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.

 

Question 4:   What courses must I complete prior to applying?

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.  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.  Students attend both classes and clinical practicums 5 days a week (Monday through Friday) during the fall and spring semesters while enrolled in the program.

Question 9:  What is the Online Test Drive?
Answer:  This is an online module that the students will complete once they have been officially accepted into the program.  It is an opportunity to interact with the various online requirements of the program.  Student must complete the module prior to the start of the August term.

Question 10:  What certificates are required for the program and when should they be completed?

Answer: Once accepted into the program the student must complete the following certificate courses and must provide documentation that the certificates have been completed by August. The certificate courses MUST be taken at Broward College and the number of hours for each certificate must be met.

- Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR): Required 8 contact hours - The Basic Life Support CPR certification (BLS for Healthcare Providers) is valid for two (2) years following attendance and must be completed through the American Heart Association. No certification other than the American Heart Association's Basic Life Support for the Healthcare Provider will be accepted. CPR certification needs to be current during the 2 two years of the program. Broward College's course number is HSC 0405

- AIDS/HIV: Required 4 contact hours - The student must have current evidence of attending an HRS approved four (4) hour AIDS/HIV Seminar, prior to attending the first clinical practicum (PHT 1801L). Broward College's course number is HSC 0591

- Domestic Violence Certification: Required 2 contact hours - Broward College's course number is HSC 0691

- OSHA/TB/Blood-borne Pathogens Certification: Required 6 contact hours - Broward College's course number is HSC 0522

- Prevention of Medical Errors: Required 2 contact hours - Broward College's course number is HSC 0528

Question 11:   What is the approximate total cost of the program - including tuition, books, uniforms, etc.?

Answer:   The total cost of the program is approximately $8,934.72 for Florida residents and $25,177.22 for out-of-state applicants. The actual total cost is subject to change.

 

Question 12:   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 13:   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 14:   How does the current job market look?

Answer:  According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for physical therapist assistants is expected to grow by 35 percent from 2008 through 2018 which is much faster than average for all occupations because of increasing demand for physical therapy services. Job prospects for physical therapist assistants are expected to be very good.  

 

Question 15:   What are the Florida residency requirements as it relates to tuition?

Answer:   You can find the information about Florida residency here.  Generally, you must have established and maintained legal residency in Florida for a minimum of twelve months prior to the first day of the term that you enter the College.

 

Question 16:   What salary can I expect after I graduate?

Answer:  According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics 2009 Wages Survey, the mean annual salary for at PTA in the US is $48,590. Based on experience and employment setting, annual salaries ranged from $30,400 to $66,460. In the state of Florida, the mean salary was $53,080.  For more information visit http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes312021.htm

 

Question 17:   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 18:   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 19:   Who can I contact for additional information?

Answer:   For information on the Broward Site, contact:

Maria Holodak, Program Manager
Broward College
North Campus, Building 41
mholodak@broward.edu

For information on the Edison Site, contact:

Jodi Gootkin, Site Coordinator
Edison State College
Lee Campus, Walker Hall, A-132
jgootkin@broward.edu

 

Question 20:   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 21:   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 22:   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.

Question 23:  How do you determine who is accepted into the program each May?
Answer:  A point system based on degree-required general education courses, GPA, and residency is utilized to rank applicants. Acceptance depends on where the student falls in the point ranking system with the top ranking students accepted. Please review the specifics in the How to Apply section of this site.

Question 24:  How do I know if my application is complete and if I have been accepted to the program?
Answer:  Once accepted to Broward College, students will receive a letter with their Student ID number. Students should utilize this Student ID number to log into their Broward Student Account at www.broward.edu to monitor transcript evaluations and their Limited Access Program Application. Students must also monitor their Broward Student Email account as that is where the admissions department will communicate with students regarding application status and program acceptance.

Question 25:  Is the program that is offered on the Edison State College campus the same program that is offered at Broward College?
Answer:  Yes, students accepted into both the Broward and Edison locations are considered one class of students taking courses simultaneously and adhering to the admissions criteria for Broward College. Once accepted to the program, Edison site students are considered Broward College students and pay tuition to Broward who issues their degree upon graduation.

Question 26:  How are classes delivered?
Answer:  The Physical Therapist Assistant Program is delivered to students at BC and Edison State College (ESC) via distance learning technology. Lectures are broadcast in real time so that all sites participate in lecture classes together. The classrooms are equipped with TV monitors, video cameras, and microphones so that students and instructors can communicate similar to a webcam where interactions are instantaneous. E-Learning web sites are utilized for all courses to provide course materials, complete assignments, and extend discussions on content. The program also incorporates several fully online courses. The individual sites manage lab sessions with instructors physically present at both locations.

Question 27:  If I am planning on attending the program on the Edison campus, do I need to apply to Edison State College?
Answer:  For students who are new to college, yes. You should apply to Edison State College and complete their admissions testing. Once it is determined if you are ready for college preparatory courses or if you can begin college level courses, you will enroll at Edison as an AA student and begin completing the general education courses toward the PTA degree. At the time you are ready to apply to the PTA Program, you will follow the Broward College and PTA Program admissions procedures.

For students who have some but not all of the general education courses required for the degree completed, you will still need to apply to Edison State College and have your transcripts evaluated. Then you will complete the remaining general education courses at Edison as an AA student. At the time you are ready to apply to the PTA Program, you will follow the Broward College and PTA Program admissions procedures.

For students who have all of the general education courses required for the degree completed, it is not necessary to apply to ESC. There are no additional courses that you would need to take at ESC however, at the time you are ready to apply to the PTA Program, you will follow the Broward College and PTA Program admissions procedures.

Question 28:  How do I apply to the PTA program if I am attending classes on the Edison site?
Answer:  Visit the How to Apply section of this site for details. Follow the admissions procedures detailed adhering to the stated deadlines. All interested applicants, must apply to Broward College AND the PTA Program AND send transcripts from ALL other institutions they attended. This includes courses completed at Edison State College or other institutions.

Question 29:  As a student attending the program at the Edison site, can I still get Financial Aid?
Answer:  While completing general education courses at Edison State College as an AA student, students should meet with the Edison Financial Aid department to determine eligibility. For the term when the student anticipates acceptance into the Broward College PTA Program, the student should indicate Broward as the institution on Financial Aid paperwork and communicate with the Financial Aid department at Broward.

Question 30:  As an Edison site student, will I ever be required to travel to the Broward site?
Answer:  Yes,  you will need to travel to the Broward campus located in Coconut Creek, Florida on a few occasions once accepted to the program. If offered a seat in the program, you will attend a pre-admissions meeting in the Spring prior to the May start of the program. Shortly following that meeting, you will return to the Broward campus to complete a Background Check that will be scheduled at your convenience. The final trip to Broward is for the Program Orientation in August prior to the start of the PTA course. From that point forward, courses are attended on the Edison Lee Campus or at a local clinical facility in our service district.