Physical Therapist Assistant Program
Clinical Education

Clinical education begins during the second semester of the PTA program and is a vital component of the curriculum. It provides the student with an opportunity to apply didactic knowledge, develop professional behaviors, and practice hands-on skills under the preceptorship of experienced clinicians. This element is made possible by a collaborative relationship between the college and off-site Clinical Instructors (CI’s) providing physical therapy services in a variety of treatment settings. This partnership ensures high-quality, efficient, and effective student learning experiences. Total clinical education for the PTA program consists of approximately 620 contact hours, including 14 full-time weeks.

The Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education (ACCE) manages all clinical education activity for the PTA program. Clinical site selection will provide a variety of clinical experiences to assist students in their skill development. All assignments are made by the ACCE, giving primary consideration to the student’s educational needs. Issues such as patient acuity, continuum of care, complexity of patient diagnosis, PT/PTA team, site availability, and the request of the student are taken into consideration when making clinical site selections.

Students are responsible for their own transportation to and from all clinical sites. Students will be expected to travel as far as neighboring counties during initial clinical experiences. Final clinical experiences are extended placements and may require students to be away from home for several weeks at a time. Many of these sites are outside of the Louisville/Metro area, and students will be required to seek temporary housing. There may be some financial assistance available for students assigned to rural areas, however students are required to be prepared for this expense should it be necessary.

If you have a clinical education question or would like to contact the ACCE, Deborahm.hatfield@kctcs.edu