Associate of Science

PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT (PTA)

Graduation Requirements (A Minimum of 77 Credits)

The Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program will provide the students with the knowledge and skills necessary to perform as a competent, safe, and ethical PTA. The students will learn and apply techniques that will improve mobility, relieve pain, and prevent or limit permanent physical disabilities to patients in clinical settings. Graduates from this program will be eligible to take their national licensure exam. FNU grants an Associate of Science upon completion.

1. Program Overview:

The Physical Therapist Assistant program at Florida National University is a full-time, day-time program offered at the Hialeah Campus and is designed to be completed in less than two years. The core of the PTA program includes lectures, lab activities, and three clinical education experiences. The curriculum is designed to progress students from foundational didactic material to hands-on laboratory activities and assessments in preparation for applying learned physical therapy concepts to real patients. The clinical education component of the curriculum is designed to provide the student with the opportunity to utilize the knowledge, behaviors, and skills developed within the academic component of the curriculum.

2. Mission

The Mission of the Physical Therapist Assistant Program is to prepare students to enter the field of Physical Therapy by educating skilled, compassionate and confident entry-level Physical Therapist Assistants who are culturally competent, forward-thinking and life long learners so they may capably assist physical therapists to successfully address the rehabilitation needs of the patients of the community. The program embraces the mission of the university maintaining the highest standard of education and providing students with the tools, instruction, and guidance necessary to succeed as a physical therapist assistant in a continually evolving healthcare system.
The Program specifically supports the mission of the university by imparting the necessary knowledge, critical thinking, and clinical skills to the students as required for them to thrive in the field of Physical Therapy along with promoting service learning and preparing them for successful licensure.

3. Expected Learning Outcomes

  • Graduates will interpret and successfully carry out a plan of care as designed by the supervising Physical Therapist using foundational knowledge, evidence-based practice, understanding of contemporary medical management approaches, and effective inter-professional communication skills.
  • Graduates will exhibit cultural competency through effective and culturally sensitive clinical decision making, and verbal and non-verbal communication skills in all settings.
  • Graduates will provide physical therapy services and interventions, as directed by the supervising PT, in a safe, legal, ethical, and compassionate manner including appropriate resource management, accurate documentation, and billing practices, while acting with integrity and accountability.
  • Graduates will demonstrate a commitment to life-long learning through the use of a career development plan and by participating in the American Physical Therapy Association or other professional organizations.
  • Graduates will conduct themselves in a manner that reflects respect for their colleagues, commitment to patient advocacy, an obligation to meet the needs of the patients and community they serve, and a desire to continually improve their organization.
  • Graduates will competently collect data, utilize critical thinking and problem-solving skills, to promote patient progression within the scope of the PT plan of care, and address patient needs as they arise to foster a successful PT-PTA team approach to patient-centered care.
  • Graduates will provide education as directed by the PT to patients, colleagues, or other healthcare providers regarding the field of physical therapy, the role of the PTA; along with health and wellness promotion using a variety of teaching strategies to reach the intended audience.

4. Accreditation



The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Florida National University is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: http://www.capteonline.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call (305) 821-3333 ext. 1051 or email ptaprogram@fnu.edu.

5. Application Requirements

    1. Complete Florida National University’s Admission Application (please refer to the FNU University Catalog) and return to Admissions Representative.
      1. Students must score 19 or greater on the ACT, 880, or greater on the SAT or be placed no lower than ENC 1101 and/or MAC 1105 on the College Success exam.
    2. All applicants must request official academic transcripts from high school and/or colleges and forward them to the Campus Registrar.
    3. Have at a minimum an overall 3.0 GPA in all prerequisite courses (including no less than a “B” in Intro to Physical Therapy, and all science and math courses).
    4. Attend the PTA program Information session.
    5. Complete a Level 2 Federal & AHCA Background Check.
    6. Complete the PTA program application
    7. Submit the journal documentation of 20 hours of observation of a Physical Therapist and/or Physical Therapist Assistant in a clinic, facility, or hospital. A supervising clinician signature is required. (Form included in application packet)
    8. Complete the ETS Proficiency Profile Exam with a minimum score of 411.
    9. Complete the ETS HEIghten Written Exam with a minimum score of 155.
    10. Complete an on-site written assignment
    11. Provide two official and unopened letters of reference. (Forms included in application packet)
      1. Employer Reference
      2. Observation Hours Reference
    12. Submit the signed Technical Standards Form (Form included in application packet)

6. Curriculum

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Graduation Requirements (77 Credits)

General Education Requirements (34)
Credit Hours
  • SLS 1501
    College Study Skills (Mandatory for all new students)
     
English and Communications (6)
Credit Hours
  • ENC 1101
    English Composition I **
    3
  • SPC 1017
    Fundamentals of Oral Communication
    3
Humanities (3)
Credit Hours
  • PHI 1635
    Biomedical Ethics
    3
Social Sciences (3)
Credit Hours
  • PSY 1012
    General Psychology (recommended)
    3
  • or
     
     
  • DEP 2004
    Human Growth and Development
    3
Mathematics (3)
Credit Hours
  • MAC 1105
    College Algebra I **
    3
Natural Sciences (8)
Credit Hours
  • BSC 1085 C
    Anatomy and Physiology I
    4
  • BSC 1086 C
    Anatomy and Physiology II
    4
Information Literacy (4)
Credit Hours
  • CGS 1030
    Introduction to Information Technology
    4
Lower Level Requirements (7)
Credit Hours
  • HSC 1531 C
    Medical Terminology
    3
  • PHY 1007 C
    Physics for Allied Health Professions
    3
  • PHT 1001
    Introduction to Physical Therapy***
    1
Core Requirements (43)
Credit Hours
  • PHT 1020
    Therapeutic Communications
    2
  • PHT 1102 C
    Applied Functional Anatomy & Kinesiology
    3
  • PHT 1130 C
    Introduction to Assessment, Measurement, and Documentation
    2
  • PHT 1200 C
    Basic Patient Care
    3
  • PHT 1300
    Pathology for PTA
    3
  • PHT 2131 C
    Assessment, Measurement, and Documentation
    2
  • PHT 1231 L
    Therapeutic Exercise
    2
  • PHT 1801 L
    Clinical Practicum 1
    1
  • PHT 2255 C
    Neuromuscular Conditions and Rehabilitation
    4
  • PHT 2256 C
    Orthopedic Conditions and Rehabilitation
    4
  • PHT 2287 C
    Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Physical Therapy
    3
  • PHT 2501 C
    Promotion of Health & Wellness
    1
  • PHT 2942 L
    Clinical Practicum 2
    12
  • PHT 2931
    Trends in Physical Therapy
    1

7. Faculty

michael pta director

Program Director
Michael Gubieda, MHA, BS, PTA, CLWT
(305) 821-3333 ext. 1051
mgubieda@fnu.edu

8. Contact

Please contact the PTA department at ptaprogram@fnu.edu with any questions regarding the program.

9. Student Outcomes

Acceptance Rate: 2020 & 2021 Two-year average – 83%
Graduation Rate: 2020 & 2021 Two-year average – 74%
Licensure (Ultimate) Pass Rate: 2020 & 2021 Two-year average – 92%
Job Placement Rate: 2020 & 2021 Two-year average – 100%

 

10. Program Financial Fact Sheet

The Commissioner on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education voted to require all Doctor of Physical Therapy Programs and Physical Therapist Assistant Programs to “provide the public with current, accurate, reliable, and easily available information about the cost of attendance” (CAPTE Rules of Practice and Procedures 8.20(c) Student Costs).

FNU PTA Program Financial Fact Sheet (2021-2022)