Are you looking for physical therapist assistant associate’s degree programs in the Montgomery area? Choose South University, Montgomery. The Associate of Science (AS) in Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) degree program at South University’s Montgomery campus in Montgomery, Alabama, prepares physical therapist assistants who reflect the highest standards of professional practice and conduct.
The professional preparation phase of the Physical Therapist Assistant associate’s degree program consists of four academic quarters of lecture and laboratory courses. An additional two quarters are spent in full-time clinical experiences. The academic program is taught in the evenings at the Montgomery campus.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor & Statistics, there were approximately 114,400 physical therapist assistants and aides in 2010. That number is expected to grow by 45% from 2010-2020, due to the growing number of individuals with disabilities or limited function and the increasing use of physical therapist assistants to reduce the cost of therapeutic services.
Clinical Experience and Externship
An integrated clinical experience of 280 hours occurs during the first seven weeks of the fifth quarter of the professional preparation phase of the program. The final clinical experience occurs during the first nine weeks of the sixth quarter.
Each clinical externship is followed by a return to campus for integration of clinical experiences with didactic materials and the opportunity to correct deficiencies identified in the assessment of the student's performance in the clinics. Externships are chosen from 108 hospitals, nursing homes, sub-acute facilities, and outpatient centers with which the program has entered into clinical agreements.
Accreditation and Licensure
The Physical Therapist Assistant program at South University Montgomery is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education of the American Physical Therapy Association (1111 N Fairfax St; Alexandria, VA 22314; 703-706-3245;
www.capteonline.org). State licensure is a requirement for professional practice in each state in which South University offers the PTA program. Specific information regarding application for licensure will be available to the student during the last term of study. Licensure or registration is not required in every state for the physical therapist assistant to practice. Complete information on practice acts and regulations can be obtained from individual state licensing boards.
End your search today for physical therapist assistant associate’s degree programs in the Montgomery area with South University, Montgomery.
Please contact the Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Program Director for the Montgomery campus, Dr. Joanne Rice at 334.395.8828, or at jrice@southuniversity.edu, to obtain information on programmatic graduation, licensure, and employment rates.