2022-2023 Catalog [Aug. 2022-Aug. 2023]
Physical Therapist Assistant (222A) (A.S.)
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Associate in Science
This is a Limited Access program.
Mission/Purpose
The mission of the Associate in Science Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program is to create competent, ethical and confident entry-level health care practitioners committed to professional development through life-long learning in a positive, non-discriminatory, and supportive learning environment. The program is a balance between theory and practice that enhances the educational experience and provides students with the skills and preparation necessary for employment in the field of physical therapy.
The Program
The PTA program is a combination of general education and professional coursework including lecture, laboratory, and clinical education components. Upon completion of the program, students are awarded an Associate in Science in Physical Therapist Assistant degree, and are eligible to apply to sit for the state administered national examination in order to qualify for licensure to practice as a PTA.
Admission to this program is limited and is based on academic performance and other criteria.
A minimum grade of C or higher must be achieved in all professional coursework.
Year* |
Employment
Rate |
Licensure Pass Rate |
Graduation
Rate |
Ultimate |
First Time |
2020 |
100% |
88.2% |
76.5% |
75% |
2021 |
100% |
78.8% |
63.6% |
73% |
2020-21 |
100% |
85.07% |
70.1% |
74% |
*The years represented reflect the years that these cohorts of students graduated from the PTA program.
Internships/Externships/Rotations/Fieldwork
Employers view clinical experience as essential to understanding the responsibilities of a physical therapist assistant. Clinical training at local physical therapy facilities is arranged as part of the PTA curriculum. Students will be required to undergo drug screening and criminal background checks prior to clinical placements.
The Career
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, overall employment of Physical Therapist Assistants and Aides is projected to grow 24% from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations.
The Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) is a skilled technical health care provider who works under the supervision and direction of a Physical Therapist (PT) in the assessment, treatment, and prevention of physical disability resulting from injury, disease, pain, birth defects, and other health-related conditions. The PTA, working as a member of the rehabilitation team, assists in implementing the treatment program according to the plan of care developed by the PT. Typical duties of the PTA include training patients in exercise, ambulation and activities of daily living, conducting treatment using specialized equipment, administering therapeutic physical agents such as heat, cold and electrical stimulation, assisting in the performance of tests, and observing and reporting patient responses and changes in condition to the PT.
The Dictionary of Occupational Titles rates the strength demands of a PTA at the medium level. This translates into lifting or exerting a force of 20 to 50 pounds occasionally, 10 to 25 pounds frequently and 10 pounds or less constantly.
Interested students can learn more about the profession of physical therapy and the role of the PTA by contacting the American Physical Therapy Association, 3030 Potomac Ave. Suite 100, Alexandria, VA, 22305-3085; telephone: (800) 999-2782; website: apta.org.
Certification/Licensing
Graduates of the program who pass their state administered national licensure examination and state specific laws and rules exam are prepared to function as entry-level Physical Therapist Assistant practitioners.
Program Accreditation
The Physical Therapist Assistant program at Florida State College at Jacksonville is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: http://www.capteonline.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 904-766-5574 or email dianne.mcauliffe@fscj.edu.
Application Procedure
Admission to the professional phase of the program is limited and based upon selective academic performance and other criteria. An information/application packet outlining requirements, procedures, costs and other pertinent information is available from the Health Career Information Center at North Campus, or at fscj.edu/222A.
Minimum requirements that must be met for consideration for admission to the Professional (PHT prefix) coursework of the PTA program are as follows:
- Applicants must be accepted for admission to Florida State College at Jacksonville or be currently enrolled at Florida State College at Jacksonville. Acceptance to Florida State College at Jacksonville does not guarantee admission to the Professional (PHT prefix) coursework of the PTA program.
- Applicants must submit a completed application for the Professional (PHT prefix) coursework of the program to the PTA department. Incomplete and late applications will not be considered. Contact the PTA department for information/application packets and deadlines.
- Complete the Health Education Systems, Inc. Admission Test (HESI-A2) with a score at least a 75% averaged across all 8 categories and a 75% minimum on the A&P. Include the results in the PTA application file.
- Applicants must have completed 17 credit hours of prerequisite coursework including or or ENC 1102 , and and or higher-level MAC prefix course or or or or , and , all with a minimum grade of C and minimum combined grade point average of 2.5 prior to the Application Deadline.
- Applicants must submit documented evidence verifying completion of a minimum of 10 hours of outpatient and 10 hours of inpatient observation, volunteer service, and/or work experience in physical therapy. Verification forms can be obtained from the PTA department.
- Applicants are required to submit official transcripts from both high school/GED® and any postsecondary education. Transcripts must be officially sealed and sent directly from the awarding institution via electronic delivery to studentrecords@fscj.edu or via mail to FSCJ Admissions Office, PO Box 40515, Jacksonville, FL 32203.
Students who have submitted completed applications to the PTA department by the deadline will be ranked according to a point scale. The 30 highest ranked students each Summer and the 15 highest ranked students each Spring will be accepted into the Professional (PHT prefix) coursework of the PTA program and notified of their acceptance by FSCJ email. Refer to the PTA program points rubric for a complete description of the point system on which ranking is based, by contacting Health Career Advising at hcic@fscj.edu or 904-713-4545.
GED® and GED Testing Service® are registered trademarks of the American Council on Education (ACE). They may not be used or reproduced without the express written permission of ACE or GED Testing Service® at ged.com. The GED® and GED Testing Service® brands are administered by GED Testing Service LLC® under license from the American Council on Education.
Application Deadline(s)
The application deadline is February 15 each year for the cohort starting in the Summer term and September 15th each year for the cohort starting in the Spring term.
Need More Information? Contact:
The Health Career Information Center, (904) 713-4545 or hcic@fscj.edu
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