Whatcom, Pierce share resources for in-demand program
Elizabeth Ketchman
Staff Writer
What this entails for students at Pierce is a new career opportunity that students can get started on, right here—and by right here, that means wherever you’re sitting, standing, or walking because it is an online program, with weekend labs once every two weeks. This makes it an easy program for students with prior obligations such as work, children, sleep, or hobbies.
At the dawn of the 1990’s, a strange phenomenon occurred in the medical field—along with Physical Therapists, there came a great demand for Physical Therapist Assistants. It’s a career that’s in great demand today as it pays competitively and it can help you break into the healthcare industry.
At an information session on October 9th, a speaker emphasized the competitiveness involved with the work and pay on the job market.
PTAs are the equivalent of a nurse in the physical therapy field as they work directly under physical therapists to rehabilitate people with arthritis, skeletal degeneration, and injuries caused by sports and the armed service. PTAs deliver most of the treatment while the physical therapist runs the diagnosis. So what do you need to do to qualify?
With completion of the program, students receive a Health and Fitness certificate and the qualification to become a PTA. Many students in the program are often hired out during the course by physical therapists as aids.
To qualify, students need to complete fifty hours of experience working in physical therapy along with six prerequisites: English 101, Business 107, Math 107 or 141(or higher), Psychology 100 or Sociology 101, Bio-tech 150, Biology 241, and any biology, chemistry, or physics lab course. Fortunately, these are common prerequisites that are required for most degree fields.
Students must also register with Whatcom Community College and turn in an application by the November 8th Deadline.
There is no GPA requirement, but since it’s a competitive program with a one-in-four acceptance rate, a higher GPA is definitely desired.
For more information, contact Lisa Murray and fill out your application before the deadline.
