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Medical Education

The UA Cossatot Medical Education department offers degrees and certificates for an exciting career in these areas:

Certificates of Proficiency

Emergency Medical Technician

Degree: Certificate of Proficiency

CAREER OPTIONS: This course prepares students to site for both the Arkansas and National Registry EMT examinations. EMT-B's are the entry level for pre-hospital care. This covers all the skills necessary for the EMT-B to provide emergency medical care at ta basic life support level with an ambulance service or other specialized services. EMT certification must be renewed every two years by taking an EMT Refresher class.

PROGRAM INFORMATION: The Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) program consists of a 150 hour course. Students must meet all admission requirements for the college, show proficiency in college reading based on placement scores or complete development courses, pass a criminal background check, and receive all required immunizations prior to enrollment into the EMT program. Students may enroll in College Reading and the EMT course during the same semester.

To meet the requirements of the Arkansas Department of Health, The EMT program follows a special calendar and class days are different from those followed by students in other programs. Regular class days are 2-3 evenings per week with clinicals at various times and locations. Students are required to be proficient in both cognitive and practical skills to pass this program. Students must maintain an average of 76% in all EMS coursework. Those who fail to maintain a 76% will be required to repeat the course with a 76% or better to be eligible for graduation.

GRADING SCALE FOR EMT PROGRAM: 90-100 = A; 80-89 = B; 76-79 = C; 70-75 = D (failing); 69 or below = F

TRANSFER OPTIONS:

Arkansas Tech University (ATU) to complete a Bachelor of Science in Professional Studies.
If planning to transfer to an institution other than the ones listed above, students may visit https://acts.adhe.edu/studenttransfer.aspx to inquire about transferability of courses to an Arkansas college or university.

Medical Transcription

Degree: Certificate of Proficiency

Degree Plan

CAREER OPTIONS: Graduates of the Medical Assisting program may work in a medical office, hospital or lab or out of their own homes as a private contractor. This certificate gives graduates the knowledge, skills, and practice to begin a successful career as a medical transcriptionist.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, about 62% of medical assistants work in offices of physicians and various medical facilities. Employment is projected to grow much faster than average, ranking medical assistants among the fastest growing occupations over the 2006-2016 decade. Medical assistants typically perform a variety of job functions that otherwise might have been filled by a number of different employees. Medical assistants can function as both hands-on medical support as well as office administration.

PROGRAM INFORMATION: There is a special application for this program. Students will be entered into a full-time cohort group to ensure completion of the program. The Medical Transcription program teaches students how to transcribe patient histories and physicals, physicians' notes and other medical documents.

Students in the Medical Assisting program must maintain an average of 76% in all MED coursework. Those who fail to maintain a 76% average will be required to repeat the course with a 76% or better to be eligible for graduation.

GRADING SCALE FOR MEDICAL ASSISTING PROGRAM: 90-100 = A; 80-89 = B; 76-79 = C; 70-75 = D (failing); 69 or below = F

TRANSFER OPTIONS:

Arkansas Tech University (ATU) to complete a Bachelor of Professional Studies.
If planning to transfer to an institution other than the ones listed above, students may visit https://acts.adhe.edu/studenttransfer.aspx to inquire about transferability of courses to any Arkansas college or University.

Technical Certificates

Health Professions

Degree: Technical Certificate - Pre-Health Professions

Degree Plan

CAREER OPTIONS: The Technical Certificate in Health Professions offers basic medical knowledge for employment in the medical field.

PROGRAM INFORMATION: The Health Professions Technical Certificate is designed to provide students a basic medical education foundation and offers pathways to various medical education degrees. Some courses may not be transferable to all colleges in Arkansas. Please contact the Division of Medical Education to discuss your specific plan and where you are considering transferring.

TRANSFER OPTIONS:

Arkansas Tech University (ATU) to complete a Bachelor of Professional Studies.
If planning to transfer to an institution other than the ones listed above, students may visit https://acts.adhe.edu/studenttransfer.aspx to inquire about transferability of courses to any Arkansas college or University.

Gainful Employment Information

Medical Assisting

Degree: Technical Certificate

Degree Plan

GRADING SCALE FOR MEDICAL ASSISTING PROGRAM: 90-100 = A; 80-89 = B; 76-79 = C; 70-75 = D (failing); 69 or below = F

TRANSFER OPTIONS:

Arkansas Tech University (ATU) to complete a Bachelor of Professional Studies.
If planning to transfer to an institution other than the ones listed above, students may visit https://acts.adhe.edu/studenttransfer.aspx to inquire about transferability of courses to any Arkansas college or University.

Practical Nursing (LPN)

Degree: Technical Certificate

Degree Plan

Note: There is a special application and deadline for this program.

Application deadline is March 1st of each year for the day program and August 31st for the evening program.

The Practical Nursing Program offers two educational formats for students, an 11-month day program that begins in August and ends in June and an 18-month evening program that begins in January and ends in June of the following year. Students successfully completing the Practical Nursing Program Course are awarded a Technical Certificate. The course of study meets the requirements of the Arkansas State Board of Nursing, and after graduation, students are eligible to apply for the State licensing examination to become an LPN. If a student has been convicted of a crime, they may not be eligible to take the State licensing examination. The Division Chair of Medical Education at UA Cossatot answers all questions concerning eligibility for the Practical Nursing program at 800-844-4471 ext 1147. Due to the strenuous nature of nursing and practice-orientation of UA Cossatot, the college reserves the right to determine the eligibility of any student to enroll or continue in the nursing program. This determination is based on, but not limited to, the characteristics required of a clinical nurse. Eligibility determination is made by the faculty’s evaluation of a student’s ability to perform the clinical tasks necessary to complete the clinical and course objectives. These abilities are reevaluated after each course.

To meet the requirements of the Arkansas State Board of Nursing, the Practical Nursing Programs will follow a special calendar, and class days will be different from those followed by students in other programs. Regular class days will be 5-6 hours each; clinical days will be 8-12 hours each.

Practical Nursing Entrance Requirements

Applicants must be high school graduates or have equivalency certification (GED) and take the TEAS. Students are selected based on admission exam scores and prerequisite grades of "C" or better. Selected students must pass a criminal background check and random drug screen(s) throughout the year. Students must receive all required immunizations prior to entering the program. The College requires that all nursing students attain at least basic levels of performance in mathematics, reading, and English skills.

Deadline

Enrollment is limited. The application submission deadline is for the day program is March 1st of each year. The application deadline for the evening program is August 31st of each year. Students not selected must submit a new application each year.

Re-Admission Candidates

Re-admission into the program will be considered on a space available basis. A student who fails or leaves the program may be permitted one opportunity to re-enroll (regardless of which semester).

Students may NOT be candidates for re-admission if they committed any of the following violations while previously enrolled in the Practical Nursing Program:

Uncooperative attitude/behavior that was previously addressed with verbal and written warnings
Insubordination
Cheating
Falsification of records
Positive identification of drug activities including prescription medications (taking, selling, buying, distributing, etc.)
Violation of nursing ethics (breach of confidentiality, client abuse, etc.)
Endangering the health, safety, or life of a client or peer

Transfers

Due to differences in nursing curriculum in other nursing programs, Cossatot will not accept transfer credit or advanced placement for previously taken medical or practical nursing courses. Students who were enrolled in another program will follow the same requirements and admission procedures as students who have never attended another nursing program.

Practical Nursing Graduation Policy

Students must have successfully completed all courses with a grade of “C” or better. Upon completion, the student’s status will be submitted to the state board of nursing declaring that the student wishes to sit for the licensing examination. The student MUST achieve a score at or above the current national passing average on the final comprehensive assessment exam to complete the requirements for the final semester. The student will be allowed to take the final comprehensive exam a total of three times. Should the student not achieve the required score after three attempts, the student will not have completed the requirements for the course, and will not graduate or be allowed to sit for the NCLEX-PN. The student will be given an incomplete grade “I” for the final semester until the student can provide documentation of enrollment and completion of the ATI virtual NCLEX review with a coach. Once the student has followed all recommendations of the coach and the coach releases the student for testing, the student’s final grade will be posted and transcripts will be released to the ASBN for approval and authorization to test. If the student fails to do so, the student will need to reapply to the program and follow re-admission guidelines.

Practical Nursing Curriculum (Inclusive of Pre-Requisites)

Students must complete College Reading, Developmental Writing, and Essential Math courses with a “C” or higher or show scores on COMPASS or ACT indicating proficiency in these areas. Pre-requisites must be in progress or completed at the time of application deadline.

Pre-Requisite Requirements:
SPD 1003 Success Strategies (first semester)
MAS 1803 Basic Human Anatomy & Physiology (non-transferable) OR
BIOL 2064 Anatomy & Physiology I AND
BIOL 2074 Anatomy & Physiology II
MED 1223 Medical Math
MAS 1453 Medical Terminology

Forms

You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the documents listed below. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer, you can download it here.

LPN Online Application
Act 312 Signature Form (PDF)
LPN Application Opening Letter (PDF)
Medical Education Mental and Physical Abilities Statement (PDF)
Medical Education Criminal Background Policy (PDF)
Medical Education Substance Abuse Policy (PDF)
LPN Medical Document and Immunization Guide/Checklist (PDF)
LPN 11-Month Day Program Estimated Expenses (PDF)
LPN 11-Month Day Program Additional Expenses (PDF)
LPN 11-Month Day Program Gainful Employment Information
LPN 18-Month Evening Program Estimated Expenses (PDF)
LPN 18-Month Evening Program Additional Expenses (PDF)
LPN 18-Month Evening Program Gainful Employment Information

Arkansas State Board Of Nursing--ACA 17-87-312 (PDF)

Entrance Exam Study Guide

TEAS VI Study Package

Scholarship & Job Information

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CampusRN has $15,000 in Scholarships Available to Nursing & Allied Health Students.

Associate of Applied Science

Registered Nursing

Degree: Associate of Applied Science

Degree Plan

Note: There is a special application and deadline for this program.

Application deadline is August 31st of each year.

****For application year 2019---Last date for RN NACE exam is 9/6/19****

This program is a 12-month program that combines classroom instruction with clinical experiences. Eight community colleges with LPN programs have joined together to form the Arkansas Rural Nursing Education Consortium (ARNEC). ARNEC offers a new and innovative approach via a nontraditional delivery format of nursing theory by interactive video. The following institutions are members of the ARNEC program:

Arkansas State University (ASU) – Newport
Black River Technical College (BRTC) – Pocahontas
UA Cossatot (UA Cossatot) – Nashville/DeQueen
Ozarka College (OC) – Melbourne
Rich Mountain Community College (RMCC) - Mena
South Arkansas Community College (SACC) – El Dorado
University of Arkansas Community College at Hope (UACCH)
University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton (UACCM)

Each program will serve from sixteen to forty-eight students at each of the eight colleges. Theory (nursing lectures) will be scheduled on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 3:30 – 8:30 PM and most clinical time will take place on weekends. This program was designed to meet the needs of working LPNs/LVNs. This program meets the requirements of the Arkansas State Board of Nursing. Graduates of the program receive an Associate of Applied Science degree which prepares them to take the NCLEX-RN (the Registered Nurse licensing examination). Due to the strenuous nature of the nursing curriculum, the admitting institution reserves the right to determine the eligibility of any student to enroll or continue in the nursing program. Eligibility is determined by the faculty’s evaluation of the student’s ability to perform the tasks and responsibilities of a Registered Nurse and to complete the clinical and course objectives. These abilities are re-evaluated during and after each course.

For more information, or to apply online, please visit the ARNEC website at www.arnec.org.

Note: The "Apply" button below links to UA Cossatot’s online admission application. You will also need to complete the ARNEC online application located on the ARNEC website.

Registered Nursing Entrance Requirements

Applicants must:

Complete an ARNEC online application located on the UA Cossatot website as well as additional packet information located on the ARNEC website at http://www.arnec.org.
Graduate from a State Board approved practical nursing program or be deemed qualified by a State Board to sit for the NCLEX-PN exam and show successful completion of the NCLEX-PN exam.
Possess a valid, unencumbered LPN /LVN license.
Complete the required general education courses from an accredited college or university with a grade of “C” or better. Applicants may lack one of the required general education courses by August 31st. All required general education courses must be completed by the time nursing courses begin the following January.
Have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale) or above in the required general education courses.
Submit an official high school transcript (or GED completion transcript) and official transcripts from all colleges attended by the date noted on the application packet.
All classes are taught in the English language. Students must be able to read, speak, write, and comprehend the English language proficiently. All international students and students who speak English as a second language must pass a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
Take the pre-entrance exam.
Undergo a drug screen (per admitting institution protocol).

Students will be ranked and selected based on required general education course GPA and pre-entrance exam scores. Students must comply with the admission requirements set forth by the admitting institution in addition to the ARNEC requirements.

Acceptance

Applicants who are selected for admission must notify the ARNEC institution that they will be attending to verify and accept placement. Upon acceptance into the program, the student must provide the following:

Current American Heart Association: Healthcare Provider CPR course (AHA/BLS-HCP).
Current PPD Skin Test or Chest X-Ray.
Varicella titer showing immunity or series of injections.
Current flu vaccination.
Verification that the Hepatitis B series has been completed or started, or that a Waiver Claim Form is signed.
Students may lack one prerequisite course at the time of the August 31st deadline. This course must be completed by the end of the fall semester.
All required general education courses must be completed by the time nursing courses begin the following January.
Selected applicants must complete and pass a criminal background check. An instruction sheet will be provided to the applicant with the estimated cost.

Students selected for admission will receive a letter of acceptance into the program by mid-October, and will need to provide the admitting institution a written letter stating that they are accepting the invitation and will enroll in the program. This letter can be emailed to the program chair, faxed, or brought to the Division of Medical Education in person. If the student chooses to email or fax their letter of acceptance, they should follow up by calling the Medical Education Division to make sure it was received. In the event that the student does not plan to enroll, the student needs to notify the institution so that an alternate student may have the slot. Each institution will have an alternate list of students in the case of a selected student declining his/her acceptance letter.

Note: All students admitted to the Arkansas Rural Nursing Education Consortium LPN/LVN to RN program must read the Arkansas Nurse Practice Act, ACA §17-87-312, (provided in course syllabi each semester) and submit a signed statement indicating that they understand that graduating from a nursing program in Arkansas does not assure the Arkansas State Board of Nursing's approval to take the licensure examination.

Academic Progression

In order to progress in the nursing curriculum, the student must meet the following criteria: The student must maintain a 2.0 “C” (on a 4.0 scale) in all general education and nursing classes, including nursing practicum, to progress to the next semester. Nursing courses require students to achieve at least a 78% (lowest “C” grade) to progress. See Graduation Policy below to review the final comprehensive exit exam that must be passed for program completion.

Grading Scale for ARNEC LPN to RN Program*
90-100 = A
84-89 = B
78-83 = C
70-77 = D (failing)
69 or below = F
*This program is a consortium of eight two-year colleges and therefore has a common grading scale approved by the ARNEC board.

Re-Admission Candidates

Re-admission will be decided by the admitting institution. A student who fails or leaves the program for any reason will be permitted one opportunity to re-enroll (regardless of which semester). The student has the right to appeal to the administration of the admitting institution and should follow that institution’s appeal procedures.

Transfers

Due to differences in nursing curriculum in other nursing programs, ARNEC will not accept transfer credit for previously taken Registered Nursing courses. Students who were enrolled in another program will follow the same requirements and admission procedures as students who have never attended another nursing program. If an enrolled ARNEC student needs to transfer to another ARNEC member institution, then permission may be granted from the institution that the student wishes to transfer to, based on space availability and the institution’s requirements for transfer students.

Advanced Placement of Students

Refer to the Advanced Placement of Students policy in the admitting college’s catalog.

NOTE TO ALL APPLICANTS: ARNEC faculty reserves the right to alter the curriculum and admission policies whenever change is deemed necessary.

Graduation Policy

Students must have successfully completed all general education courses and all nursing courses with a grade of “C” or better. Upon completion, the student’s status will be submitted to the state board of nursing declaring that the student wishes to sit for the licensing examination. Students MUST achieve a score at or above the current national passing average on the final comprehensive exit exam to complete the requirements for the NCLEX-RN Preparation course. The student will be allowed to take the final comprehensive exit exam a total of three times. Students cannot sit for each exam attempt more than once per day.

Should the student not achieve the required score after the third attempt, the student will be given an incomplete grade “I” for the final semester until the student can provide documentation of enrollment and completion of the ATI virtual NCLEX review with a coach. Once the student has followed all recommendations of the coach and the coach releases the student for testing, the student’s final grade will be posted and transcripts will be released to the ASBN for approval and authorization to test.

Due to unforeseen circumstances (i.e., unacceptable criminal background check), graduation from the ARNEC LPN/LVN to RN Transition program does NOT automatically enable the student to sit for the NCLEX-RN. This is determined by the Arkansas State Board of Nursing.

Forms

You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the documents listed below. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer, you can download it here.

RN Online Application
ARNEC Estimated Expenses (PDF)
Act 312 Signature Form (PDF)
Medical Education Mental and Physical Abilities Statement (PDF)
RN Medical Document and Immunization Guide/Checklist (PDF)

Arkansas State Board Of Nursing--ACA 17-87-312 (PDF)

Scholarship & Job Information

Search Thousands of Entry Level Jobs, Externships, & Scholarship Opportunities on CampusRN.

CampusRN has $15,000 in Scholarships Available to Nursing & Allied Health Students.

Occupational Therapy Assistant

Degree: Associate of Applied Science Degree

Degree Plan

Note: There is a special application and deadline for this program.

Application deadline is March 1st of each year.

****For application year 2019****

All applicants and re-applicants must utilize the OTA Program Observation and OTA Program Recommendation forms that were updated in Novermber, 2018. If you applied and/or downloaded documents prior to NOVEMBER 1, 2018, please check with the medical education advisor to ensure the correct forms are included in your file.

Occupational Therapy (OT) is one of the fastest growing careers in the United States. OT is a healthcare field that works to help individuals to maximize their function in the performance of their every-day activities. The Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA), under the supervision of an Occupational Therapist, provides rehabilitative services to individuals with physical, mental, emotional, and developmental disabilities.

The Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) Program at UA Cossatot combines classroom instruction with clinical experiences. The program consists of two portions which include the general education core and the OTA program courses. Students successfully completing the OTA program are awarded an Associate of Applied Science degree (AAS) in Occupational Therapy.

The OTA program is limited to 15-18 students each year. Applicants will be ranked according to required general education course GPA, pre-entrance exam scores, observation report, and three (3) letters of recommendation. UA Cossatot and the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program will not discriminate in the selection of students to the OTA program. Students not accepted into the upcoming class are encouraged to re-apply prior to the next application deadline.

Accreditation Status

The Occupational Therapy Assistant Program at UA Cossatot is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) located at 4720 Montgomery Lane, Suite 200, Bethesda, MD 20814-3449. ACOTE can be reached by phone c/o AOTA at (301) 652-AOTA. ACOTE can also be reached through their webpage www.acoteonline.org.

Upon completion of the OTA program, graduates will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapy assistant administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) and will be eligible to be licensed in the state they desire to practice in. State licenses are based at least in part on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.

Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE)
4720 Montgomery Lane
Suite 200
Bethesda, MD 20814-3449
301-652-AOTA or 301-652-2682
www.acoteonline.org

National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc. (NBCOT)
One Bank Street
Suite 300
Gaithersburg, MD 20878
Phone: 301-990-7979
Email: info@nbcot.org
www.nbcot.org

Special Requirements for Program Progress and Completion

Due to the strenuous nature of the OTA program and practice-orientation, the College reserves the right to determine the eligibility of any student to enroll or continue in the OTA program. This determination is based on, but not limited to, the characteristics required of a clinical OTA. Eligibility determination is made by the faculty’s evaluation of a student’s ability to perform the clinical tasks necessary to complete the clinical and course objectives. These abilities are reevaluated after each course.

To meet all the requirements of ACOTE/AOTA, the OTA program will follow a special calendar, and class days will be different from those followed by students in other programs. Regular class days will be 6 - 8 hours each; clinical/fieldwork days will be 8-12 hours each. Because this program is very intense and a large amount of material is covered in a short period of time, attendance in class and clinical is critical. An attendance policy will be in effect throughout the OTA program. Additionally, students are required to maintain a minimum of 76% in both theory and clinical to progress and complete the program.

The OTA program is housed at UA Cossatot’s Little River Campus in Ashdown, Arkansas. This program awards an Associate of Applied Science and is a two and a half year program. Following the completion of pre-requisite courses, students are accepted into the technical portion which begins each August and ends the following December. Classroom days are approximately six-eight hours with clinical/fieldwork days 8-12 hours each. Days and hours may vary depending on the course you are in and the required clinical hours. Clinicals and workshops may be required on weekends as well but students are given plenty of notice so arrangements can be made. Some of the clinical sites are some distance from the campus, ie, Texarkana, De Queen, Nashville, Hope, Paris, etc. Students are required to arrange transportation on their own to clinical sites as well as mandatory workshops or class trips out of town.

All courses in the OTA Program at UA Cossatot are enhanced with the use of the Blackboard Learning Management system. In addition to the use of Blackboard throughout the program, during the last semester of coursework, students will complete the OTA 2402 Professional Issues in Occupational Therapy Course in an on-line format while completing their Level II Fieldwork rotations. The online course is completed through Blackboard and can be accessed utilizing the provided Microsoft Office 365 package and student provided tablet computers. This course is designed to facilitate the transition from student to entry-level clinician.

Application Process

Each student must meet UA Cossatot’s current placement scores admission requirements and have completed or are currently enrolled in all prerequisite courses, as well as any developmental courses, needed prior to the application deadline. Students wishing to apply to the OTA program should complete the online application form below and follow the instructions on each of the following application requirements. Students should contact the academic advisor to review the content of any prerequisite courses taken at another institution for potential transfer of credit to ensure content meets accreditation and transfer standards. All activities and materials must be completed and received by the academic advisor for Medical Education by the March 1st deadline. Additional information on progression through the program and graduation requirements are available in the UA Cossatot Academic Catalog and the OTA Program Student Handbook and Policy Manual.

****For application year 2019****

All APPLICANTS AND RE-APPLICANTS must utilize the OTA Program Observation and OTA Program Recommendation forms that were updated in Novermber, 2018. If you applied and/or downloaded documents prior to NOVEMBER 1, 2018, please check with the medical education advisor to ensure the correct forms are included in your file.

OTA Online Application
OTA Welcome Letter (PDF)
OTA Estimated Expenses (PDF)
Medical Education Mental and Physical Abilities Statement (PDF)
Medical Education Criminal Background Check (PDF)
OTA Medical Document and Immunization Guide/Checklist (PDF)
OTA Program Recommendation Form (PDF)
OTA Program Observation Form (PDF)
Medical Education Substance Abuse Policy (PDF)
OTA Program Student Handbook and Policy Manual (PDF)

Entrance Exam Study Guide

TEAS VI Study Package

OTA Program Graduation and NBCOT Pass Rates

Graduation Rates

Graduation Year	Students Entering/Graduating	Graduation Rate
2016	15/14	93%
2017	15/12	80%
2018	15/12	80%
Total (3-YEAR AVG)	45/38	84%

Data for program evaluation is collected and reviewed for the academic year and are reflected as above. The total number of graduates from the UA Cossatot OTA Program during the 3-year period of 2016-2018 was 38, with an overall 3 year graduation rate of 84.4%. The graduation rate is determined by the number of students who started the program and completed Level II fieldwork requirements within 18 months of completion of coursework.

NBCOT Exam Pass Rates
The program’s passing percent data is calculated on the number of New Graduates who passed the NBCOT exam regardless of the number of attempts during the testing year to meet ACOTE’s reporting standard (A5.6). For questions about the reporting standard, please contact ACOTE.

To access certification exam pass rate information for UA Cossatot, please use the following link to NBCOT: HTTPS://SECURE.NBCOT.ORG/DATA/SCHOOLSTATS.ASPX Select “Arkansas,” then “OTA Level Program” and “year” to see current exam pass rates.

Physical Therapist Assistant

Degree: Associate of Applied Science Degree

Degree Plan

Note: There is a special application deadline for this program.

Application deadline is May 30th of each year.

Physical Therapy

Physical Therapy is a field dedicated to the improvement of function and is one of the fastest growing career fields in the United States. The Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA), under the supervision of a Physical Therapist, provides rehabilitative services to individuals with orthopedic, neurologic, medically complex, and developmental conditions.

The Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Program at UA Cossatot combines classroom instruction and laboratory simulation with clinical experiences. The program consists of two portions of which include the general education core courses and the PTA technical program courses. Students successfully completing the PTA program are awarded an Associate of Applied Science degree (AAS).

The PTA program is limited to 16 students each year. Applicants will be ranked according to required prerequisite course GPA, Anatomy and Physiology GPA, reference input, observer evaluation forms, pre-entrance exam scores and interview scores. UA Cossatot and the Physical Therapist Assistant Program will not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, national origin, religion, disability, or age in the selection of students to the PTA Program. If you would like to be considered for the next class, you must complete a new online application and meet all application deadlines.

Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the National Physical Therapy Examination or attain state licensure.

Candidate for Accreditation Status

Effective May 2, 2018, UA Cossatot has been granted Candidate for Accreditation status by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA, 22314; phone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org). If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 870-584-1497 or email jsanderson@cccua.edu.

Candidate for Accreditation is a pre-accreditation status of affiliation with the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education that indicates the program is progressing toward accreditation and may matriculate students in technical/professional courses. Candidate for Accreditation is not an accreditation status nor does it assure eventual accreditation.

IMPLICATIONS OF AUGUST GRADUATION

The developing physical therapist assistant program at UA Cossatot is planning for a charter class graduation in August 2019. Initial accreditation decisions are acted upon at the next regularly scheduled Fall Meeting of the Commission following the on-site visit, which must occur during the penultimate term when the charter class is enrolled. CAPTE will not make exceptions to its Rules to accommodate graduation dates that precede regularly scheduled CAPTE meeting dates, e.g., graduation in the summer. A summer graduation does not allow the initial accreditation decision to occur prior to the graduation date. The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) sets the dates for licensing exams. The first sitting for which students with an August graduation date would be in January. Therefore, the timing of the planned graduation date increases the likelihood of a significant financial disadvantage for students due to an approximate six-month delay in possible employment as a physical therapist assistant.

Jennifer Sanderson, PTA Program Director
Kim Dickerson, Medical Education Division Chair

Contingency Plan

Should the Physical Therapist Assistant Program at UAC fail to receive accreditation, our institution will work diligently with students on a student-by-student basis. The Program Director will meet with each student and discuss options that best fit the student’s situation. We will first inform all students that UA Cossatot (UAC) will file an appeal for reconsideration of the CAPTE adverse decision. Next, we will work closely with the program at South Arkansas Community College in El Dorado (106 miles) to filter students to their program, if possible. The Program Director will also discuss the options of transferring to another institution, changing degree plans to OTA within the same institution, or graduating with a Certificate in Health Professions or Associate in General Studies.

Admission Criteria

The UA Cossatot Physical Therapist Assistant Program admission criteria requires applicants to successfully complete all pre-requisite coursework with a minimum GPA of 2.75 and a minimum GPA of 3.0 for A&P I and A&P II. A&P must be taken in the last 5 years; current healthcare experience will be taken into consideration, on a case-by-case basis, in lieu of the five year time requirement. All materials must be received by the program faculty by the May 30^th deadline. The admission procedure is based on a point system using the following criteria:

PTA prerequisite GPA 30%
Anatomy & Physiology GPA 20%
Reference 10%
Observation Hours 10%
TEAS exam score 5%

Upon calculation of the above points, the highest ranking applicants will be selected for an interview. Applicants will be notified if an interview has or has not been granted. The interview will account for the remaining point value available:

Interview score 25%

After scores have been calculated, the top 16 applicants will be notified of their acceptance to the PTA Program. However, applicants must opt to accept the offer if they wish to enroll. Up to eight alternates will also be chosen according to the next ranking scores in the event an applicant is unable to enroll.

Applicants that are not selected will be notified of such and advised in the re-application process.

Application Process

**The selective admissions process aims to improve retention, graduation, and NPTE pass rates as well as provide the ability to assess applicants’ communication and professionalism. The selective admissions process additionally aims to ensure students are prepared for the rigor of the program.

Each student must meet UA Cossatot’s catalog admission requirements and have completed all prerequisite courses prior to the application deadline. (See academic catalog and degree plan for admission and prerequisite course requirements.) Applicants are required to complete all pre-requisite course work with a minimum GPA of 2.75 and a minimum GPA of 3.0 for A&P I and A&P II. A&P I and II must be completed within the last five (5) years. Current healthcare experience will be taken into consideration, on a case-by-case basis, in lieu of the five year time requirement.

Students wishing to apply to the PTA program should complete the online application form below and follow the instructions on each of the following application requirements. Online applications must be submitted by the May 30th deadline. This same deadline is enforced for all other materials/requirements.

Official Transcripts

Official transcripts must be sent directly from the transferring institution to the registrar's office:

Attention: Brenda Morris
UA Cossatot
183 College Drive
De Queen, AR 71832

PTA Program Observation Form
As part of the application process, prospective students are required to obtain a minimum of 60 hours of observation in a minimum of three (3) settings. One (1) of these settings must include twenty (20) hours in an acute setting under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist or physical therapist assistant, to whom he or she is not related. The hours observed must be logged on the appropriate PTA Program Observation Form corresponding with the setting and include the clinician’s signature. Complete Observation Forms must be uploaded when completing the Program Online Application. Observation hours submitted with previous application(s) will be honored for three years. The Program advises applicants to plan accordingly and allow for ample time to complete observation hours as local clinical sites will fill up as the application deadline approaches.

PTA Program Observer Evaluation Form
Applicants must have three (3) observation sites complete an Observer Evaluation Form, one (1) which must be from the acute setting. The Program will NOT accept more than three Observer Evaluation Forms. The anonymous form should be completed by a PT or a PTA in which the observation hours were completed. The form must be enclosed in a sealed envelope containing the signature of the PT or PTA across the seal and must be submitted to program faculty by the May 30^th deadline. Observer Evaluation Forms submitted with previous application(s) will be honored for three years. All Observer Evaluation Forms should be included in one manila envelope and hand delivered or mailed to:

PTA Program
Application Materials
1411 North Constitution Avenue
Ashdown, AR 71822

PTA Program Reference
At the time of program application, the applicant must also submit one (1) reference including name, job title, phone number, and email address. The reference must be an employer or instructor. Reference submitted with previous application(s) will be honored for three years.

Application Checklist
PTA Program Application Checklist (PDF)

PTA Program Online Application

Before selecting the link to complete the online application, please have the following information available in order to successfully complete the application:

prerequisite course completion dates and colleges where taken
employment history including dates
colleges attended and dates of attendance
PDF of Observation Hours to upload with application
PDF of any professional licensure

PTA Program Online Application

Once the Program Online Application has been completed, please complete the PTA Program Applicant Survey.

PTA Program Documents

PTA Program Estimated Expenses (PDF)
PTA Program Student Essential Functions (PDF)
PTA Program Observation Form (PDF)
PTA Program Observer Evaluation Forms (PDF)
PTA Program Student Handbook (2018-2019) (PDF)
PTA Program Student Handbook (2019-2020) (PDF)
PTA Program Clinical Education Handbook (2018-2019) (PDF)
PTA Program Clinical Education Handbook (2019-2020) (PDF)
PTA Medical Document and Immunization Guide/Checklist (PDF)
Medical Education Substance Abuse Policy (PDF)

Pre-Entrance Exam

TEAS

Matriculation & Acceptance Rates

The program accepted sixteen students and matriculated all sixteen students.

Graduation Rates

The total number of graduates from the UA Cossatot PTA Program will be provided, for 2 year averages, upon graduation of students.

National Physical Therapy Examination Pass Rate

The program’s passing percent data will be calculated by the number graduates who take and successfully pass the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) per graduating class.

Employment Rates

The program's employment rates will be calculated by the number of eligible students who are employed as a physical therapist assistant.

For Additional Information Contact:
Physical Therapist Assistant Program
UA Cossatot
1411 N. Constitution Avenue
Ashdown, Arkansas 71822

Program Director
Jennifer Sanderson, PT, MS
jsanderson@cccua.edu
870-854-1497

Director of Clinical Education
Heather Orr, PTA, BAAS
hnorr@cccua.edu
870-854-1487

Health Insurance
The College does not provide student health services on any of the campuses. Student health insurance is not required by the Program but is highly recommended. Health insurance will not be provided by UAC. Students will be responsible for the selection and premiums of their own health insurance policy if they so choose.

Immunization Requirements
The Division of Medical Education has outlined the required immunizations and timelines for obtaining those for program students in the PTA Immunization Guide and Checklist.

Professional Liability Insurance
Students are provided with professional liability insurance courtesy of the College with $1,000,000 per occurrence and $3,000,000 aggregate.

Background Checks
The PTA Program complies with policies of the institution and has an established Medical Education Background Check Policy that ensures the safety of all stakeholders.

Substance Abuse Policy
There will be random drug screens for all students throughout the program of which cost will be the responsibility of the students. See the Medical Education Substance Abuse Policy.

Non-Discriminatory Policy
The program complies with the College Non-Discriminatory Policy.

PTA Program Concerns/Complaints

Transfer Programs

Collaborative Medical Education Programs

Medical Education Faculty and Staff

Kim Dickerson, Medical Education Division Chair	kdickerson@cccua.edu
Christina Cooper. Advisor	ccooper@cccua.edu
Michelle Webb, Advisor	mwebb@cccua.edu
Rachel Servante, Advisor	rservante@cccua.edu
Carolin Hockersmith, RN Program	chockersmith@cccua.edu
Heather Orr, PTA Program	hnorr@cccua.edu
Jeannie Stevens, LPN Program	jstevens@cccua.edu
Jennifer Sanderson, PTA Program Director	jsanderson@cccua.edu
Stephanie Flaherty, Director of Nursing Programs	sflaherty@cccua.edu
Kathy Richards, LPN Program	krichards@cccua.edu
Kay Trotta, LPN Program	ktrotta@cccua.edu
Melissa McCoy, LPN Program	mmccoy@cccua.edu
Michelle Martin, LPN Program	mmartin@cccua.edu
Ruby Johnson, ARNEC	rjohnson@ozarka.edu
Sharon Pool, AFWC OTA Program	spool@cccua.edu
Tamla Heminger, OTA Program Director	theminger@cccua.edu
Waco Jackson, EMT Program	wjackson@cccua.edu