Subject: Prerequisites for Clinical Education                                 Policy: 16
Effective Date:  6/28/2013                                                               Standard Element:3E, 4J

Policy: The faculty of the Physical Therapist Assistant program at Penn State Hazleton will ensure that the student is prepared academically, and professionally and is safe to participate in the assigned clinical experience. Physical therapist assistant students will submit all required documents to their assigned clinical site prior to the onset of the clinical experience.

Procedure:

The PTA faculty will ensure that the student has:

1. Passed all courses in the PTA curriculum as outlined in the Grading Policy. (See ACADEMIC POLICY  1 )
2. Successfully demonstrates the safety elements in both the didactic and practical portions of the curriculum.

The student will be asked to complete any or all of the following items through Castle Branch prior to the start or during any clinical experience.

• Documentation of vaccination against Hepatitis B, and evidence of adequate antibody titer.
• Proof of  professional liability insurance
• Penn State HIPAA course completion
• Completed Student Confidentiality Form
• 2 Step PPD test (tuberculosis) or proof of testing for at least two consecutive years
• Physical examination form to include current immunization records
• Evidence of CPR
• Criminal background check
• Child abuse clearance
• Drug screen, if applicable
• FBI fingerprinting
• Evidence of health insurance coverage during all clinical experiences, if required
• Any other clinical requirement required by the assigned clinical site

1.  Students are responsible for the cost of completing all clinical requirements/clearances.  The ACCE will inform each student of the process of accessing Castle Branch to complete clinical requirements.  Students will be responsible for meeting the requirements as set forth by the clinical site. Students who fail to meet the pre-clinical requirements by the assigned dates will not be able to start their clinical experience.
2. The ACCE will review Castle Branch for completeness of clinical requirements. The ACCE will review the completion of uploading these items and students will have the responsibility to provide a copy of clinical requirements/clearances to the SCCE as per request.
3. All clinical requirements must be successfully completed.  If a student fails or has an unfavorable result on any of the clinical site-requested requirements, the clinical site may refuse to accept the student.  The ACCE will make a reasonable attempt to locate another site of equal competency.  Locating another site may require time which could lead to a delay in the start date of the clinical experience.  Placement at another clinical site would require the student to meet the clinical requirements/clearances of that clinical site.  If the second site refuses to accept the student based on the outcomes of the clinical requirements/clearances, the student may not be able to complete the clinical education component of the program.  Failure to successfully complete the clinical education component of the PTA program will result in dis-enrollment from the PTA program. Refer to Clinical Education Policy #8
4. Students are required to notify the ACCE of any condition (i.e. musculoskeletal disorder, neurological disorder, etc.) that may affect their clinical performance as soon as the condition arises. Students are responsible for notifying their SCCE/CI of any such condition prior to beginning each clinical experience.

Reviewed and revised 6/2015, 6/2024

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