South College is pursuing an Associate of Science in Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program at its Atlanta campus with a goal of starting the first cohort January 2022.
The formal application required in the pre-accreditation stage will be submitted to the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) on June 1.
Interested students may apply now to South College to complete prerequisite courses needed to meet the qualifications to apply to the technical phase of the program if Candidate for Accreditation status is granted by CAPTE.
“The healthcare programs offered at the South College Atlanta campus are allied health focused, which encompasses more than half of the healthcare jobs in the United States,” said Josh Huffaker president of the Atlanta campus. “With good growth opportunities and the potential to ladder up to the South College Doctor of Physical Therapy program, the PTA program is a great fit, and we look forward to offering this program to benefit students and communities in our region.”
In anticipation of programmatic progression, South College Atlanta currently is renovating a new space that will house the PTA lab. Once the program proceeds to the next step in the accreditation process, admitted students can expect to complete the major curriculum in as few as six quarters, or 18 months.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for physical therapist assistants will grow 29 percent through 2029, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. This is mirrored by high projected growth in the Atlanta area and coincides with the increased demand for physical therapy to meet the needs of an aging population and individuals with chronic conditions.
For more information South College, including prerequisite and admissions information for the PTA Atlanta program, visit https://www.south.edu/.
About South College
South College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award degrees at the doctorate, educational specialist, master’s, baccalaureate, and associate levels, as well as certificates. Questions about the accreditation of South College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (https://www.sacscoc.org).
About CATPE accreditation
Graduation from a physical therapist assistant education program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Avenue, Suite 100, Alexandria, VA 22305-3085; phone; 703-706-3245; [email protected] is necessary for eligibility to sit for the licensure examination, which is required in all states.
South College Atlanta is seeking approval from CAPTE of a new physical therapist assistant education program from CAPTE. The program is planning to submit an Application for Candidacy, which is the formal application required in the pre-accreditation stage, on June 1, 2021. Submission of this document does not assure that the program will be granted Candidate for Accreditation status. Achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status is required prior to implementation of the technical phase of the program; therefore, no students may be enrolled in technical courses until Candidate for Accreditation status has been achieved. Further, though achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status signifies satisfactory progress toward accreditation, it does not assure that the program will be granted accreditation.