Physical Therapist Assistant

Program Description

Dade Medical College’s Associate of Science in Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program is designed for students seeking entry-level positions as Physical Therapist Assistants. Theoretical and practical experience in the classroom and labs are supplemented by three clinical rotations.  The program prepares graduates to work under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist in a variety of health care settings, including rehabilitation facilities, schools, long term care, home health care, pediatrics, acute care hospitals, orthopedics, and sports medicine clinics. 

Program Objectives

It is the purpose of Dade Medical College’s Associate of Science in Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program to provide those enrolled with the knowledge and skills that will enable them to function effectively as a PTA.  The Physical Therapist Assistant program has established specific goals and student learning outcomes that are closely evaluated and modified as needed to best serve the students, the community, and to comply with the standards of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) as well as support the Dade Medical College mission and goals.  The Physical Therapist Assistant program will employ the following methods to attain the program-specific goals and student learning outcomes it has established: 

• Provide students with an academic program leading to licensure/credentials to practice as a Physical Therapist Assistant under the guidance and supervision of a licensed Physical Therapist. 
• Provide students with curriculum content and clinical experiences consistent with the guidelines of CAPTE and the APTA Evaluation Section for PTA programs. The objective is to allow graduates to practice as competent, safe, ethical and legal practitioners of physical therapy services. 
• Provide students with a balanced curriculum of General Education and occupational courses. The objectives are to have students develop writing and communication skills essential for documentation, skills tests, and clinical affiliations. Also, to have students recognize the relationships between concepts from the social and natural sciences and humanities and their relevance to medical and physical therapy practice. 
• Keep curriculum current with up-to-date techniques and theories, based upon input from the PTA advisory committee and clinical instructors. The objective is to address the physical therapy education needs of the community and prepare students to be successful during their clinical experiences. 
• Educate and train students with marketable skills to gain entry-level employment as a Physical Therapist Assistant. The objective is to use a curriculum structured through cognitive, psychomotor and affective domains to enhance the marketability of the student.