  

Our PTA program is a “one-plus-one” model program, which means that students complete required prerequisite course work prior entering the second year (also called technical year) of the program.  Students apply for the second year and may be accepted into that year following the procedure explained at the APPLICATION INFORMATION link.  This format allows students to focus only on PTA course work during their final year.  This format also allows students who have completed prerequisite course work earlier to complete the technical component of the program in approximately 14 months, rather than spread over 2 years in a integrated format.  The curriculum plan addresses the components of PTA education.  Students are encouraged to attend MSC for the entire program, however we have students apply each year who have taken first year courses at other colleges or universities.  

The mission of Murray State College is to provide educational opportunities and services to maximize student learning and personal growth resulting in an enhanced ability to succeed in life.  In accordance with the mission of the institution, the mission of the PTA program is to prepare graduates that can successfully enter the physical therapy profession; give client centered physical therapy services as effective and valued team members who understand the role of the PT and the PTA in the provision of high quality physical therapy services; and to be life-long learners with behaviors that support the core values of the profession. 

PTA Program Goals

The mission of the PTA program at MSC is to prepare graduates who work within the Plan of Care and under the supervision of the physical therapist and:

1.  Communicate effectively in providing and documenting client care.

2.  Perform physical therapy measurement/assessment skills required of the entry level PTA.

3.  Provide comprehensive physical therapy services to clients from across the life span in a safe and effective way.

4.  Function accountably as a member of the physical therapy profession within the ethical and legal framework of profession of physical therapy, accepting responsibility for high standards of physical therapy care including a commitment to on-going development and life-long learning.

Program students have the same rights, privileges and obligations as other college students and are encouraged to participate in college life.  This program is cost effective and is a great educational value, as compared to similar programs.   

Following completion of the program, graduates are eligible to take the licensure examination.  This is a nationally developed, state approved test.  Upon successful completion of the licensure examination the graduate may enter the profession of physical therapy and give client centered physical therapy service under the direction and supervision of a qualified physical therapist.  At Murray State College, the PTA program is designed to prepare the student to be team members.  Effective physical therapy service involves effective teamwork between the PT, PTA, and the person receiving services and their family.  In school, the faculty and students work together as a team to promote the student reaching their potential. 

Numerous learning opportunities will be provided to the student with learning materials available for study in the Library Learning Resource Center (LRC), the PTA Program LRC, and PTA Skills Laboratory.  The faculty believe that students are not all the same and require diverse learning opportunities to be successful.  The PTA program is very proud of the resources and equipment available here.  "State of the art" equipment is available for use in the lab and classroom by faculty and students.

Students learn and perform skills in clinical environments with patients only after successful demonstration of skills in the laboratory with program faculty.  Clinical experiences are carefully planned around current physical therapy theory to meet the needs of the individual student and are supervised by approved qualified clinical instructors (also called clinical faculty).  These clinical experiences are coordinated by Ms. Hail the Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education (ACCE).