Prepare graduates who will demonstrate foundational skills in the cognitive, psychomotor and affective domain necessary to provide competent and safe physical therapy data collection and treatment interventions under the supervision of a physical therapist by:

• Completion of the clinical education component of the program with passing grades.
• Successful completion of the national PTA licensure examination.

Prepare graduates who will demonstrate the critical thinking and problem-solving skills required of an entry-level physical therapist assistant by:

• Applying the foundational principles of the curriculum to deliver effective and safe treatment interventions under the supervision of a physical therapist.
• Recognizing when an intervention(s) is (are) inappropriate due to changes in a patient’s status, communicating any changes to the physical therapist and adjusting the intervention(s) as directed.

Prepare graduates who will demonstrate effective communication skills, both oral and written by:

• Providing clear and concise instructions for patients, families, caregivers and members of the health care team at the level of the recipient’s understanding.
• Providing documentation relevant to a patient’s physical therapy intervention, that is legible, logical and grammatically correct.

Prepare graduates who will demonstrate legal and ethical behaviors compliant with state statues and standards established by the American Physical Therapy Association by:

• Successful completion of the Florida Laws and Rules Exam.
• Adherence to institutional policies and procedures as a physical therapist assistant.

Meet accreditation standards for student retention, national examination pass rates and graduate employment by:

• Maintaining a 15% or less attrition rate during the first semester of the program due to academic reasons.
• Maintaining 85% or better first-time pass rate score on the national licensing examination.
• 90% of program graduates will be employed as physical therapist assistants within 6 months of graduation.

Prepare graduates who promote evidence-based physical therapy practice, professional growth within the field, involvement with the professional organization and encourage life long learning experiences by:

• Participation in the professional organization and activities that promote physical therapy.
• Take on the roll of clinical instructor for future PTA students.