The PTA program submitted its self-study in June 2014 and underwent a site visit in August 2014. In that visit, three evaluators visited the North Campus of the college and its satellite program on the Thomas Edison Campus of Florida SouthWestern State College. The visit lasted three days with the evaluators who verified compliance with the accreditation essentials. The reaffirmation, which spans a 10-year period, became effective November 2014.

 

The BC PTA program was awarded its initial accreditation in 1977. In 1995 the program entered into a distance learning agreement with Edison Community College (now Florida SouthWestern State College). This real-time audio and visual expansion continues to provide instruction to residents of counties located in southwestern Florida. Graduating students at both sites receive an associate’s degree in physical therapist assisting from Broward College.

 

Since its last accreditation in 2004, the program has continued to meet the local community’s demand for competent entry-level assistants. The program accepts 36 students at the Broward site and 18 at the Florida SouthWestern site for a total of 54 students each May. In 2014, 49 students graduated from the program and 100 percent of the graduates found jobs.

 

The salary for this career is very competitive, especially when compared to the cost of the mandatory two-year degree for employment in the field. Based on the current tuition rate at Broward College and cost of textbooks and other essential supplies, the total cost for Florida residents for an associate degree in Physical Therapist Assisting is approximately $11,000. The estimated 2014 median annual salary in Broward County for PTAs was $58,477 according to the Employ Florida Marketplace website (https://www.employflorida.com/vosnet/Default.aspx). The 2013 average hourly salary for a PTA was $27.80 in Broward County according to Economic Modeling Specialists International (EMSI) (https://e.economicmodeling.com/analyst/?t=18rTy#h=2VJvR&page=home).