Location(s): General education courses are offered at all BC locations. Program specific courses are at the North Campus.
Program Entrance Requirements: This is a limited access program. Students are required to complete a supplemental application and meet specific criteria. There are a limited number of students admitted to the program each year. Please click here for admissions requirements.

Program Description:  The Physical Therapist Assistant Associate of Science program is a limited access program which is delivered to students at Broward College (BC) North Campus. 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. Visit program’s website for additional information. The clinical education component of the program is managed by the Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education.

Additional Program Information

The program is a full-time day program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). A licensing examination is required upon completion of the two- year program and the Physical Therapist Assistant shall be eligible for an appropriate membership category in the American Physical Therapy Association.

In order to successfully progress through the Physical Therapist Assistant program, students must meet 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.

Although there are no courses required prior to applying, admissions preference will be given to those students with the highest number of points, based on the published Admission Criteria, which awards points for the successful completion of the general education courses listed below. See the Health Science Admission Criteria for additional details.

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MAC1105C COREQUISITE COLLEGE ALGEBRA is a 5-credit course. Students who register for this course must see an advisor to discuss their academic plan. Many courses have specific pre-requisite and co-requisite requirements that must be followed. Students are encouraged to consult the Course Information Table for a detailed list of all requisite requirements.

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PSY2012 GENERAL PSYCHOLOGYis not included in the overall program credit hours and therefore students may not be eligible for Federal Financial Aid for these specific pre-requisite courses.
 

Notes: Upon successful completion of PHT1200 INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICAL THERAPY and PHT1200L INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICAL THERAPY LAB, students will have met the Health Careers Core objectives.

See General Education course information here.

In accordance with Florida Statute and Florida Administrative Code, students may need to satisfy the Civic Literacy Graduation Requirement. Visit the Civic Literacy Graduation Requirement page at broward.edu/civic-literacy.

Students are strongly encouraged to meet with an advisor to create a personalized educational plan.

Program Highlights

Credit for Prior Learning

Accelerate your path to completion with these options:

• Credit by exam
• Earned industry certifications
• Prior Learning Assessment
• And much more…

Related Industry Certifications

Upon completing this program, graduates will be eligible to sit for the following industry certifications/licenses:

• Physical Therapist Assistant License

Get an Internship

After completing your first year of coursework make sure to visit Employment Solutions for internship opportunities and helpful tools like virtual job shadow, to help take your career to the next level!

• Get an Internship
• Virtual Job Shadow Tool

Median Wage and Job Growth Outlook

Broward College has Career Coach! It is designed to help you find a good career by providing the most current local data on wages, employment, job postings, and associated education and training.

Fund Your Education

This program is Financial Aid eligible. Scholarships may be available. This program is part of the Career Source Broward ITA List.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates from this program will:

• 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 respond 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. Demonstrate mastery of entry-level physical therapist assistant skills.
• Demonstrate proficiency with professionalism in terms of service, clinical outcomes, and safety.
• Competently communicate with clarity to a group of his / her peers.
• Demonstrate competency in communication which will facilitate effective patient interaction as an entry-level PTA.
• Demonstrate skills in applying for job positions upon graduation, including conducting themselves at an interview, preparing a job resume, etc.