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 FAQs Question 1: What exactly is a Physical Therapist Assistant? Answer: The PT Assistant (PTA) is a skilled clinician who assists the registered Physical Therapist in health service agencies with the rehabilitation and treatment of patients disabled by illness, accident, or congenital handicaps. Employing knowledge of the patient's condition, the assistant will administer physical agents to alleviate the presenting symptoms or will instruct the patient in specialized therapeutic exercise programs to restore the patient's functional abilities. PT Assisting is for you if you desire a physically active occupation and interact well with others.
Question 2: What type of degree do I receive? Answer: You will be awarded an Associate of Science degree.
Question 3: How many credits are in the program? Answer: You must complete - with a grade of "C" or above - 74 credits to be awarded the AS degree.
Answer: Admission to the program is contingent upon a GPA that is 2.5 or above and completion of the general education courses. Students are encouraged to take as many of the general education courses (especially the anatomy and physiology courses) as possible prior to submitting an application.
Question 5: What is the length of the program? Answer: The program is five (5) semesters in length. It is considered a two-year curriculum.
Question 6: Should I submit my application by a certain date? Answer: At both sites, admission is limited to available seats in the program. Applications are accepted from late August to February. For exact time frames for the application period, check on the Health Science Admissions web page. Confirmation of a student’s acceptance into the program is confirmed after the deadline for applications and review of the applicant pool is completed.
Question 7: Is financial assistance available? Answer: Yes. The Student Financial Services office located on each campus can offer financial counseling to you and may be able to provide needed funds. Sponsorship opportunities are also available in which a local hospital will pay your tuition and costs in return for service after graduation.
Question 8: When and where are classes in this program offered? Answer: General education courses (any course without a PHT prefix) are taught at varied times (days, evenings, weekends) at all campus locations. All PHT courses are offered during the day only. Classes are held at North Campus for the BC site and at the Lee County Campus for the ESC site.
Question 9: What is the approximate total cost of the program - including tuition, books, uniforms, etc.? Answer: The total cost of the program is approximately $6,396.45 for residents and $17,233.75 for out-of-state applicants.
Question 10: Are uniforms required? Answer: There is a required lab uniform for all laboratory sessions which is available for purchase at the bookstore. Prior to attending clinicals, you will be required to purchase uniforms which will be available through the College bookstores.
Question 11: Do I need to take a licensing examination after I graduate? Answer: Yes. To practice physical therapy in the State of Florida, you must have a license. Historically, the program has exceeded the national average with regard to pass rates on the licensing examination.
Question 12: How does the current job market look? Answer: There are definite signs of improvement in the job outlook for Physical Therapist Assistants. Although federal legislation that imposed limitations on reimbursement for therapy services had an initial adverse affect on the job market, the US Department of Labor and Bureau of Labor Statistics now indicates that "the employment of PT Assistants is expected to grow much faster than average through the year 2010”.
Question 13: Can this curriculum be used to further my education towards an entry-level Masters degree in this specialty? Answer: The physical therapist assistant curriculum differs from that of the physical therapist, and does not provide the needed prerequisites required for admission into physical therapy program which are at the masters level. Please check with the university of interest for specific admission requirements.
Question 14: What salary can I expect after I graduate? Answer: Salaries range from $28,000 to $34,000 annually for the new graduate.
Question 15: Is the program accredited? Answer: The Physical Therapist Assistant Program offered by Broward College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). The current accreditation period extends through to 2014. Additional information regarding accreditation can be found at http://www.apta.org
Question 16: Does Broward College offer continuing education courses for Physical Therapist Assistants who want to specialize in a particular area of the field? Answer: Physical Therapist Assistants who wish to develop expertise in specialized areas such as sports medicine, pediatrics or geriatrics, can take the appropriate continuing education courses at BC or through other agencies in order to enhance their qualifications after their career is underway.
Question 17: Who can I contact for additional information? Answer: For information on the Broward Site, contact:
Question 18: Will I be attending clinical rotations in local hospitals or other health care agencies as part of my course requirements? Answer: Yes. As part of the clinical practicum phase of the curriculum, you will be required to attend several clinical rotations including a full time rotation in the semester prior to graduation.
Question 19: Does the program provide job placement services? Answer: No. The program does not offer any type of job placement other than the posting of employment opportunities and the announcement of job fairs on the program's Alumni web site that is offered through Blackboard.
Question 20: When do the first classes begin? Answer: The program begins each May with completion of several general education courses. Actual PHT courses begin each August. | ||
