Physical Therapist Assistant
Are You Looking For an Exciting Career in Healthcare?
Do You Like to Help People?
If so, then the Physical Therapist Assistant program at Gulf Coast State College may be for you!
The Physical Therapist Assistant program at Gulf Coast State College is exciting, challenging and action-packed!
To be successful in this Major/Career, you should:
-
Be comfortable with performing physical activity
-
Have a strong background in science
-
Be able to communicate well with a variety of people
-
Have an interest in disease prevention and wellness
PTA Program Outcomes
Graduates of the PTA program at Gulf Coast State College earn a two-year Associate in Science Degree and may apply for licensure as a Physical Therapist Assistant by examination in the state of Florida.
The physical therapist assistant (PTA) is a skilled technical health care worker who delivers physical therapy services under the direction and supervision of the physical therapist (PT). These services may include instructing patients in therapeutic exercises for strengthening, flexibility, balance/coordination, mobility, function; applying physical agents such as heat, cold, electricity, and traction; communicating with the PT as the patient’s medical condition changes; monitoring/documenting/reporting patient response to treatment.
PTAs are employed in a variety of settings including hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, home health agencies, schools, and outpatient physical therapy clinics. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual wage for physical therapist assistants working in the United States was estimated to be between $37,000 - $80,000, with the mean at $60,000. In our geographical area, new graduates typically start at the lower end of this range.
The PTA Program’s average two-year employment rate is over 90% for graduates licensed within a year of graduation. Statistics on the program’s graduation rate, licensure exam pass rate, and employment rate can be found through the Program Outcomes link listed in the column to the right of the page, "In This Section".
The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Gulf Coast State College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, VA 22305; telephone (703) 706-3245, email: accreditation@apta.org; website: CAPTE Online. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call (850) 913-3312, or email mcumbaa@gulfcoast.edu.