General Program Description

The mission of the PTA program is to provide educational opportunities and related services to qualified students pursuing an entry-level career as a licensed physical therapist assistant. The program requires a full-time commitment from the student as classes are scheduled daily varying from 9:00 am – 8:30 pm with some evening and/or weekend time commitments. After graduation in December the following year, students are academically eligible for licensure by examination through his or her jurisdiction.

Clinical Experiences
Since clinical education is a critical component of the program, clinical practica in an acute care setting, a rehabilitation setting, and at least one other setting must be passed. The practica are placed at the end of spring semester, and again at the end of the didactic phase of the program. There are three major clinical practica, a one day for 6-week and two full-time 7-week practicums, for a total of 608 hours. The number of clinical sites per practicum is variable, depending on student needs. Traveling out of town will be necessary. Students are responsible for transportation, food, and lodging during the practica unless arrangements are made by the clinical site or student.

Faculty
Darton College has two full-time and one part-time instructor. Program Director, Kerri Johnson, is a licensed physical therapist. She received a Masters Degree in Physical Therapy from the Medical College of Georgia in 2001 and completed a t-DPT in Physical Therapy from Temple University in 2010. She was also a licensed physical therapist assistant (1994) before returning to school to further her education. Sarah Brinson is a licensed physical therapist assistant (1997) and serves as the program’s Academic Clinical Coordinator. She completed a Masters Degree in Education from Valdosta State University in 2009. Heath Martin is a licensed physical therapist assistant (1995) and serves as a part-time instructor with a BS in Biology.

Enrollment
The total college enrollment is approximately 6,000. The physical therapist assistant program admits 20 students each December.

Admission
The PTA class begins each fall semester. Deadline for submission of the application packet is June 1. To be considered for admission to the program, the applicant must be admitted to Darton College; complete all prerequisites with a GPA of 3.0 or higher, including at least a C in all prerequisite classes; and complete the PTA program application packet including, but not limited to, the application form, short essays on assigned topics, documentation of at least 40 hours of work/volunteer experience in a physical therapy setting, and one letter of recommendation from assigned references. The Physical Therapist Assistant Selection Committee ranks preliminary selection criteria, including GPA, essays, and letter of recommendation. The highest-ranking applicants, up to a maximum of 40, will be invited for a personal interview. Offers of acceptance will be made based on the final ranking. Remaining candidates from the interview group will either be placed on a waiting list as an alternate or denied admission. If the initial selection process fails to fill the class, additional interviews will be granted based on rank order. Candidates wishing to be reconsidered for a subsequent class must submit a new application packet.

Outcomes
100% pass-rate of the National Board Exam in 2006, 2007, & 2008. 95.8% in 2009, 94.4% in 2010, 95% in 2011, and 92.3% in 2012.

Tuition, fees and financial aid
The cost of tuition is $1,800 per semester for in-state students and $4,200 for out-of-state students. Program specific fees and books total approximately $1,500 excluding costs of clinical travel and uniforms, which is variable. The purpose of the Financial Aid program is to provide financial assistance to students who need the funds to attend the college. Financial assistance may be awarded in the form of grants, loans, work-study, and federal, state and institutional scholarships. Prospective students may request financial aid materials; however, the student must be approved for admission to the college before the financial assistance may be officially awarded.

Student life
Darton is a residential campus, various types of housing opportunities are readily available within the surrounding community. The modern classrooms and labs, as well as the beautifully landscaped 180-acre campus, offer students a perfect college setting. The arts, intercollegiate athletic programs, intramural activities, and student clubs attest to the college’s holistic approach to education. The faculty and staff pride itself on the college’s academic excellence and the philosophy of a student centered education. The PTA program supports this philosophy and actively participates in professional and community activities as part of the mission of the PTA Club, Rho Tau Alpha. Located in the southwest section of the state, Albany is just a few hours away from Florida’s Gulf Coast, Georgia’s Atlantic Coast, the Capitol City of Atlanta, as well as the convenience of shopping, museums, and parks. Albany is the fastest growing city in the state and number one in creating new jobs. The salary ranges in Southwest Georgia generally are $45,000-$55,000 for licensed entry-level PTAs.