Associate of Science

PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT (PTA)

Graduation Requirements (A Minimum of 78 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 PTA 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 2 years. The program accepts up to 30 students through a selective admissions process that occurs annually on July 15th (please refer to the admissions section for more details).

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, appropriate procedural interventions and effective documentation skills.
  • Graduates will exhibit cultural competency through effective and culturally sensitive 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, and performing PTA duties always maintaining integrity and accountability.
  • Graduates will demonstrate commitment to life-long learning by participating in the American Physical Therapy Association or other professional organizations and through self-analysis create a career
  • 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 themselves and their organization.
  • Graduates will accurately perform data collection, utilize critical thinking and problem solving skills, within the scope of the PT plan of care, to promote patient progression 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), 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 (305) 821-3333 ext. 1048 or email ptaprogram@fnu.edu.

5. Application Requirements

    1. Complete Florida National University’s Admission Application (please refer to the FNU University Catalog page 21) and return to Admissions Representative.
        a. 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 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 PTA program application and checklist
    6. Present journal documentation of 25 hours of observation of a physical therapist and/or physical therapist assistant in a clinic, facility or hospital. Supervising clinician signature is required. (Form included in application packet)
    7. Complete the ETS Profile Proficiency and HEIghten Written Communication exams scoring at minimum 430 and 150 respectively .
    8. Provide three official and unopened personal reference forms. (Forms included in application packet)
        • a. One Academic reference (from professor only)
        • b. One Employer reference
        c. One Observation hours reference
    9. Submit admissions essay (Form included in application packet)
    10. Complete on-site written assignment
    11. Submit signed Technical Standards form.
    12. Complete a Level 2 Federal & AHCA Background Check.
    13. Complete an Interview with the PTA Program Faculty

6. Curriculum

 

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Graduation Requirements (78 Credits)

General Education (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
Behavioral / Social Science (3)
Credit Hours
  • PSY 1012
    General Psychology
    3
Mathematics (3)
Credit Hours
  • MAC 1105
    College Algebra I **
    3
Computers (4)
Credit Hours
  • CGS 1030
    Introduction to Information Technology
    4
  • SLS 1501
    College Study Skills
     
Core Requirements (45)
Credit Hours
  • BSC 1085 C
    Anatomy and Physiology I
    4
  • BSC 1086 C
    Anatomy and Physiology II
    4
  • HSC 1531 C
    Medical Terminology
    3
  • PHT 1001
    Introduction to Physical Therapy ***
    1
  • PHY 1007 C
    Physics for Allied Health Professions
    3
  • PHT 1020
    Therapeutic Communication for PTA
    2
  • PHT 1102 C
    Applied Functional Anatomy & Kinesiology
    4
  • PHT 1131 C
    Assessment, Measurement and Documentation
    4
  • PHT 1200 C
    Basic Patient Care
    3
  • PHT 1210 C
    Therapeutic Modalities and Physical Agents
    3
  • PHT 1300
    Pathology for the PTA
    2
  • PHT 1231L
    Therapeutic Excercise
    2
  • PHT 2255 C
    Neuromuscular Conditions and
    3
  • PHT 2256 C
    Orthopedic Conditions and Rehabilitation
    3
  • PHT 2287 C
    Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapy and Other Systems
    3
  • PHT 2501 C
    Promotion of Health and Wellness
    1
  • PHT 1801L C
    Clinical Practicum I
    1
  • PHT 2810L
    Clinical Practicum II
    6
  • PHT 2820L
    Clinical Practicum III
    6
  • PHT 2931
    Trends in Physical Therapy
    1

7. Faculty

Kelly Krenkel

Program Director
Kelly Krenkel PT, DPT
(305)821-3333 Ext. 1048
kkrenkel@fnu.edu

Michael Gubieda

Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education
Michael Gubieda, PTA, BS
(305) 821-3333 ext. 1051
mgubieda@fnu.edu

8. Contact

Please contact Dr. Krenkel at ptaprogram@fnu.edu with any questions regarding the program.

9. Student Outcomes

Acceptance Rate: 2018 & 2019 Two-year average – 67%
Graduation Rate: 2018 & 2019 Two-year average – 53%
Licensure (Ultimate) Pass Rate: 2018 & 2019 Two-year average – 92.5%
Job Placement Rate: 2018 & 2019 Two-year average – 100%

 

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