Are you searching for Savannah physical therapist assistant programs? Choose the Associate of Science (AS) in Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) degree program at South University, Savannah. It prepares physical therapist assistants who reflect the highest standards of professional practice and conduct.
The professional preparation phase of the South University, Savannah 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 Savannah 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 60 hours occurs during the first six weeks of the fourth academic quarter of the professional preparation phase of this Savannah physical therapist assisting program. Terminal clinical experiences are conducted full-time during the last two quarters. They consist of a six-week experience and a nine-week experience.
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 PTA program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education of the American Physical Therapy Association. 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.
For information on student outcomes and pass rates for the South University, Savannah Physical Therapist Assistant program, please visit Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy
Please contact the Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Program Director for the Savannah campus, Dr. Steve Winkler at 912.201.8028 | swinkler@southuniversity.edu, to obtain information on programmatic graduation, licensure, and employment rates.