Program Description

Prerequisite Phase

During this phase, students are called "pre-PTA" students. Pre-PTA students want to become PTA's and, therefore, must strive to get accepted into the program. These students are working toward this goal by completing several program criteria that include taking general education courses, either attending an Information Session or directly contacting the PTA office and learning about the field of Physical Therapy through exposure to it. All prerequisite courses taken during this phase are transferable to the State University System. This preparation period may take one year or more depending upon the student's scheduling of courses and required activities. Once the criteria are completed, the pre-PTA student applies for acceptance into the PTA Program during the designated application period. Successful completion of the program criteria during this pre-application period does not guarantee admission to the PTA program.

Professional Phase - Acceptance into the PTA Program

The PTA program is a limited-access/limited-quota/lock- step program. Each year, only a limited number of pre-PTA students are accepted from an applicant pool. During the Program, which takes five semesters, all of the professional courses are offered. These courses include both didactic (classroom) and clinical experiences. Students are scheduled for full-time internships in Physical Therapy Departments throughout this geographic region during their last three semesters. The professional courses taken during this phase are non-transferable to the State University System.

Classes for the Professional Phase of the PTA Program begin in the fall of each year. Upon successful completion of this program, students are awarded the Associate in Science Degree for the Physical Therapist Assistant and are eligible to take the state licensure examination. The Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) American Physical Therapy Association granted the PTA Program accreditation status in May 1993 for five years and in October 1998 for ten years.

Did you know?

SCC is just 45 minutes from the Atlantic Ocean and its world famous beaches.