Graduates of the Physical Therapist Assistant Program are prepared to become credentialed as Physical Therapist Assistants (PTA) upon completion of the full-time two-year program and after successful completion of the National Physical Therapist Assistant Examination. The Physical Therapist Assistant shall be eligible for an appropriate membership category in the American Physical Therapy Association.
The Physical Therapist Assistant Program will provide the framework for graduates to work with patients who have lost function or been disabled by illness, surgery, accidents or congenital conditions. Physical therapy is an active and progressive occupation that requires constant close contact with new people, technology and treatment methods. Under the direction and supervision of a physical therapist, physical therapist assistants work closely with people of all age groups who have a wide range of physical problems. Examples include, but are not limited to:
- Babies in the neonatal intensive care unit
- Adolescents with sports injuries
- Adults, following workplace injuries or surgery
- Patients who are elderly or who have conditions such as stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis or amputations.
Current occupational employment and wages data for Physical Therapist Assistants are published by the United States Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics at www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes312021.htm.
The Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Program is delivered to the students at Broward College and Florida SouthWestern State College via distance learning technology. Lectures are broadcast in real time so that all sites participate in lecture classes together. The individual sites manage lab sessions. The clinical education component of the program is managed by the Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education at the Broward site. The program provides the student with the opportunity to develop technical skills relative to physical therapy through planned clinical, classroom, and laboratory experiences. The graduate will be prepared to provide a variety of services under the direction and guidance of a supervising physical therapist.
In order to successfully progress through the Physical Therapist Assistant Program, students must successfully achieve all affective, cognitive, and psychomotor objectives; achieve a grade of “C” or above in all program courses, a grade of “S” in all clinical practicums; and maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 or higher. Contact the Program Site Coordinator at 239-489-9494 for additional progression criteria.
Accreditation:
The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Broward College offered at the Florida SouthWestern State College, Thomas Edison Campus, is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: www.capteonline.org.
Application, Admission, Graduation Requirements:
Students must apply for admission to Broward College in addition to the PTA Program and meet all admissions criteria found at www.broward.edu/admissions/Pages/Health-Sciences-Admissions.aspx. The program has a limited number of seats available per year and students are selected based upon the criteria announced online. Applicants may review Broward College Physical Therapist Assistant program information and access admission information online at www.broward.edu/academics/programs/pta/Pages/default.aspx or call 954-201-2892.
Graduation Requirements for the Physical Therapist Assistant Associate in Science Degree:
- Meet Broward College’s graduation requirements as listed in the Broward College Catalog at www.broward.edu/catalog/Pages/default.aspx.
- Complete a minimum of 74 semester hours of credit and a degree grade point average of 2.0 or higher.
- Complete the Physical Therapy core coursework with a grade of “C” or higher.
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