Physical Therapist Assistant Current Students

When you become a physical therapist assistant, you will help work with physical therapists to help people with physical disabilities. This is a rewarding career that requires important training, and Kirkwood helps prepare you well for this future.

Compliance information, details on registration and orientation, and more is available here for current students in the Physical Therapist Assistant program at Kirkwood.

Course registration information for Physical Therapist Assistant students is located below. Please read the following information that will be helpful when registering for your next semester classes:

  • Priority registration information has been sent to you via email for the upcoming semester.
  • Please choose one group and register for all courses listed, unless you are advised by program faculty to do otherwise.
  • Register for classes through MyHub.
  • Remember to run your degree audit (through MyHub) to ensure you are on track for graduation.

If you have prior Modalities or Physical Agents course, please submit course syllabus to the PTA program director for possible waiver credit. If course is waived, you will need to enroll in 1 credit lab course to demonstrate skills.

Questions? Call 319-398-5566 or visit Allied Health in 2164 Linn Hall for assistance.

All students entering the Physical Therapist Assistant Program in Fall 2022, are REQUIRED to attend a technical orientation session from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 16th, 2022 at the Linn Regional Center. The orientation will be begin in Room 100 at 10:00 a.m. and then move to Room 900 for a compliance orientation in conjunction with the OTA students.  Please enter from the North side of the building (Main Entrance), make a right turn. Signage will be available to direct you to room 100.  

 

Some of the topics to be covered during our technical orientation include:

  • Introduction of faculty.
  • Kirkwood and PTA Program Student Handbook: Policies and Procedures.
  • First semester courses and what to bring the first week of class.
  • Tour of Linn Regional Center including PTA classrooms.
  • Clinical Compliance: Students in health programs are required to register with an online tracking system called Castlebranch.  All compliance items such as CPR/First Aide, OSHA, HIPPA training, health physical, immunizations and a criminal background check will be uploaded into this system. This will involve a cost of $84.00. You will be provided with information on setting up your account and the associated deadlines.
  • Meet and greet with our adjunct faculty team.
  • Faculty question and answer panel.

 

There are compliance items that you will need to take care of prior to orientation. These items include:

  • Health Physical and Immunization requirement. The required form is attached for you. We will discuss the remaining clinical compliance requirements in detail at our orientation meeting.
  • Copy of your driver’s license and automobile insurance card.

 

We look forward to meeting with you as we prepare for your PTA program experience!  If you have any questions prior to the orientation, please contact 319-398-5566.

 

Feryl York, PTA                                  Catherine Finch, PT

Faculty and Program Director            Faculty and Clinical Education Coordinator

Feryl.york@kirkwood.edu                  Catherine.Finch@kirkwood.edu

Do you have more questions about the Physical Therapist Assistant program, or want to dive deeper into program details? Read the student handbook, which you can access the student handbook by logging in to Talon.

Program Outcomes

When selecting a program for your future career as a physical therapist assistant, you'll want to choose one that prepares you well and sets you up for success. At Kirkwood, the proof is in the numbers.

In 2018, all graduates of the program passed the licensure exam—and the majority of students passed the exam on the first try. The few who didn't, passed on subsequent tries. 

In fact, all graduates of the Physical Therapist program passed the licensure exam in 2016 and 2017 as well. If you study to be a physical therapist assistant at Kirkwood, you will excel.

More Program Data

Year of Admit # Who Met Admissions Requirements # Admitted # Who completed program within 3 years of start date
2012 24 24 18
2013 24 24 15
2014 40 25 19
2015 27 24 17

Please note date ranges are from 08/01 through 07/31 for all reports

Year of Graduation Total # of graduates seeking employment # employed # Seeking additional education Percent employed
2015 13 13 0 100%
2016 14 12 0 86%
2017 16 14 0 94%
2018 20 18 0 90%
Year of Graduation Total # of graduates # who passed exam on first try # who passed on subsequent attempts Ultimate pass rate
2015 15 12 1 87%
2016 16 14 2 100%
2017 17 16 1 100%
2018 21 17 4 100%


Questions? 

Contact Allied Health 
319-398-5566 

2164 Linn Hall