Physical Therapist Assistant

Program Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission to the PTA Program, all applicants must complete the entire PTA application process by February 1 and meet the minimum admissions criteria listed below:

ACADEMIC/COGNITIVE FACTORS

• Meet all University minimum admission criteria at the time of application
• Minimum grade of C in all prerequisite course work in the degree plan
• Minimum GPA of:
  • 2.0 in all college level courses pursued
  • Recommended 2.75 in Arts and Science prerequisite courses listed in the PTA Curriculum Plan (applicants who fail to meet minimum GPA requirements may be enrolled in the PTA Program after consideration by the program director, but may be required to take additional course work.
• Completion of, or enrollment in, at least 26 credit hours of prerequisite course work at the time of application, including:
  • WRIT 1310 and 1311
  • ACSM 1310MATH 1315
  • TEHO 1310
  • Philosophy elective
  • BIOL 1110
  • Natural Science Elective
  • BIOL 2310
  • BIOL 2310L
  • BIOL 2311
  • PTAP 2310
  • PTAP 2310L
    
• Priority is given to:
  • Applicants who complete all pre-requisite courses prior to enrollment in the PTA Program.
  • Applicants who have completed Arts and Science prerequisite courses at Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University.

GUARANTEED ADMISSIONS

There are two ways in which a student can qualify for guaranteed admission into the Physical Therapist Assistant program:

• A student who enters the University as a freshman is guaranteed admission to the desired program when:
  • All prerequisite courses toward the desired degree are taken at FranU with at least a grade point average of 3.0 on all prerequisite coursework.
  • All other minimum admission requirements are met.

• A transfer student is guaranteed admission to the desired program when:
  • Required prerequisite coursework in the Physical Therapist program (including courses that are in progress at the time of application to the University) are transferred in with at least a grade point average of 3.2 in these courses. More than 30 hours of required coursework in the desired program (including courses that are in progress at the time of application to the University) are transferred in with at least a grade point average of 3.2 in these courses.
  • A grade point average of at least 3.0 is maintained while completing remaining prerequisite courses at the University.
  • All other minimum admission requirements are met.

**Students transferring in less than 30 hours of coursework may be considered for guaranteed admission. Students falling into this category should call the Admissions office.

Upon entry into the clinical portion of the desired program, ALL students must have successfully completed all program specific admissions requirements.

NON-ACADEMIC FACTORS

• Completion of 100 (recommended) volunteer or work experience hours in a physical therapy clinic or department under the direct supervision of a licensed PT or PTA practitioner. (It is recommended that the 100 hours of volunteer/work experience includes hours in both an inpatient and outpatient setting.)
• Volunteer or Work Experience in a Physical Therapy Department provides the opportunity to explore the practice of physical therapy, identify the roles of physical therapists and physical therapist assistants within the clinic, and observe the treatment settings and patient characteristics in which physical therapy is practiced.
• Hours contributing to the total applicant’s work or volunteer experience must be verified at each physical therapy facility by a supervising PT or PTA. This “clinical” recommendation letter form is included as part of the online application. Unverified hours will not be counted toward the applicants’s work or volunteer experience total.
• Only volunteer or work hours obtained prior to turning in the application packet will be used in the admissions process.
• Completed application form, with official transcripts of college grades from all colleges/universities attended.
• Additional documentation of evidence that attest to the applicant’s ability to successfully complete the PTA Program, which includes but is not limited to:
  • Life experiences
  • Extraordinary educational accomplishments (honors courses, academic clubs, additional degrees or certifications, academic scholarships, etc.)
  • Personal attributes / characteristics
  • Proven leadership experiences
  • Effective communication skills
  • Effective time management and organizational skills
  • Ability to overcome academic challenges
  • Community service activities
  • Motivation and initiative
  • Application of critical thinking and problem solving skills
  • Cross cultural experiences, etc.

• Life Experiences that may have prohibited academic success but contributed to overall personal development. The following are provided as examples only: family crisis, financial hardships, educational hardships, personal conflict, etc.

ADMISSION PRIORITY

• Admission priority is given to applicants who demonstrate:
  • Higher cumulative and program prerequisites GPA scores (a sliding scale)
  • Higher numbers of volunteer or work hours completed (100 hours = full credits)
  • At least two physical therapy settings in which they have worked or volunteered (2 or more = full credit)
  • Higher clinical supervisor ratings on clinical recommendation form(s)
  • Successful completion of all Arts and Science prerequisites courses at Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University
  • Guaranteed admission policy for transfer students

Note: Applicants with a positive criminal background or record may or may not be accepted to the PTA program, based on the individual nature of the offense. All applicants with a criminal background should plan to meet with the admissions committee to discuss their individual care and also acknowledge that accepting a place within the PTA program comes with some inherent risk of the Louisiana PT Board not granting an applicant with a positive criminal background permission to sit for the PTA licensing exam upon graduation from the PTA program.

Program Mission

The mission of the Physical Therapist Assistant Program of the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University is to educate and form Franciscan servant leaders who are highly skilled and compassionate physical therapist assistants who are prepared to think critically and deliver holistic patient-centered care. (Revised 3/1/2017)

Program Goals

The goals of the Physical Therapist Assistant Program of Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University support the missions of Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University, the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady and the needs of the physical therapy community. In order to fulfill its educational purpose, the program is committed to:

1. Educate physical therapy practitioners through an accredited curriculum grounded in evidence based theory and practice, strong ethical values and expectations, the ideals of the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady and adherence to the scope of practice defined by professional and legal authorities for the practice of physical therapy.
2. Foster community service by faculty and students.
3. Promote life-long pursuit of knowledge through access of professional literature, consultation, post-graduate education and non-degree granting educational opportunities.
4. Contribute to the profession of physical therapy by active participation of faculty and students in professional organizations, pursuit of scholarly activities, communication with the licensing authority and education of the public.
5. Expand course offerings to meet community needs.

1996, REVISED 2002, 2003

Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs)

The student learning outcomes of the Physical Therapist Assistant Program define the expected performance level of all Program graduates, and are derived from the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University Mission and Institutional Goals and the PTA Program Philosophy and Goals. The learning outcomes identify the skills and competencies of the entry level physical therapist assistant as reflected by the current practice of Physical Therapy.

Upon completion of the program, the graduate will be prepared to:

1. Practice within safe, ethical and legal boundaries in compliance with national, state and local standards of practice and within the scope of practice of the physical therapist assistant, as defined by the Louisiana State Practice Act, the Guide for Conduct of the Physical Therapist Assistant and the Code of Ethics of the American Physical Therapy Association.
2. Implement a comprehensive treatment plan within the plan of care developed by a PT, utilizing data collection skills, critical thinking skills, and knowledge of science and humanities, grounded in evidence based theory and practice.
3. Pursue personal and professional development based on inquiry, self-assessment and utilization of valid and credible resources.
4. Communicate appropriately and interact effectively with a variety of audiences, with sensitivity and awareness of individual differences.
5. Approach patient care from a holistic perspective, incorporating aspects of spiritual, physical and emotional well-being.

1996, Revised 2002, Revised 2007 Revised 2009, SASHP Assessment Committee, Curriculum Committee

Program Statistics

Graduation Rate

From 2020-2022 the graduation rate has been 96.15%

Board Exam Pass Rate

For the three previous year (2020-2022), the first time pass rate for FranU graduates is 92.2%. During this time, the ultimate pass rate for FranU PTA graduates was 100% (FSBPT.org, 2022). FranU PTA graduates are well above the national average first time pass rate (81.0%) and national ultimate pass rate (89.97%) during this same time period (FSBPT.org, 2022).

Employment Rate

Over the previous three year period (2020-2022), 100% of FranU PTA graduates are employed.

**Skills that are required to practice as a PTA

Accreditation

Regional Accreditation

Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate, baccalaureate, masters, and doctorate degrees. Questions about accreditation of Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).

CAPTE Accreditation

The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: http://www.capteonline.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call Marty Aime at (225) 214-6965 or email pta@franu.edu.

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