|
|
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
| Graduation Rate |
BC |
96.9% |
88.6% |
90.6% |
| FSW |
100.0% |
83.3% |
94.1% |
| Exam Pass Rate |
BC |
First |
75.0% |
80.7% |
71.4% |
| Ultimate |
90.6% |
96.8% |
82.1% |
| FSW |
First |
92.3% |
77.8% |
87.5% |
| Ultimate |
100% |
100% |
87.5% |
| Graduate Employment Rate |
BC |
100% |
100% |
100% |
| FSW |
100% |
100% |
100% |
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics confirms good news for future graduates of BC's Physical Therapist Assistant Program since physical therapy is one of the country's fastest growing healthcare occupations. Here in Florida, home of one of the country's largest elderly populations, the long-term outlook is favorable for accelerating demand for physical therapist assistants. Employment is expected to grow much faster than average with a 33 percent increase in job opportunities for graduates of a PTA program and a Median Annual Wages -- $58,790 in May of 2019.
Our graduates consistently exceed the national and state average pass rate on the licensure exam for physical therapist assistants. Many of them are offered jobs at the clinics they were assigned for their practicum. In addition, graduates have found work in:
- Hospitals
- Private clinics
- Nursing homes
- Rehabilitation centers
- Public health agencies
- Home health agencies
After your career is underway, you can further develop expertise in specialized areas such as sports medicine, pediatrics or geriatrics right here at Broward College. Continuing education courses are available to enhance your skill set. In addition, PT Assistants may secure faculty positions in state colleges or private institutions as instructors in PT Assistant programs. They may even qualify for the position of a program director or department head of a PTA program if they have advanced their education.
The Employ Florida Marketplace is our primary employment resource for students and local employers. The Florida Physical Therapy Association also provides a current list of job openings across the nation.
AS in Physical Therapist Assistant
May 2020 Application Criteria:
- Points will be awarded in several categories including completion of general education courses, however, there are no courses required prior to submitting Limited Access Application. The more points accrued, the greater the chance of getting into the program.
- All students selected for admission must successfully complete a required medical history and physical examination, fingerprinting, background check, and drug screening Information about these requirements will be provided at the Program pre-admission meeting.
- For exploratory students unsure of which Health Science program to pursue, it is recommended to take HSC1000 Introduction to Health Sciences.
- Prior to admission, each student is required to successfully complete a drug screening. Please be advised that certain over-the-counter supplements and alternative medicinal products, including but not limited to CBD, THC, Cannabinoid, and Cannabinoid Oil may trigger a positive result, and consequently, the student will not be able to be admitted to the Health Science program. A second drug tested sample is not allowed per Broward College Admissions Procedure A6Hx2-5.01. The links are provided below.
Admissions Policy | Admissions Procedure
Application Period: October 1st through January 15th
Admission Selection Criteria:
Selection is based on the candidate having the highest points earned in successful completion of General Education Courses with a grade of “C” or above. Points will be awarded for completion of the courses as well as the grade achieved in each course marked with an asterisk*. Points are also given for military service.
Due to enrollment limitations, meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee admission. If you are not offered admission, you will need to reapply during the next appropriate application acceptance period.
Points for Completion:
- 4 Points - BSC 2085 Anatomy and Physiology I*
- 4 Points - BSC 2085L Anatomy and Physiology I Lab*
- 4 Points - BSC 2086 Anatomy and Physiology II*
- 4 Points - BSC 2086L Anatomy and Physiology II Lab*
- 4 Points - HSC 1531 Medical Terminology*
- 2 Points - ENC 1101
- 2 Points - General Education Math course
- 2 Points - PSY 2012 Introduction to Psychology
- 2 Points - Elective Humanities
Points for Grade Achieved in selected General Education Courses*:
- A = 8 points
- B = 4 points
- C = 1 point
- Below C = No points
In addition, points will be awarded for military service:
- 5 points will be awarded to US Armed Forces active duty and honorably discharged veterans.
In the event of a tie, overall GPA will be used as the tiebreaker.
Additional Information:
Florida Southwestern PTA expansion site has been discontinued and will not be accepting a new cohort for Fall 2019.
Additional programmatic admissions criteria can be reviewed at Health Science Admissions site.
Mission Statement
Transforming students’ lives and enriching our diverse community through academic excellence, innovation, and meaningful career opportunities.
The mission of the Physical Therapist Assistant program is to prepare competent, ethical and culturally sensitive entry-level PT Assistants who are capable of functioning in an ever-changing health care delivery system secondary to being dedicated to lifelong learning. Student success is achieved by developing informed and creative students capable of contributing to a knowledge- and service-based global society. The program provides learner-centered technical education to all segments of the community and is committed to celebrating diversity and inclusion by empowering and engaging students, faculty and staff.
The program is committed to accomplishing its mission through the use of effective and diverse instructional methods that encompass both traditional as well as technology-based strategies (e-learning including online courses, video conferencing, etc.).
Broward College's innovative program will challenge and train you to excel in this ever-evolving, always demanding field.
Related Program Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Within the process of patient/client management established by the Physical Therapist, adjust or withhold intervention based on patient/client status as determined through observation, data collection and interpretive processes. Process the requisite knowledge to identify the situation, weigh alternatives, and select appropriate responses within the plan of care established by the Physical Therapist.
- Use information from data collection to progress patient/client interventions within the plan of care established by the Physical Therapist, and reports changes to the supervising Physical Therapist.
- Complete thorough, accurate, logical, concise, timely, and legible documentation that follows guidelines and specific documentation formats required by state practice acts, the practice setting, and other regulatory agencies.
- Communicate verbally and non-verbally with the patient/client, the Physical Therapist, health care delivery personnel, and others in an effective, appropriate and capable manner.
- Implement delegated interventions to achieve the short and long term goals and outcomes identified in the plan of care.
- Perform safe interventions competently based on the plan of care established by the Physical Therapist so as to minimize risk to the patient/client, self, and others.
- Implement the delegated interventions within the plan of care established by the Physical Therapist, monitor the patient/client response, and responds accordingly.
- Provide patient/client-related instruction to patient/clients, family members, and caregivers to achieve patient/client outcomes based on the plan of care established by the Physical Therapist.
Faculty members and adjuncts include physical therapists and physical therapist assistants who have graduated from accredited physical therapy programs.
