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Associate of Science

Physical Therapist Assistant

EARN A DEGREE

PTA Announcement

The application period for the Spring 2025 PTA program is April 1, 2024 - August 1, 2024.

Want to know more about the Physical Therapist Assistant Program?
All sessions in Founders Hall Room 207

Thursday, Feb. 8 at 11:30 am
Friday, March 8 at 12:00 pm
Tuesday, April 16 at 11:30 am
Wednesday, May 15 at 3 pm
Thursday, May 30 at 9 am

Can't make one of the dates?  Watch this PTA information slide show to learn more!

Program Overview

Do you want to make a difference in patients' lives? Do you enjoy working in teams? Do you like to challenge yourself personally and academically? If yes, then you should strongly consider a career as a physical therapist assistant. You'll find NVCC's PTA curriculum challenging yet exciting. After you graduate, you'll be prepared to enter one of the most promising and rewarding career fields in health care.

Program Quick Facts:

As a PTA student at NVCC, your two-year curriculum starts in January and concludes the following December. Admission to the program is selective and competitive; up to 30 students are admitted per cohort.

  • Ultimate National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE) Pass Rates – Two year average (2021-2022): 97.5%
    2021: 100%, 2022: 94.1%
  • First Time Pass Rate - two-year average (2021-2022) - Two year Average: 91.2%
    2021: 91.7%,  2022: 88.2%.
  • Our students' employment rates: Two year average (2020-2021): 100%,
    2020: 100%, 2021: 100%
  • Graduation Rates*: Two year average (2021-2022): 95%
    2021: 86%, 2022: 100%
    *as reported to CAPTE

Earn a degree

  • Career-oriented students are prepared to work under the direction and supervision of a Physical Therapist in a variety of settings such as acute care hospitals, rehabilitation hospitals, long term care facilities, outpatient rehabilitation settings, school systems, and home care settings.

Mission

The Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Program is committed to high standards as it educates students with the knowledge, clinical skills, professional behaviors, and core values essential to evidence-based and culturally competent contemporary physical therapy care.

Vision

The program emphasis on innovative and data-driven teaching methods, technology, and communication facilitates learning in the classroom and the clinic as the program endeavors to educate students who:

  • Strive for excellence as physical therapist assistants by providing safe and effective interventions.
  • Commit to high ethical standards.
  • Appreciate and value racial, social, economic, and cultural diversity.
  • Utilize critical reflection.
  • Invest in community involvement.
  • Engage in lifelong learning.
  • Provide patient-centered interprofessional collaborative care.

 

Janet M Gangaway

203-596-2168 (p)
Room: F117

PTA Program Resources

The Physical Therapist Assistant program at Naugatuck Valley Community College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), American Physical Therapy Association, 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100,Alexandria, VA 22305-3085; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; website: capteonline.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 203-596-2168 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

With respect to code 668.43 (a)(5)(v), the program has determined that its curriculum meets the state educational requirements for licensure or certification in all states, the District of Colombia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands secondary to its accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, based on the following:  

CAPTE accreditation of a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant program satisfies state educational requirements in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Thus, students graduating from CAPTE-accredited physical therapist and physical therapist assistant education programs 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. 

Information Sessions

All information sessions in Founders Hall Room 207.

Friday, Feb. 10 at 12 pm
Thursday, March 9 at 11:30 am
Monday, April 17 at 12:30 pm
Wednesday, May 17 at 3 pm
Thursday, June 1 at 9 am

Can't make one of the dates?  Watch this PTA information slide show to learn more!

Questions?  Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Director of  the Physical Therapist Assistant Program

PTA Application Process and Admission Requirements

Physical Therapist Assistant Program

Spring 2024 application period: 4/1/24 – 8/1/24

PTA Application Process and Admission Requirements

PTA Application Process

All applications and supporting documents must be submitted by the application deadline. The PTA application period is open June 1, 2023 -Oct 1, 2023.

  1. Complete PTA program application requirements (see below)   Pre-requisite courses · BIO 1210: General Biology I (currently: BIO 121) with a C+ or better within 5 years of application
    · MAT 1200: Statistics I (MAT 167 @NVCC; MAT 201 @NCC) with a C or better within 5 years of application
    · ENG 1010: English Composition (currently: ENG 101) with a C or higher
    · PSY 1011: General Psychology (currently: PSY 111) with a C or higher Placement test · Complete TEAS test with score of 60% or betterObservation hours · Complete 20 observation hours in two physical therapy settings.
  2. Apply to PTA program Return to your CT State application account to apply specifically to the PTA program. Click here: Sign In to Access Your Application Account. Or cut and paste this link into your browser: • https://ctstate.elluciancrmrecruit.com/Apply/Account/Login?ReturnUrl=%2fApply Contact the pre-PTA Guided Pathways Advisor Christin George at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Current students can also call or message through Teams.

    PTA Admission Requirements

    For a printable version, please click here.

All requirements must be completed PRIOR to the application deadline of August 1, 2024

§ Mathematics course MAT 1200 (Statistics I), with grade of C or higher, completed within five (5) years prior to entering PTA Program.

§ BIO* 1210, General Biology, with grade of C+ or higher, completed within five (5) years prior to entering PTA Program.

§ ENG* 1010, English Composition, or equivalent, with grade of C or higher completed.

§ PSY* 1011 General Psychology, with grade of C or higher.

§ 2.5 PTA GPA – Based only on the college courses with grades that meet the PTA admission requirements. (BIO 1210, MAT 1200, ENG 1010, PSY 1011) The PTA GPA is a calculation specific to PTA applicants and may differ from your college GPA.

§ ATI TEAS (nursing or allied health version) with Adjusted Individual Total Score of 60% or higher completed by the application deadline. Test scores will be valid for three (3) years. Go to www.atitesting.com for testing schedules and registration information. A study manual for the test is available at www.atitesting.com. Applicants can take this test multiple times. Note: Official scores must be submitted by the deadline.

§ 20 hours of documented volunteer/observational experience totaling a minimum of 10 hours in each of an out-patient and an in-patient physical therapy setting. Track your hours using the ‘Observation Log Form’ on the nv.edu/pta website. Can you hyperlink the form? Contact Dr. Gangaway for an alternative assignment if unable to complete in-person observation hours.

§ Applicants should understand and agree with the PTA Program Technical Standards which explains expectations of performance of common physical therapy functions. (can you hyperlink to the Technical Standards found on our page?) § Recommended that all applicants attend a PTA Program Information Session. Follow the link for additional information.

Candidates will be ranked according to the following formula:

  • 20% Science GPA (BIO 1210 General Biology grade)
  • 20% Math GPA (MAT 1200 Statistics grade)
  • 40% Pre-requisite GPA (BIO 1210, MAT 1200, ENG 1010, PSY 1011 grades)
  • 20% TEAS score

This is a competitive admissions program. Not all who apply will be offered admission. Typically, more students apply than the program has available seats. The students with the top scores will be offered enrollment into 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 be placed on a waiting list in ranked order. If accepted candidates decide not to enroll in the program, then candidates on the waiting list are notified of the opening starting with the highest ranked candidate.

Want to Make a Difference in the Lives of Patients?

The Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Program at Naugatuck Valley Community College is a two-year associate degree program, approved by the Board of Regents for Higher Education, designed to develop the competencies and knowledge required for entering the field of Physical Therapy. The PTA program will prepare individuals to work under the direction and supervision of the Physical Therapist in a variety of settings such as acute care hospitals, rehabilitation hospitals, long term care facilities, outpatient rehabilitation settings, school systems, and home care settings. The PTA program is designed to prepare students for the PTA licensure exam in students’ respective state of practice.

Feature Article:

First Choice for a Second Career

"Many PTAs began their work lives in other occupations but have found a home in physical therapy. The reasons are many..."
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Where does this take me?

Academic & Transfer

Transfer options are limited without additional coursework in the sciences. Talk with your advisor.

Career Paths

The PTA program will prepare individuals to work under the direction and supervision of the Physical Therapist in a variety of settings such as acute care hospitals, rehabilitation hospitals, long term care facilities, outpatient rehabilitation settings, school systems, and home care settings.

  • Licensure as a PTA

Success Stories

In 2018, the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) informed Chelsea Clow, a recent graduate of the NVCC Physical Therapy Assistant Program, that she had won the Mary McMillan Scholarship Award, a national scholarship awarded to two Physical Therapist Assistant students.

"I was able to experience so much as an NVCC student by participating in many activities and clubs on campus. I have grown as a person and a young professional here. Also, I would tell students to pursue their dreams and to never give up. I applied for the PTA Program at NVCC and did not get accepted. However, a couple years later I graduated from that program and received the Marie Smith Memorial Award at our pinning ceremony!"

Chelsea Clow