Helping people regain or attain the ability to walk and carry out daily activities can be very satisfying. As a physical therapist assistant, you're an integral part of a rehabilitation team that helps patients improve their quality of life by restoring physical function or preventing permanent disability.
Features
Careers
Our program prepares you to become a physical therapist assistant.
You can find more information through Career One Stop and Florida's Labor Market Statistics Center.
Outlook
Employment of physical therapist assistants is expected to increase 46 percent through
2020, much faster than the average for all occupations. This soaring demand is due in part
to an increasing aging population, particularly baby boomers who are staying more active later
in life than previous generations.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Opportunities
- Assisted living facilities
- General and rehabilitation hospitals
- Higher education centers
- Home health agencies
- Orthopedic/sports rehabilitation clinics
- Pediatric health centers
- Public schools
- Rehabilitation equipment companies
- Skilled nursing facilities
What You Will Learn
- Diseases and problems commonly treated in physical therapy
- The basics of therapies used, including therapeutic exercise, functional training and soft tissue massage
- Legal and ethical responsibilities
- Industry standards and safety regulations
What You Need to Know
- In order to be successful in the Physical Therapist Assistant Program, you must be able to demonstrate essential student functions.
- Liability and clinical accidental insurance must be obtained through the college for a fee.
- Students admitted to this program must have a physical examination
by a licensed physician or an advanced RN practitioner verifying
satisfactory health status and a dental examination verifying oral
health status prior to entrance into the first session of the program.
This must include all immunizations, tests, and health verifications
tests, and health verifications as specified within contractual
agreements with affiliating agencies. This may be required on an annual
basis at the discretion of the program director.
- Program requirements are subject to change. Students should check with a counselor, advisor or the program director.
- Students transferring from another Physical Therapist Assistant or
other health-related program must be in good standing in such program.
Exceptions will be handled by the Provost's Office at the Health
Education Center.
- Complaints generated from the community that fall outside of the
college's due process may be reported to either PTA Program Director Dr. Kory Thomas, PT, DPT or Dean of Health Programs Dr. Richard Flora.
Resources
Program Outcomes
- Graduation rate of last two graduating classes: 79.41% (2017-2018)
- Graduation rates are calculated by the program based on the percentage of students who matriculated in the first technical course in the program after the add/drop period and who completed the program.
- Performance on licensure exam: Overall passing rate of last two graduating classes: Data for 2018 is not yet available. 2017: 100%
- Overall passing rate for 2015-16 graduating classes: 100%
- Licensure examination pass rates are based on results received from the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT).
- Employment rate of last two graduating classes: Data for 2018 is not yet available. 2017: 100%
- Overall employment rate for 2015-16 graduating classes: 98.15%
- Employment rates are based on self-reported data received from graduates, as well as supplemental data gathered by the program staff.
Accreditation
The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at St. Petersburg College is
accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy
education (CAPTE), 1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, Virginia
22314; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: http://www.capteonline.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 727.341.3612 or email thomas.kory@spcollege.edu.