Physical Therapist Assistant
Associate of Science in Physical Therapist Assistant
The Associate of Science in Physical Therapist Assistant program offers a curriculum that is well-rounded in all fundamental concepts and theories as they apply to physical therapy modalities and rehabilitation procedures. The technical phase of the South University Savannah Physical Therapist Assistant program consists of six academic quarters of lecture, laboratory, and clinical coursework. The academic program is taught in the evenings at the Savannah campus.
The program has two full-time clinical education experiences in which students complete 640 hours of clinical education. An integrated clinical experience occurs during the technical preparation phase, in which a seven week full-time clinical experience is followed by three weeks of clinical and didactic assimilation. The terminal nine week full-time clinical experience is conducted in the final quarter of the technical phase of the program. Students return to campus after their first clinical experience to complete a course in Current Rehabilitation Issues between the clinical experiences. This course allows for the integration of clinical experiences with didactic materials and the opportunity to correct deficiencies identified in the assessment of the student's performance in the clinic. The clinical experiences are chosen from a variety of settings, which may include hospitals, nursing homes, sub-acute facilities, and outpatient centers with which the program has entered into clinical agreements.
Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education
The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at South University, Savannah, 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 912-201-8028 or email swinkler@southuniversity.edu.
Graduation Rate
87.1%
South University Savannah's PTA graduation rate for the 2017-2018 academic year.
Pass Rate
81.9%
NPTE licensure exam pass rate for the 2017-2018 academic year
Employment Rate
93.8%
Employment rate of Savannah PTA graduates for the 2017-2018 academic year
Prepare for Your Physical Therapist Assistant Career
Admission Requirements
Please see the South University academic catalog for program specific admissions requirements.
Career Outlook
According to
the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were approximately 98,400 physical
therapist assistants employed in 2018. Employment of physical therapist assists
is projected to grow 27% from 2018-2028, much faster than the average for all
occupations (https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physical-therapist-assistants-and-aides.htm#tab-6).
licensure
Graduation from a CAPTE accredited physical therapist assistant education program or its equivalency and passage of the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE) is required for licensure. Graduation from this program does not guarantee licensure as a PTA, and it is the student’s responsibility to be aware of the licensure requirements in each state. Complete information on practice acts and regulations can be obtained from the individual state licensing boards or through The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (www.fsbpt.org). Specific information regarding application for licensure will be available to the student during the last term of study.
Course Requirements
Offered at South University, Austin; South University, Columbia; South University, High Point; South University, Montgomery; South University, Novi; South University, Savannah; South University, Tampa; and South University, West Palm Beach.
(Quarters 1-3 for the Associate of Science (AS) in Physical Therapist Assistant)
(must be taken concurrently with BIO1012 Anatomy and Physiology I Lab)
(must be taken concurrently with BIO1014 Anatomy and Physiology II Lab)
- Math Elective (MAT1001, MAT1005 or MAT1500)
English Elective:
OR
- Approved Social Science Elective (PSY1001 or SOC1001 ) 4 credit hours
*Required if the student is also required to take MAT0099
*
**
Effective winter quarter 2020 students admitted to the professional phase of the PTA program will take PTA2025 Therapeutic Interventions I in place of PTA1008 Modalities
Effective winter quarter 2020 students admitted to the professional phase of the PTA program will take PTA2025 Therapeutic Interventions II in place of PTA2021 Therapeutic Exercise and Orthopedic Applications
**PTA1001 may also be taken in the quarter preceding the Technical Phase of the program.
Outcomes
Graduates will be able to:
- Provide safe, efficient, efficacious interventions within the plan of care established by the physical therapist.
- Communicate using effective and culturally-competent verbal, nonverbal, written, and digital communication.
- Provide effective education to patients, caregivers, and members of the healthcare team.
- Demonstrate the ability to appropriately and efficiently utilize resources to provide high-value physical therapy services.
- Recognize the importance of maintaining competence in applicable areas of physical therapy practice.
- Demonstrate the ability to work within the guidelines and standards established by regulatory, professional, and organizational entities.
- Demonstrate behaviors consistent with the Core Values of the profession of physical therapy.
2017 and 2018 Outcomes
Graduation Rate
87.1%
Licensure Exam Pass Rate
81.9%
Employment Rate
93.8%
Comments and Concerns
Please fill out this form and email to both sherrin@southuniversity.edu and tachamberlain@southuniversity.edu with any Comments, Concerns and Complaints.
Physical Therapist Assistant Program at South University
You want to make a difference. You want to give back. You want to help people work their way back to health and wellness. Put your compassion and people skills to work with a career in physical therapy. A Physical Therapist Assistant degree can do more than improve your life. It’s a meaningful way to improve the life of others, too.
Mission
Physical Therapist Assistant Program
In keeping with the stated purpose of South University, the Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Program strives to produce physical therapist assistants who, under the direction and supervision of physical therapists, reflect the highest standards of practice and conduct within the profession of physical therapy.
Graduates will be able to:
- Provide safe, efficient, efficacious interventions within the plan of care established by the physical therapist.
- Communicate using effective and culturally-competent verbal, nonverbal, written, and digital communication.
- Provide effective education to patients, caregivers and members of the healthcare team.
- Demonstrate the ability to appropriately and efficiently utilize resources to provide high-value physical therapy services.
- Recognize the importance of maintaining competence in applicable areas of physical therapy practice.
- Demonstrate the ability to work within the guidelines and standards established by regulatory, professional, and organizational entities.
- Demonstrate behaviors consistent with the Core Values of the profession of physical therapy.
PTA Faculty
South University Savannah
Program Director, Physical Therapist Assistant Program
D.P.T., Temple University
M.S.H.A., Western Kentucky University
C.P.T., Northwestern University
912-201-8028
swinkler@southuniversity.edu
Jill G. Bugner, PT, DPT
Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education, Physical Therapist Assistant Program
D.P.T., M.P.T., Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-Shreveport
B.S., Louisiana Tech University
912-790-4157
Associate of Science in Physical Therapist Assistant
The Associate of Science in Physical Therapist Assistant program offers a curriculum that is well-rounded in all fundamental concepts and theories as they apply to physical therapy modalities and rehabilitation procedures. The technical phase of the South University Savannah Physical Therapist Assistant program consists of six academic quarters of lecture, laboratory, and clinical coursework. The academic program is taught in the evenings at the Savannah campus.
The program has two full-time clinical education experiences in which students complete 640 hours of clinical education. An integrated clinical experience occurs during the technical preparation phase, in which a seven week full-time clinical experience is followed by three weeks of clinical and didactic assimilation. The terminal nine week full-time clinical experience is conducted in the final quarter of the technical phase of the program. Students return to campus after their first clinical experience to complete a course in Current Rehabilitation Issues between the clinical experiences. This course allows for the integration of clinical experiences with didactic materials and the opportunity to correct deficiencies identified in the assessment of the student's performance in the clinic. The clinical experiences are chosen from a variety of settings, which may include hospitals, nursing homes, sub-acute facilities, and outpatient centers with which the program has entered into clinical agreements.
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