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2021Physical Therapist Assistant ProgramApplication InstructionsGeneral InformationPlease review the PTA program information packet before filling out the application:https://norwalk.edu/pta/infoPrior to applying to the PTA program, you must: Fill out a Norwalk Community College (NCC) College ; Complete all college admission requirements (https://norwalk.edu/admissions/); Submit official transcripts from all previously attended U.S. and international colleges (if applicable)to Records and Registration at NCC. You will also be submitting transcripts directly to the program(see further instructions below); Complete the transcript evaluation process with Counseling Center (203‐857‐7033) if you think anyof your previous college courses will count toward the PTA admissions requirements. You must fillout and submit a Transcript Evaluation Form to the Academic Counseling nto‐ncc/) and submit official transcripts to the RecordsOffice of Norwalk Community College by June 1st. You are strongly advised to complete this processas early as possible so that you are sure that you have the pre‐requisites required to apply to theprogram. You will know the process has been completed when the transferred courses appear inyour online NCC transcript. Check your online transcript at My.CommNet.edu. Complete the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) exam. There are no exemptions from thisentrance exam based on prior education. Information about taking the test, and testregistration, is found at www.atitesting.com. The cut off score for admission to the PTA programis 50%. For this PTA program, the TEAS test expires after 3 years. Students may take the nursingor allied health version of the test, as the content of both is the same. Students may take in thein‐person or online version of the TEAS test. Students may take the TEAS test at any school, inany state; just remember to have your TEAS test scores sent to NCC by the application deadline.If the student takes the test at a location other than NCC, there is a fee to send the score toNCC. For information about future TEAS testing dates at NCC contact Thalia Moshoyannis (203‐857‐7077 or tmoshoyannis@norwalk.edu).If any of the above steps have not been completed, you may not be eligible to apply to the PTA program.The application deadline for all required materials is June 1, 2021. All materials must be received by theprogram on or before that date. If you are mailing your application, it must be postmarked no later thanMay 28, 2021.Required application materials must be submitted together in one envelope (unless otherwise notedbelow): PTA program application, filled out completely, with signed signature sheet. Three completed reference letter forms in sealed envelopes with the reference’s signatureacross the seal. Do not have these letters sent directly to the PTA program. Have them sent toyou and include them with your application. *You must use the Reference Letter Forms youreceived in 2021. If you have an older version of the PTA program application, you must obtaina new one with new Reference Letter Forms.Page 1 of 10
Letter on company letterhead documenting evidence of hours spent observing, volunteering orworking in a physical therapy setting. Please do not submit observation logs or other similardocumentation, as it is often unclear in which facility the observation occurred, and who isverifying the observation. You do not need to submit a letter for the community service hours. Official transcripts from all previously attended colleges and universities (other than NCC). Onlyofficial transcripts will be accepted. Official transcripts are paper copies of the transcript in theoriginal, sealed envelope directly from the school, or electronic copies of the transcript sentdirectly from the college or university (i.e., Parchment services). If the transcripts you submit arenot official, they will not be accepted. There are no exceptions to this requirement. Unofficialtranscripts are not accepted. You are submitting two sets of official transcripts: one to thecollege and one to the PTA program. It is not sufficient to provide your transcripts to anotherdepartment at NCC (i.e., Admissions or Records). We are unable to access transcripts that youmay have provided to other departments at NCC. It cannot be stated strongly enough thatofficial transcripts from all previously attended colleges and universities must be received aspart of your application to the PTA program and that there are no exceptions to thisrequirement. Failure to complete this requirement will remove you from consideration forprogram admission.o You do not need to submit transcripts from NCC. The PTA staff and faculty can accessyour NCC transcripts online via the MyCommNet system.o If you are a graduate of a non‐U.S. post‐secondary institution, you must submit anofficial World Education Services (WES) verified transcripts with the WES evaluationreport (WES ICAP). For more information, please contact WES directly (www.wes.org).o Please note that if your school has a policy that prohibits the release of an officialtranscript directly to a student, and you are not able to put the transcript in theenvelope with your PTA application, it is still your responsibility to ensure that thetranscript(s) arrive(s) in the PTA Program offices. The recommended course of action is to make sure that your transcript requestspecifically includes the PTA Program in the address for a paper transcript(“Attention: Jennifer Bresnick, PTA Program”), or specifically is directed tojbresnick@norwalk.edu. If this is not specified, your transcript will be funneledto NCC’s Records Office instead of the PTA program offices. Once you havemade the transcript request from your former school it is highly recommendedthat you email or call the PTA program administrators to ensure that yourtranscript(s) have reached us by the application deadline.o If your previous school does not have a policy prohibiting the release of transcripts tostudents, the recommended course of action is to submit your transcript(s) with yourPTA program application.o Electronic versions of transcripts have been routed to the spam folders of the PTAstaff/faculty. If you are sending an electronic transcript, please be sure to send thetranscript specifically to Dr. Jennifer Bresnick (jbresnick@norwalk.edu), and notify Dr.Bresnick that your transcripts have been sent.o In any case where you did not physically include your official transcripts in the envelopewith your application, it is your responsibility to ensure that the transcripts have made itto us. We will not contact you about missing transcripts. It is your responsibility tofollow up and ensure that your transcripts are in our possession. Do not simply alert usthat the transcripts have been sent. Be sure to determine that they have arrived. High school transcript if applicant has less than 15 college credits (100 level or higher)Page 2 of 10
If your application is missing any of the above components, you may not be eligible to apply to the PTAprogram.Submission of Application MaterialsAll materials should be submitted to the following address:Norwalk Community College188 Richards AvenueNorwalk, CT 06854Attention: PTA Program/Jennifer Bresnick/Room: W003You may also hand‐deliver your application to the PTA offices (W003) on or before June 1, 2021 duringnormal business hours.You may submit all materials electronically. Please email all materials in one email tojbresnick@norwalk.edu. If official transcripts are sent electronically from your school they may be sent separately fromthe application materials. We recommend that you “print to pdf” your completed application, printing only those pagesthat are part of the application, and omitting the application instructions.If you wish to have a confirmation that your application has been received, email Dr. Bresnick with thatrequest (jbresnick@norwalk.edu).It is strongly recommended that you make copies of your application materials before submitting them.Please note that while we are willing to answer any specific questions about the application process, wedo not, under any circumstances, review applications for completeness when students hand them in.We also do not contact students to notify them of missing components, such as transcripts and TEASscores. Students are responsible for ensuring that all required documents are included in theapplication.This is an application for the Fall 2021 semester. This application cannot be used to apply in subsequentyears. If you decide not to apply this year, you must obtain a new application in the year you decide toapply. This includes the recommendation letter forms.If a student is not accepted to the program (either initially or from the wait list) in a given year, he or shemay reapply the following year. A student’s previous application will have no bearing on futureapplications. All students begin each year with zero admissions points.Page 3 of 10
Important DatesAdmissions decisions are made on the following annual cycle (if any of the dates fall on aweekend/holiday, the following business day is used):Program application availableFebruary 1Program application dueJune 1Students notified of admissions decisionsJuly 15Student acceptance requiredJuly 31Wait list candidates informedAugust 1Wait list candidate acceptance requiredAugust 7Orientation (mandatory)3rd Tuesday of AugustEnrollment beginsFall semesterAdmissions Point SystemAll PTA program applicants are ranked according to the admissions point system. The point system is Applicant filled out application completely and 25 points ifcorrectly, and applicant submitted all requiredrequirement metapplication documents on time. 0 points if requirementnot metEndorsement fromthe CommunityThree letter of recommendation formsAcademic AbilityTEAS exam (50% minimum score)Overall GPA (minimum: 2.5)BIO 211 (Anatomy & Physiology I grade)CommunityServiceInsight intoProfessionPage 4 of 10Community service activitiesChoose 1 option below:1. Volunteer or paid experience in physicaltherapy environment 0 points if less than 40 hoursdocumented 80 points for minimum of 40 hoursdocumented2. Physical Therapy Aide certificate courseat Norwalk Community College 0 points if not successfully completedby June 1, 2021 80 points if successfully completed byJune 1, 20213. Profession research and essayAverage score from 3reference letter forms(maximum of 28 points)% score on exammultiplied by 1.5(Maximum score is 150)GPA (2.8, e.g.) multipliedby 25 (Maximum of 100)GPA (2.5, e.g.) multipliedby 25 (Maximum of 100)Maximum of 40 pointsMaximum of 80 points
See rubric below for points awardedTotal PointsTotal : 523This is a competitive admissions program. Not all who apply will be offered admission. Typically, morestudents apply than the program has spots. The students with the top scores will be offered enrollmentinto the PTA program. In the event of a tie, the PTA program advisory board will be given the candidates’information excluding their names and hold a vote to break the tie. The remaining candidates will beplaced on a waiting list in ranked order. If accepted candidates decide not to enroll in the program, thencandidates on the waiting list are notified of the opening starting with the highest ranked candidate.Explanation of Points CategoriesLetter of Recommendation Forms The student does not need to submit letters of recommendation. Only the reference forms arenecessary. Students submitting additional letters of recommendation in addition to the formswill receive no additional points. Download the Reference Form from this link: https://norwalk.edu/pta/form. Save a copy to yourcomputer. Fill out the top portion of the form. Send the form to your reference. You can print itand provide it to your reference to fill out; or you can email the pdf for your reference to fill outelectronically. Recommendations or endorsements (beyond the Recommendation Letter Forms included withthe application) carry no weight in the application process. It is strongly advised that applicantsrefrain from requesting that individuals (whether they are former students of the program,current colleagues in the physical therapy profession, etc.) contact the program administratorsto endorse the candidate (i.e., “put in a good word”). Admissions decisions are based strictly onthe point system outlined in this document. Possible sources for Reference Letter Forms may include past or present professors, supervisorsor managers and/or a representative from a community service experience. At least one reference must be from a credible source in the physical therapy profession. One ofthe reference letter forms included in your application packet is labeled as the “Physical TherapyReference Letter” form*. The other two references must come from a professional or scholasticsource, such as an employer or faculty member. References from family members or friends arenot acceptable, and will add no points to the applicant’s score. Your own personal PT or PTA (or that of a family member) may not serve as a reference, as thisperson has the ability to evaluate you as a patient or caregiver, but not in the capacity of apotential fellow physical therapy professional. Additionally, a PT or PTA providing a reference fora patient (or patient’s caregiver) can present an ethical dilemma, for example, forcing thePT/PTA to choose between providing accurate information on the form, and maintaining goodrapport with a patient. The applicant is responsible for ensuring that letters of reference arrive by the applicationdeadline. It is suggested that you provide the person providing the reference with a self‐addressed stamped envelope for him or her to return the reference form to you. All threeReference Forms must be submitted with your application. Each of the seven areas the individual providing the reference will comment on are assignedpoints as per the table below. The seven areas are:o intellectual abilityo communication/listening skillso critical thinking skillso initiative/motivationo moral/ethical behaviorPage 5 of 10
o professionalismo compassion/caringKeep in mind that you receive 0 points if the individual providing the reference has “no basis”for judging you in a particular category. It is therefore highly recommended that you askindividuals for references only if they feel comfortable commenting on all of the areas listed onthe form.RatingPointsNo basis0Below average1Average2Above average3Superior4*Please note: For the 2021 application cycle only, applicants may submit three Professional ReferenceForms, rather than two Professional Reference Forms and one Physical Therapy Reference Form. ThePhysical Therapy Reference Form may be difficult to complete during the pandemic as physical therapyfacilities are limiting access to observers and volunteers.Insight into the ProfessionChoose one of the three options below:1. Observation/volunteer/work hours (traditional admissions requirement)2. Successful completion of Physical Therapy Aide Certificate course at Norwalk CommunityCollege (alternative admissions requirement due to COVID‐19)3. Profession research and essay (alternative admissions requirement due to COVID‐19)You may earn up to 80 points in this category. Completing more than one option does not add anyadditional points to the applicant’s score.Option 1: Observation/Volunteer/Work HoursComplete a minimum of forty (40) hours of documented volunteer/observation or paid experience in aphysical therapy setting. The purpose of this requirement is to provide the student with insight from theperspective of the physical therapist or physical therapist assistant. You must directly observe, or workwith, a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant. Hours spent in observation, internships orworking in a different environment, such as athletic training, chiropractic or exercise science, will not beconsidered as this does not provide insight into the profession of physical therapy.You many not include hours in which you attended physical therapy yourself, or went with anotherindividual receiving physical therapy, as this provides insight from the perspective of the patient and notthe therapist. Patients/caregivers do not have access to the full experience of being a PT or PTA,including, but not limited to, billing, documentation, professional collaboration with other healthcareproviders, managing a patient caseload, and a variety of patients, diagnoses and treatments.Applicants are encouraged to exceed forty (40) hours, and spend time in more than one type of facilityto further their understanding of a career in physical therapy and receive the maximum number ofpoints on the application. Applicants should keep track of these hours and will be required to submitwritten documentation at the time of application, in the form of a letter(s) on letterhead from thefacility/facilities where the hours where completed.Page 6 of 10
The program does not provide a list of, or find facilities for, applicants to complete their observationhours. Students should identify a facility that offers physical therapy services, and make an inquiry to thefacility.Option 2: Physical Therapy Aide Certificate Course at Norwalk Community CollegeWe recognize that due to the COVID‐19 pandemic, it may be impossible for students to completeobservation hours. If you find yourself in this situation, one option to complete this applicationrequirement is to successfully complete the Physical Therapy Aide Certificate Course at NorwalkCommunity College.For more information about this course, please contact the Continuing Education department at NCC(https://norwalk.edu/extended‐studies/). The PTA degree program does not register students for thisprogram. If you contact PTA degree program staff or faculty for information about the PT Aide certificateprogram, you will be referred to the Continuing Education department. The Continuing Educationdepartment can answer your questions about this certificate, including, but not limited to, how toregister, how much it costs, and when the course is offered. The staff and faculty of the PTA degreeprogram do not have this information.Option 3: Profession Research and EssayWe recognize that due to the COVID‐19 pandemic, it may be impossible for students to completeobservation hours. If you find yourself in this situation, please complete the profession research andessay.Introduction:A career in physical therapy can be very rewarding, but like many healthcare careers, also comes withchallenges. It is important that you understand both what it means to be a physical therapist assistant(PTA) and the role they play in patient care before you apply to the PTA program.The resources listed below will provide a brief overview of the profession, various treatment settingsand different viewpoints from practicing PTAs. The NCC PTA Program does not endorse any of theYouTube channels linked below and you are not required to subscribe or add a response to the sites.The videos are meant to provide you with information and different perspectives.Instructions:Before you watch the videos, take a few minutes to write down your current knowledge of theprofession and what you think it means to be a PTA (question #1 below). Watch the videos and takenotes on anything that stands out to you. After you finish watching all the videos, answer the questionslisted below. Your responses will be evaluated and assigned points (up to 5) that will be used in theselective admissions scoring process. There will be instructions through the online application process toupload your responses.Becoming a PTAMeet Amanda St. Clair, Physical Therapist Assistant,Daniel Drake CenterPhysical Therapist Assistant—Clif
registration, is found at www.atitesting.com. The cut off score for admission to the PTA program is 50%. For this PTA program, the TEAS test expires after 3 years. Students may take the nursing or allied health version of the test, as
