Program Goals and Expected Student Outcomes

1. To graduate physical therapist assistants who are sensitive and responsive to the unique needs of each individual patient, who are competent, safe, skilled, and ethical in the provision of physical therapy services within the scope of practice as defined by professional and licensure requirements, and under the direction and supervision of a licensed physical therapist.
2. To ensure that program content is reflective of best practices in the profession of physical therapy.
3. To provide a curriculum that includes effective didactic, laboratory, behavioral and clinical instruction with delivery methods that address various learning styles.
4. To promote the importance of professional growth and lifelong learning in the physical therapy profession.
5. To ensure compliance with CAPTE, APTA, state, and federal guidelines for physical therapist assistant education.

• Eighty-five percent of PTA graduates will pass the state licensure exam.
• Employers’ average rating of graduates will be greater than 3 out of 4 on all indicators.
• Ninety percent of job-seeking graduates will be employed in the field within six months of graduation.
• The program will graduate at least eighty percent of students in a cohort.
• At the completion of the Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Program the entry-level graduate will be competent in the areas that are required by the Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), including:

Expected Student Outcomes

1. Communicate effectively both verbally and non-verbally
2. Communicate effectively in written form
3. Demonstrate behavior consistent with respecting age, cultural, socioeconomic, and other individual differences among patients, families, and other healthcare professionals
4. Demonstrate legal, ethical and professional behavior
5. Demonstrate an understanding of the plan of care as established by the physical therapist and carry out the plan of care commensurate with the scope of practice of the physical therapist assistant
6. Demonstrate competency in data collection skills to measure patient progress within the plan of care
7. Under the supervision of a physical therapist, implement physical therapy interventions using appropriate problem-solving skills to progress a patient or adjust interventions within the plan of care
8. Report any changes in the patient’s status to the supervising PT
9. Report to the supervising PT if interventions have been adjusted, intervention has not been provided due to patient status change, or intervention is beyond that which is appropriate for the PTA
10. Demonstrate safe practice in the provision of physical therapy interventions to reduce risk to patients and others
11. Educate patients and others using appropriate instruction methods that the learner understands
12. Take appropriate action in an emergency situation
13. Document relevant information about physical therapy interventions and corresponding data collection according to practice guidelines
14. Participate in discharge planning and follow-up as directed by the supervising physical therapist
15. Demonstrate fiscal responsibility by providing accurate and timely information for billing and reimbursement purposes
16. Demonstrate a commitment to lifelong learning to further develop professional knowledge and skills
17. Demonstrate an awareness of social responsibility, citizenship and advocacy, including participation in community and/or service organization activities

• All clinical and academic faculty will receive "above average" to "excellent" ratings 80% of the time on student evaluations.
• All academic faculty will attend at least fifteen hours of continuing education every two years that is aligned with their professional development plan.

• 85% of students will state that the PTA Program’s classroom and lab equipment is adequate or better for their learning.

• 100% of graduates will state that they participate in activities that enhance their professional growth at 18 months post-graduation.

• The program director will be aware of all requirements to maintain compliance and will ensure that the program is in compliance with all guidelines.