General Program Description
The Riverside Physical Therapist Assistant Program was established in 2012. Graduates of the program are eligible to take a national examination from the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) to become a licensed Physical Therapist Assistant. The program consists of 5—13 week semesters in addition to specified college-level prerequisite preadmission courses. The mission of the Physical Therapist Assistant Program is to graduate competent, entry-level physical therapist assistants who are prepared to challenge the National Physical Therapy Examination and meet the growing therapy employment needs of the health system and the community.
Clinical Experiences
Because of our “hands-on” approach and the strong clinical components in each curriculum, our graduates are well prepared to enter the employment market. Riverside School of Health Careers educates caring, clinically competent healthcare workers. Additionally, employers consistently report a high level of satisfaction with the abilities and competence of our graduates. Students within the RCHC Physical Therapist Assistant program will complete more than 700 clinical hours at a variety of clinical settings.
Faculty
The PTA Program faculty consists of two full-time faculty members and two part-timefaculty members. There is a maximum instructor/student ratio of 1:20 during lecture courses and 1:10 during labratory courses.
Enrollment
Riverside College of Health Careers currently enrolls approximately 300 total students. The RCHC Physical Therapist Assistant program will enroll approximately 15 – 20 students per year based on a competitive admissions process. We provide our students at Riverside College of Health Careers with the support needed to make every step of their educational experience a success. Assistance is available in admissions, financial aid, registration, student accounts, technology, and more. Whether inquiring about a program or applying for a scholarship, current and prospective students are assured that there is someone who can help in or outside of the classroom.
Admission
A completed application, fee, transcripts, references, and essay must be submitted. You may contact the Admissions Office at (757) 240-2227 for details, request information by mail, or you may access information on the website at: www.riverside.edu Admission is on a competitive basis. The Physical Therapist Assistant Program reserves the right to select those applicants who seem best qualified for the program of study and employment by Riverside Health System. Other requirements: 1. A satisfactory score on the preadmission test is required. 2. Must be able to meet the Essential Program Requirements. 3. Immigration or Citizenship documentation is required for any applicant who is not a U.S. Citizen by birth. 4. If English is the applicant’s second language, the appli-cant must complete the TOEFL Exam with a minimum score of 550 (paper), or 79 (internet-based) within the last 2 years. 5. A satisfactory Personal Interview is required. The interview is scheduled for applicants who successfully meet applicable criteria listed previously. 6. Must be 18 prior to the start of clinical experiences.
Outcomes
For the most up-to-date information, please visit: www.riverside.edu
Tuition, fees and financial aid
For the most up-to-date information, please visit: www.riverside.edu Students applying to the RSHC Physical Therapist Assistant program are encouraged to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (https://fafsa.ed.gov/)
Student life
Riverside College of Health Careers is located in the Hilton area of Newport News, within five miles of Interstate 64. The campus includes more than 84,000 square feet of classroom, laboratories and resource areas are fully devoted to educating healthcare professionals who are ready to become skilled, prepared, and experienced. Our Health Sciences Library houses over 5,000 professional resource books, over 200 print journals, and over 3,000 online journals including nursing, medical and allied health resources. Online access to CINAHL, the Cummulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and Pubmed is provided for the students to use for research. The campus has wireless access, two student lounges, and multiple private study rooms. The computer and distance learning labs provide numerous computers with instructional programs aimed at allied health and clinical skills.